Agenda packet, special meeting — Glendale City Council, October 8, 2024 (part 1 of 2)

A G E N D A
SPECIAL MEETING: GLENDALE CITY COUNCIL

COUNCIL CHAMBERS
613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor
Glendale, CA 91206
Meetings

are

broadcast

live

Glendale

TV,

viewable

Spectrum

Cable,

channel

and

AT&T

U-
verse,

channel

99. Meetings

are

also

streamed

live

high

definition

(HD)

the

City

webpage,
glendaleca.gov/live
,

YouTube.com/myglendale
,

and

Apple

TV,

Roku,

Amazon

Fire,

iOS

and
Android

devices

using

free

app

called

Cablecast

and

choosing

"Glendale

TV"

from

the

menu.

Meetings

are

also

archived

the

City

Website

for

viewing

anytime

glendaleca.gov/agendas
.

Call

(818)

548-4013

for

program

schedules.

For

public

comments

and

questions

during

the
meeting,

call

(818)

937-8100.

Public

comments

specific

agenda

item

will

taken

when

that
agenda

item

discussed.

you

have

any

question

about

matters

the

agenda,

requests

for
assistance, please contact the City Clerk at (818) 548-2090 during regular business hours.

PLEASE TURN OFF CELLULAR PHONES WHILE INSIDE THE MEETING LOCATION In

compliance

with

the

Americans

with

Disabilities

Act

(ADA)

1990,

auxiliary

hearing

aids,

sign
language

translation,

and

Braille

transcripts

are

available

upon

request.

Assisted

listening

devices
are

available

same-day

upon

request.

The

City

Clerk’

office

should

notified

72 hours

(three
business

days)

soon

practicable

for

requests

regarding

sign

language

translation

and
Braille

transcription

services.

All

documents

open

session

items

this

agenda

that

are
received

less

than

72 hours

prior

this

meeting,

and

are

public

records,

will

available

for

review
in the Office of the City Clerk, 613 E. Broadway, RM 110, Glendale, CA 91206.

Translation

services

are

provided

for

meetings

through

the

use

bilingual

staff

for

speakers

who
wish

utilize

the

service

available.

Speakers

should

state

their

request

contacting

the

City
Clerk’s

office

(818)

548-2090,

least

72 hours

prior

the

scheduled

meeting

soon

as
practicable.

Please

specify

the

language

for

which

you

require

translation.

The

exclusive

use

City
provided

interpreters

not

required

and

persons

are

welcome

use

their

own

interpreter

speak
in their native language.

OCTOBER 8, 2024

Roll Call
-
3:00 PM
-
Report of the City Clerk of the City Council, re: Posting of Agenda. The Agenda for the Tuesday, October 8, 2024 Special Public Meeting of the City Council was posted on October 4, 2024, on the Bulletin Board Outside City Hall.

1 TYPED 10/4/2024 2:51:42 PM
10 08 24
SP CC

SPECIAL PUBLIC MEETING
of the City Council is hereby called to meet at

3:00
PM
on
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
, in the Council Chamber, 613 E. Broadway, 2nd Floor
,
Glendale, CA 91206 to consider the following item(s) of business, to wit;

1. Community Development, re:

Acceptance of state funds from the State of California
Governor’s Office of Economic Development; and Authorization to Negotiate with Up to Two Tech Startup Growth Program Proposer(s) to Develop and Implement the Startup Growth Program(s)
Acceptance of state funds from the State of California
Governor’s Office of Economic Development; and Authorization to Negotiate with Up to Two Tech Startup Growth Program Proposer(s) to Develop and Implement the Startup Growth Program(s)
Acceptance of state funds from the State of California
Governor’s Office of Economic Development; and Authorization to Negotiate with Up to Two Tech Startup Growth Program Proposer(s) to Develop and Implement the Startup Growth Program(s)
a. Motion approving acceptance of state funds in the amount of $1,000,000 from the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-BIZ) b. Resolution of Appropriation in the amount of $1,000,000 for the Glendale Tech Startup Growth Program(s)
c. Motion authorizing the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute professional services agreements and all related documents with FoundersBoost and SmartGateVC LLC for the operation and program management of Tech Startup Growth Programs located in Glendale

ADJOURNMENT

2 TYPED 10/4/2024 2:51:42 PM
10 08 24
SP CC

1 CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA

REPORT TO THE SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL

AGENDA ITEM
Report: Acceptance of state funds from the State of California Governor’s Office of Economic Development; and Authorization to Negotiate with Up to Two Tech Startup Growth Program Proposer(s) to Develop and Implement the Startup Growth Program(s)

1. Council Motion approving acceptance of state funds in the amount of $1,000,000 from the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-BIZ).

2. Council Resolution of Appropriation in the amount of $1,000,000 for the Glendale Tech Startup Growth Program(s).

3. Council Motion authorizing the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute professional services agreements and all related documents with FoundersBoost and SmartGateVC LLC for the operation and program management of Tech Startup Growth Programs located in Glendale.

COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Action Item
Approved for October 8, 2024 calendar

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Since the adoption of the Glendale Tech Strategy in 2017, the Economic Development Division has effectively launched programs and events focused on advancing the local startup and innovation ecosystem.

To further support the tech community, the city received a $1 million grant in 2019 from the State of California’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-BIZ), secured by Senator Anthony Portantino. In 2024, the city was awarded a second $1 million grant from GO-BIZ, again through Senator Portantino’s efforts. This funding will continue to foster tech-focused initiatives within the city and support the creation or expansion of tech startup studios, incubators, and/or business accelerator programs in Glendale.
3 of 222

21 5
2 9
0 On May 15, 2024, the city released a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking operators to lead tech startup growth programs aimed at accelerating the city’s tech industry, with submissions due by July 12, 2024.

In response, a total of seventeen proposals were received. The Selection Committee reviewed all submissions and interviewed the top five based on pre-determined metrics, qualifications, and experience. Ultimately, FoundersBoost and SmartGateVC LLC emerged as the top two final candidates.

RECOMMENDATION
Approve a motion accepting the $1,000,000 from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and authorize a Resolution of Appropriation to appropriate a total of $1,000,000; authorize the City Manager to execute professional services agreements to implement the Startup Growth Programs from the recommended Operators.

ANALYSIS
For many years, the City’s Economic Development Division has dedicated efforts to fostering a vibrant business community by developing programs and resources to support local businesses. With quality office space, access to talent and amenities, and a competitive business environment, cultivating the technology sector in Glendale was seen as the next step in revitalizing downtown and growing the city’s economy.

On February 23, 2016, the city contracted with Estolano Advisors to develop a roadmap for growing Glendale’s technology sector and economy. The Glendale Tech Strategy report, adopted by Council in 2017, outlined recommendations to strengthen this ecosystem including hosting networking events, enhancing marketing efforts, improving amenities, and fostering stronger collaboration with the community and partners.

Since the adoption of the Tech Strategy, staff has implemented many of the recommendations, including the following:

Business Retention and Engagement visits to Glendale’s top tech employers to further promote Glendale as a tech hub and business-friendly city; Hosting Glendale Tech on Tap, a monthly meet-up event that convenes tech entrepreneurs in a casual networking and learning environment. Coordinating Glendale Tech Week, an annual community event series that highlights the ecosystem of innovation and technology across all sectors and age groups. Tech Week 2023 attracted more than 2,000 local and regional attendees to share ideas, gain insights, make connections, and celebrate the achievements of the growing tech community in the city. This year’s Glendale Tech Week is the City’s 9th year running the event and involved over 60 different local and regional companies and organizations.
4 of 222

31 5
2 9
0 Supported the launch of two local startup accelerators, Hero House of Glendale and KidsX of Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (via State Grant Funding). Assisted in the retention and expansion of large tech companies such as Service Titan, Age of Learning, and Beyond Limits, while recruiting additional companies such as Evite.
Began work to develop a robust marketing campaign to highlight Glendale’s strengths and advantages to the local and external tech communities.

While the Economic Development Division has continued with these efforts, staff has recently intensified efforts on developing additional programming and resources to further support the tech and business community. These initiatives include:
Industry Infographics – Industry-specific collateral that provides compelling at- a-glance data points to showcase Glendale’s value proposition. Business Resource Guide – A comprehensive guide offering general information about federal, state, county, and local programs and incentives. How to Do Business in Glendale Guide – A step-by-step guide outlining the necessary steps and resources for establishing a business in the city. Annual 2024 Let’s Grow Glendale Small Business Summit – Now in its second year, attendance has doubled to nearly 400 attendees and features a series of breakout sessions on key topics to support business growth. Upstart Valley Marketing Initiative with the city of Burbank: A collaborative marketing initiative to boost the region’s tech profile. Complimentary Human Resource Hotline to Glendale employers: Offers local businesses guidance on critical HR-related matters such as benefits, hiring, leave laws, termination, and wage laws.
Regular Business Seminars/Events: A series of seminars providing deeper insights into effective business strategies and access to experts to support business growth.

Initial $1 million from the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
On November 15, 2019, the City of Glendale received a $1 million grant from the State of California, secured by State Senator Anthony Portantino. As part of the agreement, the City was responsible for allocating these funds to a qualified accelerator or accelerators over three years.

