StartItUp and the City of Long Beach, CA are working together to take small & mid-sized businesses to the next level

Today, too many small businesses fail fast — 80% of them do in the first 18 months. StartItUp and the City of Long Beach have partnered to change these odds. We believe that by leveraging the right resources — qualified mentors, city support, and world-class tools and technologies, small business entrepreneurs have every ability to rise above this sad statistic.

Our goal, with the City of Long Beach, is to make real, immediate, street-smart, and long-lasting changes to the way SMBs envision, create and launch successful businesses in this bustling beachside community

Meet the Team

The City of Long Beach has a world-class team of individuals committed to seeing the local small business ecosystem thrive!

Start It Up is partnering with critical stakeholders within the local Long Beach community to help build a robust, efficient and effective process to help entrepreneurs succeed. While we provide world-class technology solutions, our tools are only as good as the people who leverage them. We value the work of so many local partners and team members who share the vision to see small business entrepreneurs succeed!

Dr. Robert Garcia

Mayor - City of Long Beach, CA

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Dr. Robert Garcia, 39, is an educator and the 28th mayor of Long Beach. Mayor Garcia has taken a leadership role in economic development, sustainability, and investing in technology. He is committed to moving Long Beach forward by attracting tech and green jobs, creating new educational partnerships, and making government more efficient

John Keisler

Economic Development Director

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Mr. Keisler is a proven, dynamic and innovative leader who is dedicated to creating economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs in one of the nation’s largest, most diverse, and most active urban cities, Long Beach, CA. He has had a lifetime of public service in the public education, local government and non-profit sectors.

Sheneui Weber

COO - Long Beach Community College District

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Sheneui Weber is the Chief Operating Officer for College Advancement and Economic Development at the Long Beach Community College District (LBCCD). She is responsible for the Division's economic and workforce development program strategy and operations. She has over 20 years of experience in business development in both the education and private industry

Brad Pollak

Director of the Long Beach City College Small Business Development Center

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As the Director of the Long Beach City College Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Brad specializes in business start-ups, leadership, management, marketing strategies, and business planning. Brad has 20+ years’ experience as a marketing executive and as a general manager in the music industry, and is the owner of his own management consulting and career development consultancy in Long Beach.

Seyed Jalali

Economic Development Officer & Ombudsman

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Mr. Jalali has worked for the City of Long Beach for nearly 23 years. He works closely with the business community assisting with their expansion and relocation plans. He is responsible for the City’s financial assistance programs and oversee the City’s Business Improvement Districts (BIDs).

Your local economy matters. When small business owners prosper, it benefits the city as a whole. Our commitment is to deliver you the best tools and resources available to help local small-business entrepreneurs succeed. Inspire change in your own city. Become a Start It Up city today!