To answer this question, let’s define a hotbed first. Hotbed is an environment that favors rapid growth or development. Now, is Glendale considered a tech hotbed? Simply put, it’s on the road–gaining some serious traction. With a population of over 200,000, Glendale, the Jewel of the Verdugos is a rising star. The city is already successful in its retail, commercial and mixed-use developments. It is no surprise that the City Council is looking to diversify Glendale’s economy by focusing on attracting technology companies.
To help further this goal, in 2016, the city hired Estolano Advisors to help create a road map for the city’s tech sector. Estolano Advisors is an “urban planning and public policy firm”—working with “public agencies, non-profits, philanthropies, and business to craft innovative solutions to address complex problems.” Chief executive of Estolano Advisors, Cecila Estolano believes that although “Glendale might not be considered a tech hotbed on par with San Francisco’s Silicon Valley or Santa Monica’s Silicon Beach,” its “tech and startup ecosystems have grown in the last four years.” The city’s goal is to provide early-stage tech companies services like mentoring, networking and investment opportunities to help them grow and stay in Glendale.
In many ways, Glendale is hoping that new tech companies can emulate the success of ServiceTitan. The company was founded eight years ago in Glendale by Ara Mahdessian and Vahe Kuzoyan who wanted to help their fathers manage their home service businesses. ServiceTitan, now valued at $1.65 billion, is the “world’s leading, comprehensive software and operating system for residential and commercial service and replacement contractors.” The company kept its headquarters in Glendale—that’s what Glendale wants and needs. What an impressive example of the city’s capabilities within the tech sector.
Let’s go Glendale! We are all routing for you.