In January 2020, the city released a Request for Proposal (RFP), and the selection committee recommended KidsX from the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) and Hero House as the final two accelerator operators for the Council’s consideration of approval. The Council approved the committee’s recommendations in December 2019.

Contracts executed with both accelerators were from 2021 to 2023. 5 of 222

41 5
2 9
0 With this initial state grant, Glendale successfully supported the launch of two tech- focused accelerator programs, enhancing the city’s brand and business-friendly reputation, attracting new companies and tech workers, and increasing opportunities for tech startups globally.

Some of the successes of both accelerator programs are as follows:

Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA)
61% of KidsX alumni have successfully raised capital and about $129 million has been raised through public series funding
Two alumni startups have been acquired (Rose Health was acquired by Precision Behavior, a behavior health company based in Westlake Village, CA, and OneRecord was acquired by Millman IntelliScript) for undisclosed amounts. KidsX has built out its consortium of hospitals to include over 30 pediatric hospitals across three continents
KidsX continues to have a tremendous impact on digital innovation within pediatric health and has led 10 innovation programs
64 startups have participated in KidsX programs over the course of seven accelerator cohorts
Hero House by Smart Gate VC
Some of the accelerator and alumni successes include:
eLabNext: Opened a new office in Glendale within Hero House Britive (Cloud identity Security Company – Hero House Alumnus): Now has an office in Glendale
Esper Bionics (Engineering Company – Hero House Alumnus): Made Time Magazine’s list of best inventions for their game changing AI-powered bionic hand.
Expper Technology (Hero House Alumnus) – Invented Robin the Robot, the world’s first emotionally intelligent robot and named Time Magazine’s Best Invention of 2021
Hero House continues to host regular events and has become a central location for the early-stage startup community in Glendale and the broader innovation ecosystem in SoCal, connecting entrepreneurs to each other, investors, and collaborators
Economic Development Strategic Plan (2022 – 2025)
In June of 2022, the city reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the tech ecosystem by adopting its first Three-Year Economic Development Strategic Plan. The plan identified four key priority areas:
6 of 222

51 5
2 9
0 Brand Identity – Strengthen brand identity and enhance awareness of Glendale on a local, national, and global scale.
Business Culture – Develop a business-friendly ecosystem that supports business attraction, retention, and expansion efforts to ensure a diverse, equitable, inclusive, and resilient economy.
Innovation Ecosystem – Grow the local innovation and tech industry sector to attract and retain talent and support the growth and success of entrepreneurs. Entertainment & Lifestyle – Enhance the arts, culture, and entertainment sectors to position Glendale as a premier destination city.

While several successful initiatives have been launched, more can still be done to support the ecosystem of innovation, particularly for early-stage founders and startups.

Additional State Funding Received
In April 2024, California State Senator Anthony Portantino, successfully secured another $1 million for the city to continue fostering tech-focused initiatives and support the creation or expansion of tech startup studios, incubators, and/or business accelerator programs. To obtain these funds, the State requested a Standard Agreement, Scope of Work, Budget Detail and Payment Provisions (attached as Exhibit A).

On April 22, 2024, the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development executed an agreement with the City of Glendale. As part of the agreement, the City is responsible for allocating these funds to expand Glendale’s technology hub from April 2024 to March 2027. The city is required to submit annual reports to the State of California detailing expenditures, services provided, and the positive economic outcomes of these programs.

On May 15, 2024, the city issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) seeking operators to lead startup growth programs aimed at accelerating the city’s tech industry, with submissions due by July 12, 2024. The full RFP is attached as Exhibit B, with addedums provided in Exhibits C & D.

Glendale’s Technology Sector
With a resident population of nearly 200,000, a daytime population of over 211,000, and a workforce consisting of 72% white collar employees, Glendale is home to over 1,146 high-tech companies, ranging from startup to industry giants. In total, high-tech industries employ over 12,000 individuals, with the top 5 industries consisting of management of companies and enterprises; aerospace product and parts manufacturing; management, scientific and technical consulting services; computer systems design and related services; semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing (see table 1 below).
7 of 222

61 5
2 9
0 Table 1. Number of High-Tech Firms by Subsector, Glendale* High-Tech Subsector in Glendale # of Employees
Management of Companies and Enterprises 3,186
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 1,480
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting
Services 1,430
Computer Systems Design and Related Services 1,376
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component
Manufacturing 1,329
Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,042
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services 246
Scientific Research and Development Services 238
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies
Merchant Wholesalers 208
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 201 Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control
Instruments Manufacturing 200
Facilities Support Services 143
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 135
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other
Information Services 126
Other 718
Total 12,059
*Industries were defined by NAICS code classifications that JobsEQ has categorized as “High-Tech” industries. Data was based on Q3 2023 data.

Startup Growth Programs – Why it Matters
Glendale has a growing tech startup community and a budding reputation as a tech hub within the broader Los Angeles region. As crucial drivers of economic vitality and innovation, these small businesses have the potential to become high-growth 8 of 222

71 5
2 9
0 enterprises that generate revenue, create jobs, and innovate solutions. While many startup tech companies exist within the City of Glendale, the support structure within the City required to incubate, accelerate, fund, and guide these companies to success still has a large opportunity to be strengthened.

The successes of the accelerator programs funded through the 2019 GoBiz grant show how essential growth programs are in building the local tech community, attracting companies and talent to and retaining them within the City, and benefiting innovation within the community as a whole. There still exists, however, an opportunity to expand the capacity, broaden the scope, and increase the diversity of growth programs available to the entrepreneurs looking to grow in Glendale. As an example, very early- stage companies, founders, and entrepreneurs have been given a community at Hero House, who has done a tremendous job establishing itself within the region as a destination for this audience. There does not exist, however, a similar community anchor for mid-sized and growth-stage startups within the City. Similarly, the Disney Accelerator and KidsX both provide top tier programming for a very narrow set of startup industries (entertainment tech and pediatric digital healthcare respectively), yet there remains a dearth of opportunity for startups within industries outside those niche focus areas.

Therefore, in order to continue advancing the City’s Tech Strategy, the Economic Development Division needs to sustain its role in building community and expanding the resources available to entrepreneurs and startups at all stages and within all industries.

Having a variety of support programs fosters an ecosystem where innovation can flourish at all stages, from idea inception to market domination. This diversity attracts a wider range of entrepreneurs, from first-time founders to seasoned tech leaders, while also drawing investors, mentors, and talent to the region. It creates a vibrant, interconnected network where startups can evolve, pivot, or scale depending on their needs, ensuring a dynamic and resilient tech ecosystem. Additionally, these programs help foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and innovation across sectors, making the community more competitive on a regional, national, and even global level.

Allowing for the expansion of the startup support system through the introduction of additional Growth Programs will further strengthen the tech community within the City, elevate the innovation and entrepreneurship occurring locally, and equip startup teams with more tools, support, and opportunity to build and scale a thriving company in Glendale. These efforts will further enhance Glendale’s business-friendly reputation and tech identity, positioning the city to attract new firms and catalyze the growth and success of local tech companies while bolstering its reputation as a destination for companies looking to grow and succeed.

STARTUP GROWTH PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goals and objectives for the Startup Growth Program identified in the RFP include:
9 of 222

81 5
2 9
0 Goals:

1. Showcase the local startup community and provide emerging companies with the tools and support they need to thrive in today’s market;

2. Promote Glendale and the region as an innovation hub;

3. Attract and retain a diverse pool of tech talent to Glendale and the broader area; and,

4. Drive local economic development through supporting entrepreneurs and potential high-growth startups that may generate revenue, create high-wage paying jobs, and create products/ideas that are solving meaningful problems.

Objectives:

1. Establish, launch, and operate a Startup Growth Program within Glendale;

2. Develop a marketing and recruitment plan for attracting companies;

3. Construct programming that would include, but is not limited to: business coaching, networking, mentoring, and investment opportunities;

4. Identify quantifiable metrics to gauge the Growth Program’s success

5. Maximize the awarded grant funding over three (3) years and identify other funding sources and/or in-kind services for continued operation of the Growth Program beyond three years;

6. Market the Growth Program as a way to promote the region; and,

7. Absorb and/or work alongside City of Glendale programming efforts established to support the Glendale Tech ecosystem (e.g., Glendale Tech Week and Glendale Tech on Tap).

Submission Requirements:

Eligible respondents may include individuals, private companies, venture capital firms, incubator or accelerator program operators, non-profit organizations, industry groups, academic or research institutions, co-working spaces, etc. Respondents may be comprised of one or more individuals or entities; if so, respondents must identify a primary entity and formal program partners.

The City encourages partnerships with local entities to ensure full program capacity and expertise, and to serve the needs of the Tri-City region and Los Angeles County startup ecosystem. The ideal respondent will demonstrate proven relationships with angel investors, venture capital (VC) firms, and other seed-stage investors that would be willing to meet with and potentially fund companies, as well as have access to a wide network of professionals in the tech industry who can serve as mentors to participating companies.

