SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) — The City of San Jose announced on August 27 the winners of their AI incentive grant program, a first of its kind initiative in the United States.
In the heart of Silicon Valley, city leaders are innovating ways to incentivize AI-companies to call the South Bay, home.
After nearly 200 applicants, the grant program awarded four local AI startups who are creating solutions to real world problems.
Satlyt uses AI to harness the power of satellites by making them easier to communicate with.
“It’s the recognition,” Satlyt CEO and founder Rama Afullo said. “It’s knowing that the city itself wants you to to build something great, is willing to actually put the money where the mouth is, right? And help you do that.”
Satlyt will receive $25,000 in grant funding.
The other three startups, Elythea, Metafoodx and Clika, will receive $50,000 each to problem solve with artificial intelligence.
Metafoodx is helping restaurants and foodservice operators cut waste and optimize operations, including at Santa Clara University.
“People started thinking about how AI can get into the physical world to actually help people’s everyday life,” Metafoodx CEO and founder Fengmin Gong said. “This is where we can actually collaborate with a lot of local community, business and the government.”
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Mayor Matt Mahan says that the idea of these grants are not only to just help with the mission of the companies, but to keep the talent base in San Jose.
The winners say this grant plays a roll in growing within what Mahan calls the capital of AI.
“It was more of like opportunistic choice to choose San Jose in the beginning, but we felt really supported, connected and also like safe in this city,” Clika founder and CEO Nayul Kim said. “We’re very thankful for this recognition.”
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Mayor Mahan hopes this program can continue build an ecosystem of talent with artificial intelligence in his city.
“I was in the startup world for over a decade, built and lead a couple of startups, startups and companies come and go,” Mahan said. “It’s the talent and the human capital that truly makes Silicon Valley the most unique place in the world for innovation.”
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