Meet the 15 LA Startups That Make Up This Year's Grid110 Accelerator

From her home office in downtown, Miki Reynolds is trying to build an accelerator that looks like Los Angeles.

Reynolds, a tech and digital marketing veteran, founded the nonprofit Grid110 six years ago as an incubator for fashion tech brands. But she soon expanded to help a range of founders find their footing in L.A.'s tech and startup scene. Unlike most accelerators, it doesn't take equity in each company.

"There is no marching towards a demo day performance or presentation," Reynolds said of the 12-week virtual accelerator. "It's really allowing the founders themselves to describe what they're looking to accomplish. Then we try to see how we can help them get there."

Of the 200 companies she's put through the program, 70% are led by women and 70% by a founder of color. Following her mission also means expanding the industry's scope beyond Santa Monica and Venice, the once-default hubs for new companies and investors.

Grid110 runs three to four programs each year. The 15 startups chosen for this round represent a range of industries. Among them is the San Pedro-based biotech company Spira, which uses gene editing on algae to make food dyes and Folkicks, an online marketplace of shoes and clothing for Mexican folk dancers.

Founders in the accelerator hail from across the city from Highland Park to Culver City.

And, Reynolds said, her accelerator is one that "better reflects the city of Los Angeles and the world that we know it as."

"We recognized that most of the community and the events and co-working spaces — even the venture community — were largely centered on the Westside," she said.

Here is a look at Grid110's 21st cohort:

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