102120 Press Release - City Approves Entrepreneurship Economic Development Grants _J�OF FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DENTON Ryan Adams • (940) 349-8565 • Ryan.Adams@cityofdenton.com
City of Denton Approves First-Ever
Entrepreneurship Economic Development Grants
Two Local Companies on Path to Growth
DENTON, TX, Oct. 21, 2020-The Denton City Council approved two job-based economic
development grants focused on stimulating local technology startup companies at the Oct. 20
City Council meeting. The Council awarded a grant of$106,500 to TeamOfDefenders and a
grant of$243,500 to From the Future, both local early stage tech ventures. The performance-
based grants will provide assistance to each company as they rapidly expand. Together, the
companies are projected to add more than 150 high-wage or knowledge-based jobs in Denton
over the next 10 years.
The two grantees, TeamOfDefenders and From the Future, were both founded in Denton.
TeamOfDefenders is a rapidly growing Internet of Things (IoT)platform company that started in
Stoke Denton and supports the Denton tech scene by hiring local and investing in other startups
as angel investors.
"We are appreciative of the City of Denton's interest and support towards our continued growth
here locally," said Mark Cieri, CEO and co-founder of TeamOfDefenders. "Anchoring our
headquarters in Denton permits us to attract highly skilled talent and engage the creative Denton
community, which will continue to shape our innovative real-estate tech and digital
transformation solutions."
From the Future is a software company specializing in virtual reality(VR) training with the aim
to leverage the power of virtual reality to improve performance and safety through immersive
training. From the Future's platform is already making a difference locally through a partnership
with Bright Mosaic Autism Centers to develop virtual reality therapy applications.
"We love the vibrant Denton art, music, and business culture and because of the technical talent
coming out of UNT and professionals based in and around Denton, we can compete against any
company from Silicon Valley, Austin, or Seattle," said From the Future CEO Mike Christian.
Encouraging growth in the startup and tech sectors has long been a goal of the Denton City
Council. Since 2016, the City has supported Stoke Denton, a unique co-working and
entrepreneurial center that focused on providing programming and resources to tech and tech-
enabled businesses. The City has also partnered with Stoke to host events, such as F1intConf, a
conference focused on supporting entrepreneurs, creatives, freelancers, and others looking to
start and grow their business.
"We are excited and proud to see two local tech companies focused on keeping their businesses
in Denton," stated Director of Economic Development Jessica Rogers. "In the 2 1" century, many
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tech companies can locate anywhere, but these companies chose to start and, more importantly,
grow their businesses in Denton. This is not an accident, but instead is the outcome of many
strategic thinkers and economic development initiatives to invest in the rapidly growing Denton
tech scene."
Visit www.cityofdenton.com for more news and to stay updated.
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