A summary of key business terms in the RFP include:
Term: A three-year term. Funds will be disbursed each year following successfully fulfilling metrics. The City will also provide in-kind assistance through an assigned Glendale business concierge staffer on permitting, incentives, marketing, etc. for companies looking to locate within the City of Glendale during or post-program.
10 of 222

91 5
2 9
0 Budget: Must provide a line-item budget outlining the costs for the Growth Program for the first year, including direct labor, rent, travel, supplies and other categories as applicable. The $1 million in grant funding is intended to be split between two (2) selected operators, allocating $500,0000 to each operator spread out over the contract period. If respondent believes it could further advance the city’s tech strategy by being awarded both halves of the grant ($1 million total), the respondent shall submit a second budget. Growth Program Location: Must have a physical location within the City of Glendale and must hold at least one in-person event within the City as part of the Program each year.
Local Companies Supported: A minimum of one cohort per year and ten (10) companies supported per year, in addition indirectly supporting other startups through community efforts and interactions with companies. Efforts to advance the Glendale Tech Strategy’s goal of increasing the number of tech companies operating within Glendale is required.
Stakeholders Engagement: Must demonstrate connections to or planned partnerships with established investment funds, existing accelerator operators, existing co-working spaces, local colleges and universities, and other local businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions in order to provide a support network to the tech startups that are part of the proposed programs.

The critical timeline milestones identified in the RFP are as follows:

Date Milestone
May 15, 2024 Issuance of Request for Proposals
May 29, 2024 Pre-Bid Conference (also recorded and
made public)
June 21, 2024 Written Questions Due from Proposers
June 28, 2024 City Responses to Written Questions
Issued
July 12, 2024 Deadline for Submitting Proposals
Late July and August 2024 Selection Committee Reviews Proposals Late August 2024 Interviews with Top 5 Proposals
September/October 2024 Selection Committee’s Recommendations to City Council for Final Approval

STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Since receiving confirmation that the city would be receiving the additional funds, Economic Development staff engaged in an outreach strategy to the startup and business community, potential corporate businesses, and accelerator operators.

Various methods of outreach were utilized to have as broad of a reach as possible within both the traditional business community ecosystem as well as the tech community ecosystem. Outreach efforts are detailed below:
11 of 222

101
5 2
9 0
Media Outlets:

A formal press release was sent to the following media outlets and journalists:

Los Angeles Business Journal, San Fernando Velley Business Journal, Glendale News-Press, Los Angeles Times, Crescenta Valley Weekly, Glendale Independent, Pasadena Now, Outlook Newspaper, AsianWeek, Appo US Armenia Today, Asbarez Editorial, Asbarez English News, Asbarez News, La Opinion, Fox TV, Armenian Media Group of America, Armenian Observor, USArmenia TV, KBS America, KPCC, Go Glendale, California Courier Armenian Newspaper, Center for Asian American Media, American Multimedia Television USA, Korea Times, City News Service, Waste Dive, LA Sentinel, Fil-Am LA, “Associated Press – Los Angeles Bureau”, CBS, Fox TV, “Journal of Hispanic Higher Education”, Radio Korea, First Nations Experience (FNX), ARTN Shant – TV, Freelance Reporter, Pace News, Koreatown Daily, LA Weekly, Los Angeles Daily News, Horizon Armenian TV, International Christian Family Network, Iranshahr News Agency, KNBC TV, PublicCEO, Hispanos Unidos, Japan America Media Association, KABC TV, LA Taco, KTLA, John Quarterly Mailer, China Biz News, Korea Times Los Angeles, Edition, Tolucan Times, Burbank City Government PIO, El Aviso, Sing Tao Daily, Korea Times, Latino Times, Laist, KPCC, Korean Christian Press, NBC Universal, Univision Noticias, US Armenian TV, US Armenian TV Info, USA Armenian Life, ABC 7 News, Local News Pasadena, La Opinion, AABC TV, AABC TV, World Journal, China Daily, The Armenian Report General, The Armenian Report Press, The Asian Journal, CBS, The California Report – KQED-FM, Hoy Los Angeles, Tehran Magazine, Cultural News, Pan Armenian TV, CBS, ABC 7, Beacon Media News, Pasadena Journal, NBC Universal, AsianWeek, The California Report – KQED-FM, LA Sentinel, Pasadena Now Press, Balita Media, NBC Universal, KCBS Channel 2, KCET, Kandid Koffee, LA Business Journal, LA Canada Outlook, LA Cop, LA Daily News, LA News, CBS, The California Report – KQED-FM, NBC Universal, Armenian Radio, NY Times, Estrella TV and Radio, CBS, City News Service, Massis Weekly, Tikkun, Orange County Register, ABC 7, Molorak Weekly, Outlook Newspaper – Pasadena, Tapesh TV, NBC Uni/LA Telemundo, New Armenia, Associated Press, Korea Daily, KTLA Assignment Editor, Nor Gyank Armenian Newspaper, KNBC TV, Tribune, Valley Sun, Koreatown Daily, Palmira Perez, “Estrellas en Los Angeles”, ANCA Western Region, Rafu Shimpo, and Yue Zhang.

Community Groups:

Personalized emails, social media mentions, and the formal press release were sent to the following community groups who distributed information about the RFP to their membership and communities:

SoCal Innovation Alliance, ReCast, Startup Starter, AI LA, ReDesign Health, BioScience LA, Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Montrose-Verdugo Chamber of Commerce, Greater Downtown Glendale Association, Montrose Shopping Park Association, Valley Economic Alliance, Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce, Professional Development Center – GCC, Glendale Community College, Verdugo Job Center, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, 12 of 222

111
5 2
9 0
Glendale Latino Association, Filipino American Business Association of Glendale, Filipino American Business Association of Glendale (Filipino Sister City Association), Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Armenian Council, Auto Club of Southern California (AAA)
Prior Applicants to 2020 Glendale Tech Accelerator Grant:

Personalized emails were sent to all former applicants and interested parties to the previous tech community grant released by the City of Glendale. The recipients were:

KidsX, Techstars, Untapped Ventures, HeroHouse, Plug and Play, Continental Advisory Services, IBA DMZ USC Accelerator, Grid110 & Hacker Fund, EvoNexus, iLab Collective, NextGen Media Foundry, I3 Consortium, WeWork, ListVentures & Sophist Capital, Green2Gold, Cal Lutheran University, TechFire, Womens Startup Lab, Ruzanna Dinger, Tech Coast Angels, Gener8tor, Noorcon, Center for Social and Technological Entrepreneurship, CSUN, Hacker Fund, Startup Council, Expert Dojo, SEC Construction Management, Le Health Innovation
Additional Interested Parties:

Personalized emails were sent to the following individuals and parties who expressed interest directly to the Economic Development Division during conversations, meetings, or other venues:

Tim Carson, Triple S Ventures, Knox Labs, Karl & Done, Sunstone Cities, Hamaynapatker, Harut Sassounian, Silva Media Group, Pegasus Angel Accelerator, ScaleHealth, All Raise, Polo, Kara Nightingale

RECEIVED PROPOSALS
In total, seventeen proposals were received as follows (alphabetical order):

1. 2080 Ventures

2. Cela Innovation

3. Continental Advisory Services

4. EQM Ventures and Westgard

5. Expert DOJO

6. FoundersBoost

7. Gener8tor

8. KnoxLabs

9. Larta Institute and CVWD

10.Passbook Cartel Venture Studio

11.Plug and Play

12.ScaleHealth

13.SEC Construction Co

14.Silva Harapetian

15.SmartGateVC LLC

16.Sunstone

17.Untapped Ventures
13 of 222

121
5 2
9 0
Selection Committee
To ensure a comprehensive and impartial evaluation process, a Selection Committee (“Committee”) was assembled to review the proposals. The Committee was comprised of individuals with diverse expertise, perspectives, and backgrounds that allowed them to speak to the growing tech ecosystem in Glendale and how it plays into the broader Los Angeles Area innovation ecosystem. The Economic Development Division created and selected judges to fit seven personas representing different backgrounds and points of view. The diversity of perspectives in the Selection Committee allows for a recommendation that has considered how the Operator(s) will improve the internal tech ecosystem within the City, advance the startups participating in their programs, bring an increased reputation to the City, and elevate the City’s role as a collaborative and driving member of the SoCal Tech scene.

