Where to plant your tech startup
Starting a new business can be overwhelming - there are so many decisions to make, and one of the most important is deciding where to plant your tech startup. A year ago, the San Fernando Valley Business Journal ran an article about the Santa Clarita Valley’s (SCV) burgeoning high-tech community, dubbing us the “Silicon Suburb." In the months since then, we’ve seen a rapid increase in both startup companies and the local resources available to support them on the road to success.
You might be surprised to discover just how many incentives are available to businesses in California. Programs range from Employment Training Programs to the Manufacturing and Research and Development Equipment Exemption. The Small Business Certification aims to level the playing field, and certified small businesses (SBs) and micro businesses (MBs) are entitled to a variety of benefits in California, including 25% of the California Competes Tax Credit amount granted each year!
The opportunity to learn from others who have traveled the startup road before you can be incredibly valuable. One of the most exciting developments arriving in Santa Clarita is the Startup Grind Santa Clarita, launching September 12th! Startup Grind, from Google for Entrepreneurs, is a global startup community designed to educate, inspire, and connect entrepreneurs. With monthly events in 250 cities and 100 countries that feature successful local founders, innovators, educators and investors who share personal stories and lessons learned on the road to building great companies, Startup Grind is a connected online and offline network of vibrant startup communities – communities that help fuel innovation, economic growth and prosperity at the local level.
And that community provides critical resources for entrepreneurs and startups. The live community events offer the opportunity to hear from these amazing founders and investors live and interact with them, and just as importantly, to build relationships with your startup community, giving you a peer group of fellow travelers down the entrepreneurs’ road. A community of people who face many of the same challenges, who can share their own learnings and failures, giving and receiving support and sharing local knowledge of the business environment they’re operating in.
Another great resource is the Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC), which has been working to both raise awareness of and support our vibrant tech community here in the Santa Clarita Valley. Contact the SCVEDC – our business services team can help your company hit the ground running, by fostering positive relationships with the city, county, state and federal agencies and officials who are essential to the economic development process, guiding your company through the available incentive and workforce training programs, and connecting you with your peers in the tech industry cluster. Not to mention assistance with the relocation process!
These are just a few of the reasons driving the rapid increase in both startup companies and the local resources available to support them in the Santa Clarita Valley, leading the San Fernando Valley Business Journal to run an article about the Santa Clarita Valley’s (SCV) burgeoning high tech community, dubbing us the Silicon Suburb. Come check out SCV!
Are you wondering if you have what it takes to start a company? Download our Entrepreneur's Guide to Launching a Startup in California today!
The Santa Clarita Valley Economic Development Corporation (SCVEDC) is a unique private / public partnership representing the united effort of regional industry and government leaders. The SCVEDC utilizes an integrated approach to attracting, retaining and expanding a diversity of businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley, especially those in key industry clusters, by offering competitive business services and other resources.