FoundersBoost provides the competitive edge for early-traction stage tech startups in the last mile towards Accelerators, Investment, and Revenue. Through a mix of hands-on workshops and personalized one-on-one office hours, you’ll sharpen your entrepreneurial mindset, enhance customer traction, and gain actionable strategies to help you navigate the critical pre-seed to seed stage transition.

FoundersBoost’s SoCal Consumer CommerceTech Accelerator in Glendale is a curated accelerator program designed to help promising pre-seed and seed stage Consumer CommerceTech startups in Southern California move toward investment and revenue growth. We support startups developing technologies that directly or indirectly help consumer brands sell, market, and operate. We welcome startups across ecommerce, retail, and omnichannel commerce: including AI commerce, martech and adtech, creator and social commerce, retail technology, payments, loyalty, analytics, fulfillment, supply chain, merchant operations, and related technologies.

In collaboration with the Alliance for SoCal Innovation and Hacker Fund, this FoundersBoost program leverages Southern California’s deep talent pool, thriving startup ecosystem, and mature business market to support scalable companies at the earliest stage.

Over the course of six weeks, selected founders receive intensive one-on-one mentorship, pitch coaching, and strategic guidance from a global network of founders, investors, and industry experts. Startups in the program refine their product-market fit, strengthen their go-to-market strategies, and build the traction needed to raise capital — all with no equity taken and no fees charged, thanks to support of our partners and funds from a State Grant awarded through the City of Glendale Economic Development Division.

Following the program, qualified alumni will gain access to The Alliance for SoCal Innovation’s Venture Pipeline, providing warm introductions to VCs actively investing in early-stage startups aligned with their thesis.

Each cohort takes place once weekly over a 6 week period one evening a week, starting the week of Oct 5th (Global Kickoff Call on Oct 1), where the best speakers and mentors meet to work with promising startups. The program naturally integrates into a founders schedule on a part time weekly basis to create an iterative cycle of accountability and growth that maximizes and compounds the learnings and insights gained each week. The program culminates in a Demo Day. Additionally, there is a Global Investor Day for all the city programs that provides even further exposure for accepted startups.

This Fall 2026 cohort will be in-person in Glendale. 

Applications on Spark open up on July 15, 2026 and will be evaluated only after applications close on Sept 15, 2026. We will evaluate all applications and send invitations to top candidates for a brief 30-minute call via Zoom or phone. 

Our alumni over our 9 year history have been accepted into premier accelerators such as Y Combinator, Techstars, and a16z and have collectively raised over $400M in investment. Underrepresented founders are encouraged to apply. We’re committed to increasing ecosystem inclusiveness and accessibility, and 80% of our startups are founded by underrepresented entrepreneurs.

Post-Program, alumni who are ready for seed funding will join the Alliance for SoCal Innovation’s Venture Pipeline, where they receive personal introductions to VCs with a proven track record of funding similar startups or that match their investment thesis.