Selection Committee Members (alphabetical order):

1. Armen Vartanian
a.Title: Founder, Oceanview Capital Partners
b.Relevant Experience: An enormous champion of tech-ecosystem- building efforts within Glendale, a veteran investor within the Glendale innovation ecosystem, and part of the Selection Committee for the 2019 GOBiz grant for a Glendale Tech Accelerator.
c.Persona: Investor

2. David Yeom
a.Title: CEO, Evite
b.Relevant Experience: CEO of a large tech company that chose to move its headquarters to the City of Glendale, has perspective on the needs of smaller sized and larger sized tech companies with an emphasis on building the culture of the City of Glendale to support tech. c.Persona: Tech company in Glendale

3. Espree Devora
a.Title: Founder of We Are LA Tech
b.Relevant Experience: Multiple-time founder of tech companies both within and outside the Los Angeles area who is one of the original community-builders for the tech and startup ecosystem that helped to shape LA’s tech scene.
c.Persona: Startup perspective / Broader tech ecosystem

4. Gillian van Muyden (Selection Committee for Interviews only) a.Title: Chief Assistant Attorney, City of Glendale
b.Relevant Experience: Served as a member of the Selection Committee for the 2019 GOBiz grant for a Glendale Tech Accelerator, longtime advocate for the advancement and growth of Glendale’s tech economy while ensuring the City’s legal and municipal needs are being met. c.Persona: City of Glendale’s Legal Perspective
14 of 222

131
5 2
9 0

5. Omkar Kulkarni
a.Title: Chief Transformation & Digital Officer, CHLA; Director, KidsX b.Relevant Experience: Former awardee of the 2019 GOBiz grant for a Glendale Tech Accelerator, leader within the LA Region’s health tech and innovation landscape, current and founding director of a highly successful accelerator program who can speak to the financial, logistical, and operational aspects of leading a tech-startup growth program. c.Persona: Broader tech ecosystem

6. Dr. Ryan Cornner
a.Title: President, Glendale Community College
b.Relevant Experience: Visionary president of the local Community College who has proactively engaged with the local and regional tech industry to strengthen the tech talent pipeline within and surrounding Glendale. c.Persona: Tech Talent Education Pipeline

7. Soua Vang
a.Title: Deputy Director of Economic Development, City of Glendale b.Relevant Experience: The city’s Economic Development Division head, led the development of the City‘s Economic Development Strategic Plan and champion of the growth and development of the City’s tech and business ecosystem.

Persona: City of Glendale’s Economic Development and Tech Strategy The division’s Senior Economic Development Coordinator, David Crawley Delgado, was the project manager and facilitated discussions but was not a voting member or judge on the committee.

Selection Process and Evaluation Criteria
Economic Development staff facilitated all meetings and discussions throughout the selection process, which included the following:
July 15, 2024 – All proposals sent to Committee for Review and Ratings August 16, 2024 – Committee Responses Due to the City
August 19, 2024 - The Committee met to discuss initial ratings of the proposals.

It resulted in narrowing down the pool from sixteen to the top five candidates, based on the evaluation criteria detailed below.
August 20 – August 23, 2024 – Virtual interviews with the Top Five qualifying candidates and recommendations of the top two finalists.

The Evaluation Criteria utilized included the following:
15 of 222

141
5 2
9 0
Proposed Plan and Approach (30%), including level of detail and viability in the proposed plan. Specifically, applicants were rated on curriculum module and/or service; recruitment process; quantifiable metrics; and marketing and branding. Relevant Qualifications and Experience (30%), including experience in developing, implementing, and operating a startup growth program; qualification and experience of key personnel, including relationship between the primary entity and program partner(s), if applicable; connection to or planned partnerships and references
Financial Capacity (20%), including demonstrated financial stability, readiness to proceed, and ability to meet city’s general terms and conditions, including contract terms; detailed line-item budget; and proof of leverage funding. Commitment to the Glendale Tech Community (20%), including demonstrated commitment and plan to engage the Glendale tech ecosystem and to advance the Glendale Tech Strategy, and viable physical location for the Growth Program within Glendale.

Interviews – Top Five Candidates
Following the review and rating of all proposals, the Committee held interviews with the top five candidates who achieved the highest scores based on the evaluation criteria.

The companies interviewed included (in alphabetical order):
Expert DOJO
FoundersBoost
Plug and Play
SmartGateVC LLC
Sunstone
The scores are detailed as follows:

Expert
Dojo
Founders
Boost
SmartGateVC
LLC
Plug and
Play Sunstone
Avg.

Proposal
Score
(#/100)

67.17 75.50 72.17 71.67 69.50
Avg.

Interview
Score
(#/100)

66.71 81.00 89.71 58.71 69.85
Total 133.88 156.50 161.88 130.38 139.35
16 of 222

151
5 2
9 0
City’s Due Diligence
The Economic Development team reached out to all references provided by the top candidates via email and/or phone calls to verify the claims made in the proposals.

Top Two (2) Ranked Proposals (in alphabetical order)
FoundersBoost (Recommended to receive $500,000 over 3 years) SmartGateVC LLC (Recommended to receive $500,000 over 3 years) The selection committee unanimously approved the recommendation of the FoundersBoost and SmartGateVC LLC as the equal recipients of the funds contained in the GOBiz grant. These two candidates demonstrated, over the course of the application and interview process, a track record of building and running highly successful startup growth programs, an ability to accelerate the tech ecosystems they have been involved in, and a commitment to the advancement of the tech community here within the City of Glendale.

The selection committee reserved the right to recommend the full grant total ($1,000,000) to a single operator if the increased budget achieved the goals of the grant better than the top two proposed plans for $500,000.

After engaged discussion, it is the expert opinion of the selection committee that recommending the distribution of the grant funds to both operators will best achieve the goals outlined in the RFP. The existence of both programs, proposed by SmartGateVC LLC and FoundersBoost, will both broaden and deepen the resources available to tech startups. These will augment existing resources, expand the capacity to impact more entrepreneurs, engage with local schools, increase the frequency and impact of tech events and gatherings, and elevate the brand, image, and reputation of the Glendale tech ecosystem.

These two programs, if Council approves the selection committee’s recommendation, will work symbiotically to create an even stronger network of support that can help attract, form, and drive startups towards success. Each type of program serves a unique function within the ecosystem, targeting different needs and stages of growth for startups.

Overview of the FoundersBoost Program
FoundersBoost Foundation, in partnership with Hacker Fund and the Alliance for SoCal Innovation, will establish, launch, and operate the Glendale Growth Alliance (“The Accelerator”). This innovative program aims to support high-potential underrepresented founders from the LA region, attracting them to the Glendale ecosystem. The core initiative revolves around bi-annual FoundersBoost accelerators focused on scalable tech startups led by underrepresented founders. Additionally, graduates will receive 17 of 222

161
5 2
9 0
support to enter the Alliance’s SoCal Venture Pipeline, providing them with further opportunities for growth and investment. In addition, the Glendale Growth Alliance has proposed hosting large-scale hackathons within Glendale, bringing in students, entrepreneurs, and innovators from around the region together to collectively solve pressing problems. The program touches upon every stage of the startup journey, from idea development through company funding and growth.

Key Program Components (as outlined in Exhibit E pages 16-18) Formal bi-annual accelerator program for 8 startups run by FoundersBoost including:
oWeekly Sessions over a 7-week program
oTailored Mentorship
oPitch Development Process
oProvision of Resources
oDemo Day
oGlobal Investor Showcase
oOngoing Support
Innovation Hackathons run by Hacker Fund
Investment support for top startups through the SoCal Venture Pipeline Overview of the SmartGateVC LLC Proposed Program
SmartGateVC presents a comprehensive three-year proposal to the City of Glendale, building upon the foundation established during their successful three-year partnership with the City. SmartGateVC proposes a Venture Building program which will be a premier studio located in the vibrant City of Glendale, California. Its mission is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and market-ready products by fostering collaborations between academic institutions and industry leaders. With a focus on laboratories in universities across Southern California, the proposed Venture Building program will be dedicated to building companies from groundbreaking technologies.

The objective of the program is to build businesses, help founders to raise pre-seed funding following the program, and acquire their very first paying customers.

Key Program Components (as outlined in Exhibit F pages 28-30) Creation of startup-creation program focusing on:
oAI & Physical World
oAI & Cyber Security
oAI & Our Brains
oAI & LLMs
Program focus will include:
oBuilding companies
oSupporting entrepreneurship
oEnhancing Economic Growth
oFacilitating Collaboration
18 of 222

171
5 2
9 0
The selection committee feels confident that funding these two programs will be a powerful step for the City towards achieving the vision of Glendale as a vibrant tech hub.

For full details about both proposed programs, refer to Exhibit F and G.

The specifics and Scope of Work of the programs will be determined as part of the negotiation and contracting process but will adhere to the minimum requirements outlined in the RFP.

FISCAL IMPACT
Funding for the Startup Growth Programs is from a $1 million grant from the State of California, which was not included in the adopted FY 2024-25 budget. Therefore, staff is requesting these funds to be appropriated to the following accounts:

Requesting Appropriation
Amount From (Account
String)
To (Account String) Funding Source
$1,000,000 32610-2160-CDD-
0020; CDD01306AG
43110-2160-CDD-
0020; CDD01306AG
State Grants –
Grant Fund

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
Not applicable.

CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
Campaign disclosure information is provided below pursuant to the City’s Campaign Finance Ordinance No. 5744. All disclosures from each participant can be found in Exhibits F and G.

ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Alternative 1: Authorize staff to negotiate with one operator or combination of operators to operate the Startup Growth Programs located in Glendale.

Alternative 2: Do not move forward with funding the Startup Growth Programs at this time and return the grant/check back to the State of California.

Alternative 3: Council may also consider any other alternative not proposed by staff.

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:

Bradley Calvert, Director of Community Development
19 of 222

181
5 2
9 0
Prepared by:

Soua Vang, Deputy Director of Community Development
David Crawley Delgado, Senior Economic Development Coordinator Approved by:

Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager

EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
Exhibit A: State of California Standard Agreement

Exhibit B: Glendale Tech Startup Growth Program RFP
Exhibit C: Glendale Tech Startup Growth Program RFP Addendum 1 Exhibit D: Glendale Tech Startup Growth Program RFP Addendum 2 Exhibit E: Recommended Proposal #1 – FoundersBoost
Exhibit F: Recommended Proposal #2 – SmartGateVC LLC
20 of 222

MOTION
Moved by Council Member _________________, seconded by Council Member __________, that the City Council hereby approves acceptance of state funds in the amount of $1,000,000 from the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-BIZ).

