We may be located in 170 cities and 70 countries and be 200K entrepreneurs strong, but the Startup Grind network continues to evaluate prospective cities as we grow. We look for globally focused startup communities that are engineered to educate, inspire and connect. For us, it’s about fueling innovation, economic growth and prosperity at a local level through a connected network, or startup ecosystem.

And the City of Fremont does all that and more.

We couldn’t be more thrilled for the Fremont chapter to get off the ground. Geographically, we see Fremont serving as a central location for all startups in the Silicon Valley — it is the literal hinge connecting San Jose and the Valley to the East Bay and beyond. The launch of this new chapter is a significant turning point for East Bay startups — it’s a chance for them to connect, network and be inspired.

We always knew that a Fremont chapter would need to match the strong leadership of the Silicon Valley and San Francisco’s chapters. That’s why we waited for several years for the right people, despite getting multiple director applications for Fremont. When Shilpi Sharma, founder of Kvantum Inc., approached us, she presented Fremont’s story so passionately that we knew thatshe was the one who could effectively lead the Fremont chapter. Shilpi, along with City of Fremont’s Economic Development team, have put together a strong foundation for the East Bay’s first Startup Grind chapter — one that will undoubtedly be successful.

There’s a reason why Fremont is ranked as the No. 1 city for tech startups, and there’s a reason why Tesla chose Fremont as the place to set up shop. Even its City government embraces an entrepreneurial spirit — and that in itself is evident in my contact with Shilpi and the Economic Development team!

Startups aren’t just about IP, software, the latest app, the “Uber of X,” or the latest episode of HBO’s “Silicon Valley.” Believe it or not, a city can look, think and act like a startup as well. Fremont is no exception.

Just recently, Fremont officially wiped its hands of Solyndra’s mess when the last remaining former Solyndra facility was snatched up by none other than Tesla.

And that’s why Tesla continues to say “yes” to Fremont, and why startups are saying “yes” for the first time. Fremont has everything a startup could need.

To date, more than 30 clean and green tech firms have put down roots in Fremont, and the city is home to more than 20,000 manufacturing jobs from significant industry clusters. Fremont also has space — something hard to come by in Silicon Valley — with over 40 million square feet of office, R&D, and industrial space.

We’re excited to see the entrepreneurs and thought leaders Fremont has lined up over the next few months, and we hope you’re as eager as we are to get started. Welcome to Startup Grind, Fremont!

If you have any
question or suggestions for guest speakers, send an email to Shilpi Sharma,
Co-founder & CEO of Kvantum, and
Chapter Director for Startupgrind Fremont.