I moderated a panel today with Autodesk CMO Dara Treseder and San Jose mayor Matt Mahan about how governments can use technology to build the future of smart, thriving, sustainable cities. While Mahan talked about the importance of technology to improve existing government services, he dropped some news about a soon-to-be-formally announced initiative.
The city is launching a grant program to incentivize AI startups to set up shop in San Jose. More details to come, so check back in tomorrow, but the program follows similar Silicon Valley-friendly initiatives from San Jose. For example, the city also offers an office leasing incentive program, which provides businesses that relocate to downtown zero business tax for two years and two free parking spaces.
“We’re working very hard to build an AI startup ecosystem in downtown San Jose adjacent to San Jose State University, which graduates more technical degree graduates every year than any other university in the state of California,” Mahan told me after the panel. “We think it’s a prime location to have more startups exist and grow. We already have about 20 venture-backed AI startups downtown and think it can be a much more robust ecosystem.”