Vote as follows:

Ayes:

Noes:

Absent:

Abstain:
21 of 222

22 of 222

MOTION
Moved by Council Member _________________, seconded by Council Member __________, that the City Council hereby authorizes the City Manager or designee to negotiate and execute professional services agreements and all related documents with FoundersBoost and SmartGateVC LLC for the operation and program management of Tech Startup Growth Programs located in Glendale.

Vote as follows:

Ayes:

Noes:

Absent:

Abstain:
23 of 222

24 of 222

City of Glendale
Agreement Number 23GOB046
Exhibit A

1 Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development Exhibit A
Scope of Work

This Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Agreement is entered into by and between City of Glendale (hereinafter "Contractor") and the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (hereinafter, “State” or "GO-Biz"), hereafter jointly referred to as the "parties" or individually as the "party."

State funds will be allocated to the City of Glendale for the expansion of Glendale’s technology hub, per Assembly Bill 102. The term of this Agreement is April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2027.

Background
Since the adoption of the Tech Strategy in January 2017, the City of Glendale has implemented and facilitated a variety of efforts focused on the local technology sector. The Contractor must build off the momentum of previous successes based on Tech Strategy efforts:
• The creation of the Glendale Relationship Initiation Team (GRIT) to engage Glendale’s top tech employers to further promote Glendale as a tech hub and business-friendly city; • The success of Glendale Tech on Tap, a monthly meet-up event that features tech entrepreneurs in a casual environment. Tech on Tap has held more than 60 events so far; • Hosting the 8th Glendale Tech Week, an annual community conference that highlights the ecosystem of innovation and technology across all sectors and age groups within the city of Glendale and the surrounding area;
• Operated the Glendale Tech Week PitchFest0F1 where, since its inception, more than 250 companies have applied and participated in the 7 PitchFest events, over 50 startups have presented in real-time before a live audience and judging panel, and over $500,000 of prizes have been awarded to the 1st place winners;
• Distributed $1 million in grants to assist in the launch of two local startup accelerators, Hero House of Glendale and KidsX;
• Assisted in the retention and expansion of large tech companies such as Service Titan, Age of Learning, and Beyond Limits, while recruiting additional companies such as Evite; • Attracted high-end co-working space operators such as Industrious and We Work; and, • Received an additional $1 million grant, secured by California State Senator Anthony Portantino, from the Governor’s Office of Go-Biz to develop additional Growth Programs.

Program Goals

1. Showcase the local startup community and provide emerging companies with the tools and support they need to thrive in today’s market;

2. Promote Glendale and the region as an innovation hub;

3. Attract and retain a diverse pool of tech talent to Glendale and the broader area, and;

City of Glendale
Agreement Number 23GOB046
Exhibit A

2 Program Objectives

1. Establish, launch, and operate a Startup Growth Program within Glendale;

2. Develop a marketing and recruitment plan for attracting companies;

3. Construct programming that would include, but is not limited to: business coaching, networking, mentoring, and investment opportunities;

4. Identify quantifiable metrics to gauge the Growth Program’s success (at least 1 metric must align with the City of Glendale’s Tech Strategy points listed in section C, number 4 of the Submission Requirements below);

5. Maximize the awarded grant funding over three (3) years and identify other funding sources and/or in-kind services for continued operation of the Growth Program beyond three years;

6. Market the Growth Program as a way to promote the region; and,

7. Absorb and/or collaborate regarding programming efforts established to support the Glendale Tech ecosystem (e.g., Pro Glendale Tech Week and Glendale Tech on Tap).

8. The Growth Program must have a physical location within the City of Glendale, and shall identify the Growth Program location available to participating companies throughout the entire length of the program, including the physical address, square footage, and location amenities.

Additionally, the Growth Program must hold at least one in-person event within the City of Glendale as part of the Program each year.

Contractor shall comply with all governmental requirements, which means all laws, ordinances, statutes, codes, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of the United States, the State, the County, the City, or any other political subdivision in which the Site is located, and of any other political subdivision, agency or instrumentality exercising jurisdiction over the City, the Consultant or the real property owned by the City, including all applicable state labor standards, the City zoning and development standards, building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes, and all other provisions of the City’s Municipal Code, and all applicable disabled and handicapped access requirements, including without limitation the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 12101, et seq., Government Code Section 4450, et seq., Government Code Section 11135, et seq., and the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code Sections 51, et seq.

Contractor and any of its subcontractors shall comply with all governmental requirements applicable to public works, including without limitation the payment of prevailing wages in compliance with Labor Code Section 1770, et seq., if applicable, keeping of all records required pursuant to Labor Code Section 1776, complying with the maximum hours requirements of Labor Code Sections 1810 through 1815, and complying with all regulations and statutory requirements pertaining thereto, to the extent such requirements are applicable to the Project.

In Addition:

1. This Agreement may be amended, and term extended by written mutual consent of the State and Contractor. No alteration of or variation from the terms of this Agreement shall be valid unless made in writing and signed by both parties of this Agreement.

2. This Agreement contains all the terms and conditions agreed to by all parties. No other understanding, oral or otherwise, regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, shall be deemed to exist or to bind any of the parties hereto.
26 of 222

City of Glendale
Agreement Number 23GOB046
Exhibit A

3 3. Either party may terminate this Agreement upon sixty (60) days written notice to the other party.

4. The Contractor, from the date of the agreement, for the next three years, shall provide the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development a yearly report. This report shall include expenditures, services provided, and the positive economic outcomes of these programs.

The project representatives during the term of this agreement will be:

State Agency: Governor’s Office of Business and
Economic Development
Contractor: City of Glendale
Name: Jim Teahan, Administrative Chief Name: Bradley Calvert, Director of Community Development
Address: 1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95814
Address: 633 E. Broadway, Suite 103
Glendale, CA 91206
Phone: (916) 322-0671 Phone: (818) 548-2115
Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

27 of 222

City of Glendale
Agreement Number 23GOB046
Exhibit B

4 EXHIBIT B

PAYMENT PROVISIONS AND BUDGET DETAILS

Invoicing

For services satisfactorily rendered, and upon receipt and approval of the invoices, the State agrees to compensate the Contractor for actual expenditures incurred in accordance with the rates specified herein, which is attached hereto and made a part of this agreement.

The invoices shall include the Agreement number and be submitted to:

Governor’s Office of Business & Economic Development (GO-Biz) ATTN: Kendall MacKay
1325 J Street, Suite 1800
Sacramento, CA 95814
Or by email at: [email protected]

Payment Provisions

Total amount of this Agreement shall not exceed One Million Dollars and Zero Cents ($1,000,000.00).

This will be a one-time payment within forty-five (45) Days of the date the Agreement is signed by both parties.

Budget Contingency Clause

It is mutually agreed that if the Budget Act of the current year and/or any subsequent years covered under this Agreement does not appropriate sufficient funds for the program, this Agreement shall be of no further force and effect. In this event, the State shall have no liability to pay any funds whatsoever to Contractor or to furnish any other considerations under this Agreement and Contractor shall not be obligated to perform any provisions of this Agreement.

If funding for any fiscal year is reduced or deleted by the Budget Act for purposes of this program, the State shall have the option to either: cancel this Agreement with no liability occurring to the State or offer an Agreement Amendment to Contractor to reflect the reduced amount.

Prompt Payment Clause

Payment will be made in accordance with, and within the time specified in, Government Code, Chapter

4.5 commencing with Section 927.

28 of 222

1 Request for Proposals
Glendale Tech Startup Growth Programs

Release Date: May 15, 2024
Submission Deadline: June 28, 2024, 5:00pm PST

The City of Glendale (“City”) invites qualified respondents to submit a proposal for the operation and program management of a tech startup accelerator, incubator, startup studio, or similar tech- Startup Growth Program (“Growth Program”) located in Glendale, California. Proposals must be submitted in accordance with all requirements of the Request for Proposal (RFP). Any questions regarding this request for proposal should be directed to:

Soua Vang
Deputy Director of Community Development – Economic Development Glendale Economic Development Division
633 East Broadway, Suite 201
Glendale, California 91206
Phone: 818-548-2005
Email: [email protected]

29 of 222

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Contents
NOTICE OF PROHIBITION OF COMMUNICATION WITH, AND GIFTS OR GRATUITIES TO, THE CITY AND OTHERS .3 INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................................................3 DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS ..........................................................................................................................................4 BACKGROUND ............................................................................................................................................................4 UNDERSTANDING THE LOCAL TECH ECONOMY ........................................................................................................5 Tri-City Region ........................................................................................................................................................5 Upstart Valley ........................................................................................................................................................5 Glendale .................................................................................................................................................................6 CITY’S TECH STRATEGY EFFORTS ...............................................................................................................................7 STARTUP GROWTH PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .........................................................................................8 SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................................................8 AVAILABLE FUNDING AND SERVICES ..................................................................................................................... 12 EVALUATION CRITERIA ........................................................................................................................................... 13 EVALUATION PROCESS ........................................................................................................................................... 13 SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND REQUIREMENTS ...................................................................................................... 14 ACCEPTANCE OF SUBMITTALS ................................................................................................................................ 15 NOTICE REGARDING DISCLOSURE OF CONTENTS OF DOCUMENT ........................................................................ 15 EXHIBITS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION .................................................................................................................. 15

30 of 222

3 NOTICE OF PROHIBITION OF COMMUNICATION WITH, AND GIFTS OR

GRATUITIES TO, THE CITY AND OTHERS
A. From the date the report to City Council recommending the issuance of this RFP is published until the date on which the City awards a contract, if any, a Proposer must not directly or indirectly give, furnish, donate, or promise any money, compensation, gift, gratuity, or anything of value to the Glendale City Council or any City employee for the purpose of, or which has the effect of:

1. Securing or establishing an advantage over other Proposers;

2. Securing or recommending the selection of the Proposer’s Proposal; or

3. Securing or recommending a Contract award to any Proposer.

Violation of the forgoing prohibitions will constitute grounds for rejection of a proposal(s). Such rejection may be made within the sole and absolute discretion of the City of Glendale.

