California Office of Data and Innovation

What California Office of Data and Innovation does

The California Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) is a standalone department within the California state government that drives innovation in public service delivery through data, technology, and human-centered design. Established in 2019 as an office within the Government Operations Agency, ODI became an independent department on July 1, 2023, and engages with approximately 150 California state entities — including the Employment Development Department, California Department of Social Services, California Department of Public Health, California Department of Technology, Department of Cannabis Control, and Department of Water Resources — to improve service delivery for state residents. The organization is funded through legislative appropriations to the Data and Innovation Services Revolving Fund (DIF), which received $10 million in July 2020 and an additional $20 million in FY 2022-23, plus a $2.064 million General Fund carryover.

ODI's portfolio centers on several interconnected products and frameworks. Core offerings include the California Design System (a shared design and component library launched February 2022 with CDT that became the standard for state websites, with drought.ca.gov ranking third among 270 state sites in speed tests), the Benefits Recommender widget (an open-source, low-code API placed on benefit program confirmation pages that drove over 200,000 new CalFresh applications and a 17.6% conversion rate), the Interagency Data Exchange Agreement (IDEA) framework (which scaled to over 100 state entities and cut data-sharing completion time from 2–3 years to 79 days), the Data Science Accelerator and Modern Data Stack Accelerator services, the Innovation Hub training platform, and the CalAcademy training program. Underlying technology includes open-source publishing stacks, cloud-based data infrastructure (including Snowflake via Solutions Simplified), a ZIP-code-level vaccine hesitancy scoring model combining Healthy Places Index, Census, digital engagement, and vaccination data, NLP-based topic modeling and sentiment analysis of public survey responses, and structured-data matching algorithms for benefit eligibility. AI governance work centers on the statewide Ethical AI Framework and Toolkit being developed under Governor's Executive Order N-12-23.

ODI's go-to-market is structured around the DIF competitive solicitation process through which California state departments apply for partnership engagements, supplemented by direct statewide strategic initiatives driven by gubernatorial executive orders and self-service distribution through the Innovation Hub, CalAcademy, and a statewide data community of practice exceeding 800 members. Services are provided at no cost to partner agencies, CalAcademy training is free to all state employees, and the model is not commercially revenue-generating; operating capacity is defined entirely by legislative appropriations. Distribution occurs through direct DIF partnerships, the Innovation Hub self-service platform, the California Design System adopted across departments, communities of practice and monthly data forums, and contracted implementation partners (Bloom Works, City Innovate, Analytica, CCST, UC Berkeley's Possibility Lab) that scale project delivery beyond ODI's internal headcount.

Name

California Office of Data and Innovation

Legal name

Office of Data and Innovation

Website

https://innovation.ca.gov

Company type

Public

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The California Office of Data and Innovation partners with approximately 150 California state entities to improve public service delivery through data analytics, human-centered design, and modern technology, including the Benefits Recommender, California Design System, and IDEA data-sharing framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Digital Services

NAICS

Computer Systems Design and Related Services (5415), Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support (921)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370)

akta.pro primary industry

Science, Technology & Innovation Administration (National R&D Policy) (BPAIAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Enablement & Adoption Services (Change Management, Adoption, Champions) (BPAEANAC)

Keywords

• Government digital services
• Human-centered design
• Data strategy consulting
• Public sector innovation
• State agency partnerships

Headquarters

HQ city

Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Data and Innovation Services Revolving Fund (DIF): ODI is funded through legislative appropriations channeled into the Data and Innovation Services Revolving Fund (DIF). The fund was initially established with $10 million in FY 2019-20 and received an additional $20 million allocation in the approved FY 2022-23 budget. DIF supports ODI partnerships with state agencies and departments to innovate solutions and improve services to Californians. ODI became an independent department on July 1, 2023.
2. General Fund Appropriations: ODI relies on appropriations from the California General Fund to fund its DIF and general operations. ODI's authority to expend DIF funding expires per Government Code section 12815 on June 30, 2024. ODI's General Fund appropriation supports ongoing DIF projects and special initiatives including Governor's executive orders on GenAI and Equity.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

ODI partners with California state departments to improve service delivery to Californians through data analytics, human-centered design, and modern technology. It builds digital services and websites, conducts research sprints, runs accelerators and training programs, and operates the Data and Innovation Fund (DIF) which funds cross-departmental innovation projects led by departmental staff.

