Nearly $1 million was awarded to UC San Diego to promote the growth of technology entrepreneurship in historically underserved communities.
A total of $929,000 will be issued as a part of the U.S. government’s Build To Scale initiative. The granted funds will stimulate the development of the Talent Foundry Accelerator (TFA), a propellor of entrepreneurship and business activity within the San Diego business and technology communities.
The university was one of 50 organizations across the country to receive grants through the program, totaling $36.5 million.The program’s public and private sector partners matched an additional $40 million.
“This award reaffirms the university’s role as conveners and community supporters,” said Paul Roben, Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation and Commercialization at UC San Diego. “The funded projects will expand innovation resources and training to underserved populations that haven’t been able to fully participate in the innovation economy in our region.”
The TFA promotes small business activity in underserved communities, making it an ideal match for the Build To Scale initiative’s focus on inclusivity. An innovation platform will be built by the UCSD Office of Innovation and Commercialization.
Underrepresented entrepreneurs based in Central, South and East San Diego will be reached through this partnership in assisting small business owners, startup entrepreneurs and innovators of color launch and scale entrepreneurial endeavors.
As a part of the process, UCSD will be building a coalition of essential partners, including the San Diego Out Entrepreneurs, Stella Labs, We Tha Plug, and CONNECT ALL @ The Jacobs Center, within communities of interest.