B. As more specifically set forth herein below under “Submission Deadline and Requirements,” the deadline for receiving proposals in response to this RFP is 5:00 pm on June 28, 2024. At all times following this deadline, and continuing until the City awards a contract, if any contract is awarded (the “Review Period”), all Proposers and their surrogates are prohibited from communicating in any manner with any Glendale City Council member and City employee involved in the RFP process unless expressly authorized by this RFP. This prohibition means that Glendale City Council members and City employees involved in the RFP process will not hold any meetings, conferences, or discussions via email, telephone, in-face, any form of social media or otherwise, with any Proposer during the Review Period. Provided, however, proposers and their representatives are not prohibited from making oral statements or presentations in public to one or more representatives of the City during a public meeting, and proposers may write to the City Council as a whole after City staff written recommendations are published in anticipation of a public meeting.

INTRODUCTION
The City of Glendale (“City”) is committed to supporting and growing business enterprises that improve the City’s economy. Since the adoption of the Glendale Tech Strategy (“Tech Strategy”) in January 2017, the City has implemented and facilitated a variety of efforts focused on the local startup and innovation ecosystem.

In 2019, the City received a $1 million grant from the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to launch and support a startup accelerator. In 2024, the City received a second $1 million grant from the State of California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to continue supporting the development of tech-focused initiatives within the City of Glendale. The grant will support the creation or expansion of tech startup studios, incubators, and/or business accelerator programs (“Growth Program”) within the City of Glendale. The Glendale Economic Development Division (“Economic Development”) will oversee the utilization of funds and program milestones, as well as be responsible for selecting two Growth Program Operators (“Operators”) per City Council approval. Leading up to this solicitation, Economic Development engaged the local startup community to gather feedback regarding the needs of local entrepreneurs, overall ecosystem needs, and potential best uses for the grant funding. 31 of 222

4 The City seeks proposals from highly qualified respondents to operate and manage a Growth Program to further support and grow the local startup ecosystem. This Request for Proposal (RFP) outlines the goals and objectives of the desired Growth Program and information respondents are required to submit to be considered as an Operator. The City of Glendale is seeking two qualified operators to develop, implement, and operate a tech-startup studio, incubator, and/or business accelerator (or meaningfully expand the function and/or capacity of an existing Growth Program) with the following goals in mind:
• Attract high growth startups to Glendale and retain them once they successfully complete the program;
• Contribute to a tech community that creates, attracts and retains a diversity of tech jobs and tech talent in Glendale and the Tri-City region;
• Support entrepreneurs’ ability to create and scale by connecting them with local resources including, but not limited to, funding groups and mentorship; • Elevate the profile of Glendale as a hub for innovation and a vital part of Southern California’s tech scene; and,
• Contribute to the innovation in leading industries in Glendale and surrounding communities, including, but not limited to, art and entertainment, healthcare, financial services and government.

DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS
The City intends to distribute the $1 million in funds between two qualified Operators over a three (3) year contracting period, with $500,000 going to each selected Operator. If the City feels that there is one single Operator whose proposal merits the allocation of the full amount ($1 million), the City reserves the right to award both halves to one single Operator. This decision will be made by the review committee and approved by the City Council.

The City will conduct periodic reviews of established benchmarks and metrics (to be agreed upon in the final contract) to ensure that the Operator is meeting the terms of the agreement. If the City feels that benchmarks are not being met and there is no good-faith effort on behalf of the Operator to address the cities concerns and remain in compliance with the contract, the City reserves the right to suspend additional funding until contract terms are met.

BACKGROUND
In the past decades, the City of Glendale’s Economic Development Division (“Economic Development”) has focused its efforts on creating a vibrant Downtown district, including attracting businesses to fill downtown office vacancies. As a result, Downtown Glendale is flourishing with a variety of shopping, dining, business, and residential options. The success of the City’s efforts motivated the City Council to seek a plan that would bring forth additional success in Glendale, this time in the technology sector. On February 23, 2016, the City Council engaged Estolano Advisors to develop a roadmap for Glendale’s tech sector.

The Glendale Tech Strategy (“Tech Strategy”) report, published in 2017, revealed the diversity of Glendale’s tech economy and a highly-educated workforce.1 The report offered strategies to support

1 City of Glendale. (2017). Glendale Tech Strategy. https://www.glendaleca.gov/home/showdocument?id=35855 32 of 222

5 and enhance the variety of industry subsectors, including calling for the creation of high-quality spaces where the tech industry to grow and thrive in Glendale. Creating a physical environment that attracts and promotes innovation requires a focus on providing high-quality and diverse real estate product for startup companies of all sizes. Downtown Glendale is becoming the hub for emerging and established companies, including Age of Learning, Service Titan, Evite, Beyond Limits AI and more, with the broader city of Glendale hosting established tech leaders such as Disney and DreamWorks. High-end coworking spaces including Regus, Industrious, and WeWork have opened locations in Glendale, allowing opportunities for remote-work hubs and expanding options for the tech workforce in the area.

The City also offers flexible, industrial options in West Glendale for companies in need of space for prototyping, manufacturing, or assembly.

With the initial grant from the GO-Biz, the City of Glendale was able to support the launch of two tech- focused accelerator programs (Hero House and KidsX), successfully elevating the brand and reputation of the City, bringing new companies and tech workers to the City, and increasing opportunities for tech startups globally. Accelerators, such as these, and other Growth Programs have been shown to create positive impact beyond the participating individual companies by uplifting regional entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Launching or expanding additional tech startup Growth Programs in the City would assist in expanding the tech ecosystem, ensure a continued vibrancy within the local business community, amplify the City’s contribution to SoCal’s reputation as a Tech-Hub, and highlight the City as an attractive home for tech companies and talent.

UNDERSTANDING THE LOCAL TECH ECONOMY
The Greater Los Angeles region continues to stand as a major player in the national and international tech ecosystem, ranking 4th in the US in terms of total tech talent and 2nd in the US for new the total number of newly graduated tech talent entering the labor pool. 2 The Greater Los Angeles region is also home to an active funding environment, despite an industry wide cooling on investment activity. In the past 5 years, Los Angeles ranked 5th amongst metro areas where AI was backed by VC funding.3 Tri-City Region
The Tri-City region (made up of Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena) has experienced a recent surge in high-tech companies, startups, and funding groups. Real Estate companies, such as Colliers, CBRE, and Madison Partners have all identified the tech, media, and entertainment industries as the main industries driving this growth. Additional contributors include top-tier research institutions such as CalTech and JPL.4 A strong workforce pipeline from local colleges and universities also exists in the area. Tri-City institutions such as Glendale Community College, Caltech, Pasadena City College, Art Center School of Design, and others, and regional top-tier universities such as UCLA, USC, and the Pomona Colleges all contribute to a highly educated, large tech talent pool.

Upstart Valley
In 2023, Glendale joined with the city of Burbank and other local and state partners to launch a collaborative initiative that promotes their collective position as a regional technology powerhouse.

Formally branded as Upstart Valley, this regional partnership seeks to support startups, entrepreneurs,

2 CBRE. (2023). Scoring Tech Talent 2023. https://www.cbre.com/insights/books/scoring-tech-talent-2023 3 CBRE. (2023). Tech 20: 2023. https://www.cbre.com/insights/reports/tech-30-2023 4 U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). Educational Attainment: 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 33 of 222

6 and the tech industry at large. Upstart Valley is a is a hub of innovation and entrepreneurship where emerging startups can find information, resources, and programming opportunities to support and expand this ecosystem of innovation and entrepreneurialism.

Glendale
The “Jewel City” of Glendale boasts a thriving business ecosystem consisting of a vibrant downtown with a mix of shopping, dining, entertainment, hotels and housing, a bustling office park, and internationally recognized shopping destinations. Glendale is centrally located, with access to top universities, such as USC, UCLA, and Cal Tech and aerospace and defense researchers and contractors such as JPL, Lockheed Martin, SpaceX, and Raytheon. Glendale is close to the Hollywood Burbank airport and cultural centers such as LA’s sports arenas, concert venues, and food and nightlife scene all while maintaining a safe community feel. With a resident population of over 200,000, a daytime population of over 211,000, and a workforce consisting of 72% white collar employees, Glendale is home to over 1,146 high-tech companies ranging from startup to industry giants5, 6. In total, high-tech industries employ over 12,000 individuals, with the top 5 industries consisting of management of companies and enterprises; aerospace product and parts manufacturing; management, scientific, and technical consulting services; computer systems design and related services; semiconductor and other electronic component manufacturing7 (see table 1).