Product overview

The California Office of Data and Innovation (ODI) offers a portfolio of interconnected products and services focused on improving government services through data, technology, and human-centered design. Key offerings include the Benefits Recommender widget that connects Californians to eligible benefits, the Innovation Hub training platform, CalAcademy professional development programs, and the California Design System for building accessible state websites. The Data and Innovation Fund (DIF) serves as the funding mechanism enabling ODI to partner with state departments on innovation projects. ODI also provides specialized accelerators (Data Science, Modern Data Stack) and consulting services through CalInnovate Research and Innovation teams. The organization supports equity-focused initiatives including the Ethical AI Framework and race/ethnicity data standards development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CalData: The central data team for the State of California, led by the Statewide Chief Data Officer, merged into ODI in July 2022. CalData works on policies and programs that build capacity across the state for data informed decision making.
• CalAcademy
• Data and Innovation Services Revolving Fund (DIF)

Products and services

• Benefits Recommender API and embeddable widget product that screens individuals across California benefit programs (such as health, food, and housing assistance) and routes them to programs they may be eligible for. Built for use by partner California state departments and integrated into their digital properties.
• California Design System Shared design system and component library for California state government websites and digital services, providing reusable user interface components, accessibility standards, and front-end tooling for state departments building citizen-facing digital experiences.
• Innovation Hub Online platform providing training resources, learning content, and innovation programs for California state employees, departmental teams, and partners engaged with ODI initiatives.
• CalAcademy (CalLearns) Free training academy offering structured curriculum in human-centered design, data analytics, and digital service delivery to California state government employees to build lasting internal capacity.
• Data and Innovation Fund (DIF) Funding mechanism operated by ODI that allocates resources to cross-departmental innovation projects led by California state department staff, pairing departmental teams with ODI's design, data, and engineering expertise to deliver measurable service improvements.
• Data Science Accelerator Structured accelerator program that embeds ODI data scientists with California state department teams to build analytics capacity, solve priority data problems, and deliver usable analytical products for the partnering department.
• Modern Data Stack Accelerator Accelerator program that helps California state departments modernize their data infrastructure by adopting cloud-based analytics platforms, modern data tooling, and contemporary data engineering practices.
• CalInnovate Research and Innovation Research and innovation program that runs research sprints and qualitative research with Californians to surface unmet needs, informing which service improvement opportunities ODI partners with state departments to pursue.
• Interagency Data Exchange Agreement (IDEA) Standardized legal framework and template that allows California state departments and agencies to share data with each other under pre-negotiated terms, reducing typical cross-departmental data sharing timelines from 2-3 years down to approximately 79 days.
• Ethical AI Framework and Toolkit Framework and practical toolkit that guides California state departments and agencies through responsible evaluation, procurement, and deployment of artificial intelligence systems in government services.
• covid19.ca.gov website Public-facing statewide website built by ODI that served as California's central source of COVID-19 information, vaccine access, and pandemic guidance for residents during the COVID-19 pandemic response.
• Engaged California Statewide initiative operated by ODI for engaging Californians, gathering public input, and channeling citizen feedback to inform California state service design and delivery.

Quantifiable outcome

• 633% increase in public comments for DTSC; 68% in Spanish
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.

