7 Up and Coming Startups in Southern California
We recently attended the 805 Start-Ups Growth and Innovation Fair on December 12th and had the opportunity to speak with some incredible exhibitors. We highly recommend 805 Start-Up events to anyone interested in Southern California's startup ecosystem -- they are fantastic local events for entrepreneurs where you can learn everything you need to know about opening and running a business and how to get funding for it.
Here are seven startups that caught our attention:
1. AFA Hub
Focus: Education for autistic spectrum children
AFA Hub teaches coding, video production, and 3D animation to children with autism. We were deeply impressed by Adam's passion for this mission. The work AFA Hub does to empower these children with valuable technical skills is truly inspiring, and we arranged to speak for the organization's students.
2. Mesingers
Focus: Wine production
Teddy aspires to open a winery in Los Angeles, and after tasting his work, we can see why. We highly recommend his signature Pinot variety. Teddy is a regular at 805 Start-Up Events and someone worth connecting with if you are in the wine or food industry.
3. Rise Up For You
Focus: Leadership development
Rise Up For You provides training for aspiring leaders and continuing education for management professionals. Jake brings a really great positive energy to the organization, and their mission to develop the next generation of leaders is one we fully support.
4. Start Engine
Focus: Startup support and resources
Start Engine is an excellent resource for Southern California entrepreneurs. They offer events, knowledge, and networking connections to help founders launch and grow their businesses. If you are building a startup in the region, Start Engine should be on your radar.
5. Mowie Media
Focus: UI/UX design
Mowie Media is a professional design firm led by Sonya, whose expertise in UI/UX design impressed us greatly. We plan to add Mowie Media to our partner network to expand our UI/UX resources for clients -- a testament to the quality of their work.
6. Merito Foundation
Focus: Environmental education
The Merito Foundation teaches environmental stewardship to children through outdoor education programs. Their hands-on approach to connecting kids with nature and instilling a sense of responsibility for the environment is commendable work that benefits the entire community.
7. Professor Stream
Focus: Educational science and technology toys
Professor Stream designs and builds educational kits and projects that teach science and technology concepts to children. Making STEM education accessible and fun through hands-on learning is exactly the kind of innovation the education space needs.
Final Thoughts
The Southern California startup community is vibrant, diverse, and full of passionate entrepreneurs building meaningful businesses. We encourage everyone to check out these organizations and attend 805 Start-Up events to experience this energy firsthand.