Table 1. Number of High-Tech Firms by Subsector, Glendale* High-Tech Subsector # of Employees in Glendale
Management of Companies and Enterprises 3,186
Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing 1,480
Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services 1,430 Computer Systems Design and Related Services 1,376
Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing 1,329 Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services 1,042
Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services 246
Scientific Research and Development Services 238
Professional and Commercial Equipment and Supplies
Merchant Wholesalers 208
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution 201

5 ESRI
6 Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2023
7 JobsEQ – Total High-Tech within the city of Glendale, CA. https://jobseq.eqsuite.com/ 34 of 222

7 Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control
Instruments Manufacturing 200
Facilities Support Services 143
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing 135
Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services 126
Other 718
Total 12,059
*Industries were defined by NAICS code classifications that JobsEQ has categorized as “High-Tech” industries. Data was based on Q3 2023 data.

Tech-related companies continue to grow in the City. Glendale is home to expanding firms such as Age of Learning, Service Titan, DISQO, Evite, Dot818, Beyond Limits, and others, as well as established firms such as the Walt Disney Company, DreamWorks, and LegalZoom. With updates to much of its office real estate, as well as the addition of coworking spaces and an additional Growth Program, the City has the opportunity to boost its presence as a leading technology ecosystem.

CITY’S TECH STRATEGY EFFORTS
Since the adoption of the Tech Strategy in January 2017, the City has implemented and facilitated a variety of efforts focused on the local technology sector. The City seeks an Operator that can build off the momentum of previous successes based on Tech Strategy efforts:
• The creation of the Glendale Relationship Initiation Team (GRIT) to engage Glendale’s top tech employers to further promote Glendale as a tech hub and business-friendly city; • The success of Glendale Tech on Tap, a monthly meet-up event that features tech entrepreneurs in a casual environment. Tech on Tap has held more than 60 events so far; • Hosting the 8th Glendale Tech Week, an annual community conference that highlights the ecosystem of innovation and technology across all sectors and age groups within the city of Glendale and the surrounding area;
• Operated the Glendale Tech Week PitchFest8 where, since its inception, more than 250 companies have applied and participated in the 7 PitchFest events, over 50 startups have presented in real-time before a live audience and judging panel, and over $500,000 of prizes have been awarded to the 1st place winners;
• Distributed $1 million in grants to assist in the launch of two local startup accelerators, Hero House of Glendale and KidsX;
• Assisted in the retention and expansion of large tech companies such as Service Titan, Age of Learning, and Beyond Limits, while recruiting additional companies such as Evite; • Attracted high-end co-working space operators such as Industrious and We Work; and,

8 https://glendalenewspress.outlooknewspapers.com/2023/09/26/local-startup-wins-tech-weeks-pitchfest-prize/ 35 of 222

8 • Received an additional $1 million grant, secured by California State Senator Anthony Portantino, from the Governor’s Office of Go-Biz to develop additional Growth Programs.

STARTUP GROWTH PROGRAM GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The goals of the Growth Program include:

1. Showcase the local startup community and provide emerging companies with the tools and support they need to thrive in today’s market;

2. Promote Glendale and the region as an innovation hub;

3. Attract and retain a diverse pool of tech talent to Glendale and the broader area, and;

The objectives of the qualified respondent will include the following:

1. Establish, launch, and operate a Startup Growth Program within Glendale;

2. Develop a marketing and recruitment plan for attracting companies;

3. Construct programming that would include, but is not limited to: business coaching, networking, mentoring, and investment opportunities;

5. Maximize the awarded grant funding over three (3) years and identify other funding sources and/or in-kind services for continued operation of the Growth Program beyond three years;

6. Market the Growth Program as a way to promote the region; and,

7. Absorb and/or work alongside City of Glendale programming efforts established to support the Glendale Tech ecosystem (e.g., Glendale Tech Week and Glendale Tech on Tap).

Submission Requirements
Respondents may include individuals, private companies, venture capital firms, incubator or accelerator program operators, non-profit organizations, industry groups, academic or research institutions, co- working spaces, etc. If more than one individual or entity collaborates on a submission, respondents must identify a primary entity and formal program partners.

The City encourages partnerships with local entities in order to ensure full program capacity and expertise, and to serve the needs of the Tri-City region and Los Angeles County startup ecosystem.

The ideal respondent will demonstrate proven relationships with angel investors, venture capital (VC) firms, and other seed-stage investors that would be willing to meet with and potentially fund companies, as well as have access to a wide network of professionals in the tech industry who can serve as mentors to participating companies.

The City is open to creatively designed proposals; however, a complete and detailed proposal (see Sections A-F below) must, at a minimum, include the following:

A. Title Page and Cover Letter

36 of 222

9 1. Title Page
Provide the RFP name, respondent company/name and contact information on the title page.

2. Cover Letter
Briefly summarize your Growth Program and your team. Describe what is unique about your team and proposed approach. State why the City should be interested in your team.

B. Qualifications, Experience, and Past Performance

1. Primary Entity and Program Partner Information

i. Entity Name(s) – primary entity and program partners; ii. Contact information for primary entity including: name, title, address, phone number, email address;
iii. Type of entity, year founded, and business registration (if applicable); iv. List of owners, partners, or members of primary entity; v. Summary of the respondent’s organizational history and background; and, vi. Evidence of adequate financial capacity.

2. Key Personnel

i. Identify all key personnel for this project, including their roles on the project and qualifications (both primary entity and program partners); ii. Indicate a Managing Director who will be the main point of contact and liaison with City staff; and,
iii. Attach resumes for all key personnel describing education and relevant experience on similar projects (both primary entity and program partners).

3. Relevant Experience

Provide your experience in managing or implementing a startup growth program.

Provide one (1) example of a multi-year program, or two (2) examples of relevant projects completed within the last three (3) years that demonstrate the respondent’s experience as related to a growth program. For each example, include the following information:
i. Name and location of the project or program
ii. Ownership, financing/equity sources
iii. Launch date
iv. Current status of the program
v. Physical space used for the program, e.g., square footage, amenities, etc. vi. Description of team members involved (indicate roles) vii. Project metrics for success, such as: number of participating companies; funding raised by companies; number of jobs created; unicorn companies; etc.

4. References
37 of 222

10 Include three (3) references for the projects listed in Section 3 and describe relevant experience. Each reference should include: Full name, title, organization, phone number, and email address.

5. Partnerships
Describe demonstrated connections to or planned partnerships with the following (Note:
if a Partnership does not exist, simply indicate by placing N/A):

i. Established investment funds;
ii. Existing accelerator operators;
iii. Existing co-working spaces;
iv. Local colleges and universities (Glendale Community College, Pasadena City College, Caltech, UCLA, USC, Cal State Northridge, etc.); v. Southern California companies. Please describe any relationships with Glendale- based companies, (e.g., Age of Learning, Beyond Limits, Disney, DreamWorks, Service Titan, etc.), startups, investment funds, non-profits, and other institutions. vi. Other partnership not described which could support the development and implementation of your proposed program.

C. Detailed Program Plan and Approach
The respondent shall provide, in full detail, their program approach for the Growth Program in each of the following categories:

1. Targeted Participants
Provide a description of any specific sectors, verticals, or targeted populations (local residents/companies, women, veterans, entrepreneurs of color, etc.) that the Growth Program will focus on and provide clear reasoning for this decision. Growth Programs with a focus and strong reasoning behind selecting this focus will be given preference, though generalists may apply.

2. Recruitment Process
Provide a detailed approach of the recruitment process, including outreach strategies employed to identify and secure companies from a diverse selection pool. The proposer shall directly support a minimum of 10 companies per year, in addition indirectly supporting other startups through community efforts and interactions with companies as outlined in Section 4.

3. Proposed Curriculum Modules and/or Services
Provide a detailed description of the proposed curriculum modules and/or services offered to companies and by whom (e.g., mentorship, talent acquisition, access to capital, business education, talent acquisition, etc.). Please describe how you will directly support at least 10 companies per year, and indirectly support other startups through community efforts and events such as hackathons, monthly meet-ups, participation in Glendale Tech Week, etc. Efforts to advance the Glendale Tech Strategy’s goal of increasing the number of tech companies operating out of Glendale must be included in this section.
38 of 222

11 4. Efforts to Advance the Glendale Tech Strategy
Describe how the proposed program will advance the goals of the Glendale Tech Strategy listed below and create clear connections between the program and the larger Glendale area innovation ecosystem. Operators that demonstrate strong efforts to connect to the local ecosystem will be given preference. - Promote Glendale as a Tech Hub
- Create and Support a Local Tech Workforce
- Support the Quality of Life of Glendale’s Residents
- Support Local Glendale Industries

5. Quantifiable Metrics
Provide a detailed description of the quantifiable metrics that the Growth Program will track and the process it will utilize to evaluate its success once completed. Sample metrics include, but are not limited to: number of cohort participants, number of applicants, follow-up on funding raised by program graduates, number and types of jobs created, amount and source(s) of investment in company, sponsorship dollars generated, etc.