• California Department of Technology (CDT)coreTechnology or IntegrationCDT is a key strategic partner for ODI. They collaborated on the California Design System (launched February 2022; maintenance transitioned to CDT in June 2022), ODI's publishing system, open data portal development, Digital ID gateway user research, and Project Approval Lifecycle (PAL) research. ODI and CDT together won the Best IT Collaboration award at the 2022 Digital Government Summit for the Design System.
• California Department of General Services (DGS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDGS partners with ODI on procurement modernization. ODI contributed to the Technology, Digital and Data Consulting Master Service Agreement (TDDC MSA) and supports DGS's small business procurement user research and credit card acceptance initiatives. DGS provides standard contract language for confidentiality and data safeguards used in ODI's data minimization toolkit.
• Bloom Works (GovBloom, LLC)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBloom Works is a woman-owned, public interest technology company providing project management, user research, and product management support for DIF cohort one projects. ODI signed a $1.6 million contract with Bloom Works in June 2022, followed by additional contracts totaling $3.75 million in FY 2022-23. Bloom Works helped ODI run discovery sprints across multiple DIF projects.
• City Innovate (Enterprise Network Solutions, Inc.)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCity Innovate provided proprietary software for the DIF application and selection process, including administrative components. ODI entered into a $730,431.12 contract with City Innovate in March 2022. City Innovate was also a partner in the launch of the federal Technology Modernization Fund.
• California Council on Science and Technology (CCST)secondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCCST provides scientific and technical expertise including convening experts, creation of advisory teams, and provision of science fellows/research assistants. ODI entered into a $1,040,000 contract with CCST in FY 2020-21 for these services. ODI is coordinating with CCST to host innovation roundtables focused on solving current and future challenges Californians face.
• Possibility Lab (University of California Berkeley)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Berkeley's Possibility Lab supports ODI's work on demographic data standards for sexual orientation, gender identity, and disability data collection. ODI has a $1.7 million contract with the Possibility Lab for research and technical assistance in delivering improved services to Californians through data, human-centered design, and technology.
• Analytica Consulting, LLCsecondaryImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAnalytica provides technology, digital, and data consulting to assist with the development of data accelerators targeting state data needs. ODI has a $1.5 million contract with Analytica for these services.
• Snowflake, Inc. (via Solutions Simplified)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationSnowflake provides cloud data warehouse and professional services supporting ODI's data and analytics projects. ODI has contracts with Snowflake totaling approximately $308,941 through Solutions Simplified.
• California Department of Human Resources (CalHR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalHR is a major DIF partner working on state HR modernization including improving recruitment and hiring processes, enabling anonymous hiring per Executive Order N-16-22, and modernizing data jobs classifications. ODI supports CalHR's CalLearns platform for CalAcademy training delivery.
• California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCHHS was a key COVID-19 response partner collaborating on covid19.ca.gov. ODI scaled CHHS's agency data sharing agreement (IDEA) across all state entities. ODI also partnered with CHHS's Center for Data Insights and Innovation on data career fairs.
• Governor Gavin Newsom's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Governor's Office issues executive orders that drive ODI's strategic priorities, including EO N-12-23 (GenAI benefits and risks analysis), EO N-16-22 (equity standards, anonymous hiring), and EO N-8-23 (infrastructure website). ODI collaborates with the Governor's Office on abortion.ca.gov, covid19.ca.gov, and statewide innovation initiatives.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Code for America: Nonprofit that builds digital services and benefits-navigation tools (e.g., GetCalFresh) alongside state and local governments. Comparable in product category (Benefits Recommender analogues), human-centered design methodology, and government client base.
• 18F (GSA): Federal civic-tech office inside GSA that partners with agencies to build user-centered digital services using agile and open-source methods. Directly comparable in operating model (embedded teams, open-source publishing stack, shared design systems) and customer profile (government departments).
• U.S. Digital Service (USDS): Federal-government internal consulting and engineering corps that embeds technologists inside agencies to improve digital services — the closest functional analogue to ODI at the federal level, with the same mission of modernizing services from inside government.
• New Jersey Office of Innovation: State-level innovation office within the New Jersey Governor's Office that delivers human-centered design, data analytics, and digital services projects across state agencies. Closest state-level peer to ODI's mission and operating model.
• Illinois Office of Innovation: State government unit applying human-centered design and data to modernize services inside Illinois agencies. Functionally a sister innovation office with shared mission and cross-functional embedded-team model.

Others

• Results for America: Nonprofit that evaluates and ranks government use of data and evidence (the "What Works" standard). CalData's Honorable Designation came from this organization, indicating shared constituency and standards-setting role. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than competitor.
• Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation at Johns Hopkins: University-based center that trains and supports city innovation teams and runs the Bloomberg Philanthropies' innovation portfolio. Comparable in methodology and ecosystem-building role (training, communities of practice) but adjacent rather than direct competition.

Broad incumbents

• UK Government Digital Service (GDS): Mature government digital service organization that pioneered the GOV.UK design system and cross-agency digital standards. Same end-state operating model ODI is building toward (centralized design system, plain-language standards, shared platforms), but at greater scale and maturity.

Emerging players

• Civilla: Nonprofit product studio that partners with state and local governments to redesign benefits and justice systems using human-centered design. Comparable niche — embedded teams, government clients, services for vulnerable populations — but operates externally rather than as a government department.

Regional players

• NYC Mayor's Office for Economic Opportunity & NYC Tech: City-level New York City technology and data analytics teams that apply human-centered design and predictive analytics to municipal services. Comparable in service-delivery focus but at the municipal (not state) level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CaliforniaODI
• GitHubgithub.com/cagov
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@California_ODI
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-office-of-data-and-innovation
• Instagraminstagram.com/california_odi

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about California Office of Data and Innovation