The vast majority of Oakland’s 500+ tech companies were founded and expanded in Oakland. Startups benefit from numerous local incubator and accelerator programs, wide-ranging support for entrepreneurs, and access to diverse markets. And others agree:
No. 3 among Best Startup Cities in America - Popular Mechanics, February 2015
No 8. in Digital Cities large city category - Government Technology, November 13, 2014
No. 6 among Top 20 US Cities for Tech Startup Funding - National Venture Capital Association, October 24, 2014
Talented Workforce
An Oakland location is a huge asset for finding and retaining talented employees. More than 20,000 Oakland residents currently work for tech firms; 65 percent of Oakland’s population over age 25 has had post-secondary education. Local companies report higher employee retention rates thanks to the quality of life and easy transportation access. Oakland is a White House-recognized TechHire Community
and the City actively brokers training relationships between regional firms and local colleges, coding academies and nonprofits to meet their hiring needs.
Oakland Startup Network
The Oakland Startup Network is a partnership with tech industry leaders supporting female tech entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs of color. The goal of this partnership is to engage 1,000 entrepreneurs over 18 months and incubate 30 startups for potential launch. When this program concludes in 2018, the City will seek partnerships and resources to replicate this effort and address racial wealth disparities in other sectors.
Networking and Annual Events
Winter: Tech Equity Week/ My Brother’s Keeper Hackathon
Spring: Vator Splash
Fall: NewCo Oakland
The East Bay Tech Equity Collaborative is a meeting spot for technology companies, technology education organizations and local community organizations who share the mission of building an inclusive, representative and community-oriented tech ecosystem in the East Bay.
2.Oakland is the city’s leading network for tech professionals. Their mission is to create a healthy tech ecosystem in Oakland and the East Bay.
“People in Oakland are hungry to create value. Oakland has more entrepreneurs that care about the community before themselves.” -Ruben Hernandez, Dev.labs.
“We love being here…this is our community and the community has been a big supporter of Pandora at key points in its history.” - Tim Westergren, Founder and Chief Strategist, Pandora