Rising Startups in Los Angeles: Grid110 Reveals its 21st Cohort
This past June, Grid110 celebrated its 6th birthday! Can you believe it? We’re six years old!
Just like our companies, Grid110 started as an idea. In 2014, our founding team came together to create a community that they wished existed at the time. A community that better reflected the diversity of innovators and businesses they saw in their Downtown LA neighborhood and the greater Los Angeles area. This shared vision was so powerful that their idea soon became a reality, beginning with its 1st cohort of amazing innovators in 2015. 200 companies later, what began as a grassroots effort has grown into a leading program and community for early-stage entrepreneurs in Los Angeles.
Today, I want to take this time to acknowledge and thank our founding team. Thank you so much for being so committed to this vision, our founders, and the greater Grid110 community. I, along with so many others, appreciate you!
So without further adieu [cue the air horns], it is my absolute pleasure to announce the companies selected for the 21st cohort! Please join me in congratulating and welcoming them into the Grid110 community! We are thrilled to be working with them!
Meet the Companies
Barterr (formerly Sole360): Founded by Terrence Whaley, Barterr is a peer-to-peer online sneaker trading platform and middleman service.
Burrito Break: Founded by Claudia Barrera and Laura Barrera, BurritoBreak is a breakfast and lunch restaurant, that makes fresh-clean food affordable and accessible to all.
Dirty Cookie: Founded by Shahira Marei, Dirty Cookie has taken cookies and formed them into “edible shot glasses.” They call them cookie shots. Their cookie shots are lined with chocolate so you can fill them with any beverage of your choice: milk, coffee, and even liquor!
Folkicks: Founded by Rafael Valero, Folkicks connects Mexican folk dancers in the United States to traditional Mexican footwear and dancewear.
FYBRAA: Founded by Erica Dwerlkotte, Fybraa is a Los Angeles based company that is on a mission to be a reliable and responsible choice in textile recycling for residents of Southern California. We’re a circular recycling system that collects and disposes of hard to recycle consumer textile waste once it has reached its end of life.
Gthr: Founded by Noah Wossen and Trevor Brown, gthr is an app for cyclists to connect with curated riding partners, create or join group rides, and engage in their local cycling community.
Jazz Hands for Autism: Founded by Ifunanya Nweke, Jazz Hands For Autism is a talent advocacy group that creates pathways and to expression and employment for musically inclined individuals on the autism spectrum.
Kif & co: Founded by Linda Hsu and Caroline Brain, Kif & co is a fermented beverage company dedicated to re-introducing people to the fun, funky, flavorful, and functional world of fermented foods and beverages.
Mina Health: One-stop-shop for all things menopause — from diagnostic testing to menopause products and treatments.
MSTRPLN: Founded by Aja Dang, MSTRPLN gives you the tools you need to plan the life you want — personally, professionally, and financially.
Of The Night: Founded by Blake Harrison and Courtney Nichols and inspired by the great parties and partiers of yesterday, today, tomorrow — Of The Night delivers themed party packages for outrageous nights in.
Rooted Fare: Founded by Ashely Xie and Hedy Yu, Rooted Fare creates unique, ready-to-use Asian sauces to make cooking Asian comfort foods easy and efficient for young, busy Asian Americans who are new to cooking by partnering and profit-sharing with experienced immigrant chefs to capture those cornerstone flavors.
Rosecrans Ventures: Founded by Halleemah Nash, Rosecrans Ventures specializes in coaching, talent development strategies, and innovative employment placements for underrepresented talent.
Spira: Founded by Elliot Roth, Surjan Singh, and Pierre Wensel, Spira creates replacements for petroleum-based colors and animal proteins using CRISPR-edited carbon-negative algae grown by a global network of farming partners to scale ingredients for food, cosmetic and textile companies.
The Petal Effect: Founded by Tobore Oweh, The Petal Effect is a unique floral and design boutique that focuses on our clients’ well-being. We create and cultivate meaningful moments of self-care and community through the power of flowers.
Meet the Summer 2021 cohort of Grid110! Here’s a little insight into who they are.