Metrics must include but are not limited to:
- Number and general statistics of applicant pool
- Number and general statistics of companies participating - Success of participating companies in the two years after Growth Program completion (e.g., % achieving additional funding, % gaining x increase in customer base, etc.)

D. Timeline

Include a detailed three (3) year timeline that outlines each task and subtasks, curriculum modules, and/or service provided, with expected milestones noted. Describe the “ramp up” period once the contract is awarded, including timeline and associated activities before the first cohort is launched. If respondent plans on running multiple cohorts per year, include the time and activities between each cohort. Respondents can utilize an estimated start date of January 2025. Respondents are expected to serve a minimum of one cohort per year.

E. Growth Program Location in Glendale

The Growth Program must have a physical location within the City of Glendale and shall identify the Growth Program location available to participating companies throughout the entire length of the program, including the physical address, square footage, and location amenities.

Additionally, the Growth Program must hold at least one in-person event within the City of Glendale as part of the Program each year.

Respondent shall comply with all governmental requirements, which means all laws, ordinances, statutes, codes, rules, regulations, orders and decrees of the United States, the State, the County, the City, or any other political subdivision in which the Site is located, and of any other political subdivision, agency or instrumentality exercising jurisdiction over the City, the 39 of 222

12 Respondent or the real property owned by the City, including all applicable state labor standards, the City zoning and development standards, building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical codes, and all other provisions of the City’s Municipal Code, and all applicable disabled and handicapped access requirements, including without limitation the Americans With Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 12101, et seq., Government Code Section 4450, et seq., Government Code Section 11135, et seq., and the Unruh Civil Rights Act, Civil Code Sections 51, et seq. Respondent and any of its contractors and subcontractors shall comply with all governmental requirements applicable to public works, including without limitation the payment of prevailing wages in compliance with Labor Code Section 1770, et seq., if applicable, keeping of all records required pursuant to Labor Code Section 1776, complying with the maximum hours requirements of Labor Code Sections 1810 through 1815, and complying with all regulations and statutory requirements pertaining thereto, to the extent such requirements are applicable to the Project.

F. Budget
Respondents shall provide a line-item budget outlining the costs for the Growth Program for the first year, including direct labor, rent, travel, supplies, and other categories as applicable. The budget should also clearly document the following: equity stake in participating companies, in- kind contributions, any participation fees, etc.

The budget should also describe the overall rationale behind the financing for the Growth Program and why this strategy is most advantageous to the City of Glendale and the highest and best use of the grant funding. The selected awardee should also demonstrate the ability to ensure funding for successful programming beyond three years.

The $1 million in grant funding is intended to be split between two selected Operators over three (3) years, allocating $500,000 to each Operator spread out over the contract period. The budget should clearly state how the grant funds will be utilized in the development of the Growth Program. Funds can be utilized to cover operating expenses; funds cannot be utilized for investment in companies. Failure to adequately disclose the use of grant funds will result in a non-responsive proposal.

Respondents will provide Letters of Commitment from program partners for any in-kind or monetary contributions in excess of $1,000.

If a respondent believes it could further advance the City’s Tech Strategy by being awarded both halves of the grant ($1 million in total), the respondent shall submit a second budget, in addition to the budget required above, which provides the substantive basis and reasoning that justifies award of the total amount.

AVAILABLE FUNDING AND SERVICES
The City of Glendale will enter into a three-year agreement with the selected respondent or respondents for an amount up to, but not to exceed, ONE-HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX THOUSAND, SIX-HUNDRED AND SIXTY-SIX DOLLARS AND SIXTY-SIX CENTS ($166,666.66) if awarded half the $1M Growth Program budget, or a maximum of THREE-HUNDRED THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-THREE DOLLARS AND THIRTY-THREE CENTS ($333,333.333) per year if awarded the full $1M Growth Program budget. The City will also provide in-kind assistance through an assigned 40 of 222

13 Glendale business concierge staffer on permitting, incentives, marketing, etc., for companies looking to locate within the City of Glendale during or post-program.

EVALUATION CRITERIA
Evaluation of the proposals will be based upon the following:

A. Proposed Plan and Approach (30%)

1. Level of detail and viability in the proposed plan and approach:
i. Curriculum module and/or service (15%)
ii. Recruitment and selection process (5%)
iii. Quantifiable metrics (5%)
iv. Marketing and branding (5%)

B. Relevant Qualifications and Experience (30%)

1. Experience in developing, implementing, and operating a startup growth program (15%)

2. Qualification and experience of key personnel, including relationship between the primary entity and program partner(s), if applicable (10%)

3. Connection to or planned partnerships and References (5%)

C. Financial Capacity (20%)

1. Demonstrates financial stability, readiness to proceed, and ability to meet City’s general terms and conditions, including contract terms (10%)

2. Detailed line-item budget (5%)

3. Proof of leverage funding (5%)

D. Commitment to the Glendale Tech Community (20%)

1. Demonstrated commitment and plan to engage the Glendale tech ecosystem and to advance the Glendale Tech Strategy (15%)

2. Viable physical location for the Growth Program within Glendale (5%)

EVALUATION PROCESS
The City may schedule interviews and/or presentations with short-listed proposers. Based on the outcome of the City’s evaluation of proposals, a recommendation of one or more proposals may be submitted to the City Council for consideration of the award.

An award of contract occurs when the contract is approved for execution by the Glendale City Council and the contract is fully executed by the selected proposer. City Council selection of a proposer or proposers with whom the City enters into contract negotiations, or a review committee recommendation of an award or a recommendation by any other party does not constitute an award of contract. The City expects, but does not guarantee, that the decision on selection of a firm or firms will be made by the Glendale City Council on the date indicated below.
41 of 222

14 Schedule
The City’s anticipated schedule for the selection of the most qualified Operators is as follows:

Date Milestone

1. May 15, 2024 Issuance of Request for Proposals

2. May 29, 2024 Pre-Bid Conference (Attendance
strongly encouraged)

3. June 5, 2024 Written Questions Due

4. June 14, 2024 Response to Written Questions Issued

5. June 28, 2024 Deadline for Submitting RFP

6. July, 2024 Selection Committee reviews RFPs

7. Late August, 2024 Final Selection of Operator

Pre-Bid Conference (Attendance Strongly Encouraged)
The Economic Development Division has organized an optional Pre-Proposal Submission Conference to go over any questions, comments, or concerns from prospective operators. Attendance at the Pre- Proposal Submission conference is optional but strongly encouraged. Please RSVP with David Crawley Delgado by Monday, May 28, 2024, at [email protected] The Pre-Proposal Submission Conference is scheduled for:

Wednesday, May 29th, 2024
10 am - Noon
Virtual (Link to be given prior to event)

Written Questions and Addenda

Potential proposers may ask questions, seek clarification, or request further information about the RFP at the Pre-Proposal Submission Conference. Written responses to proposer questions and requests received at the Pre-Proposal Submission Conference will be posted online at http://www.glendaletechweek.com/accelerators.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND REQUIREMENTS
Proposers must email an electronic copy of the proposal to [email protected] Full proposals must be received by no later than June 28, 2024 by 5:00 pm Pacific. Late submittals will not be accepted. Please ensure your proposal is received by requesting a read- receipt email and/or confirmation.

42 of 222

15 ACCEPTANCE OF SUBMITTALS

At its sole discretion, the City may, for any reason, reject any and all submittals, including but not limited to where the submittal is incomplete or submittals lacking adequate information to allow effective evaluation of the submittal.

In addition to the written proposal submission, each qualified firm may be asked to make an oral presentation and be interviewed by a selection committee. Any oral interviews will be arranged with the individual identified in your proposal to receive notices.

NOTICE REGARDING DISCLOSURE OF CONTENTS OF DOCUMENT

All submittals in response to this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) accepted by the City shall become the exclusive property of the City. Responses to this RFP shall remain exempt from public disclosure until negotiations with the winning proposer are complete. At that time all proposals accepted by the City shall become a matter of public record. Any document submitted as part of a proposal which a proposer believes to be confidential and non-disclosable as a public record must be so designated; however, non-disclosure cannot be guaranteed. Blanket statements or non-specific designations of “Trade Secret”, “Confidential” or “Proprietary information” are not sufficient to protect documents submitted in response to this RFP from public disclosure under the California Public Records Act, and such blanket statements or non-specific designations shall not bind the City in any way whatsoever, or prevent disclosure. If disclosure of responses to this RFP is required or permitted under the California Public Records Act or otherwise by law, the City shall not in any way be liable or responsible for the disclosure of any such records or part thereof.

EXHIBITS/ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Exhibit A:

Campaign Disclosure Form

Exhibit B:

Glendale Tech Strategy and Growth Strategy Background

Exhibit C:

Draft Professional Services Agreement

Exhibit D:

Insurance Requirements
Exhibit A: Campaign Disclosure Form
43 of 222

16 44 of 222

17 45 of 222

18 46 of 222

19 Exhibit B:

More information on the Glendale Tech Strategy and stakeholder outreach regarding the Glendale Tech Startup Growth Program can be found at http://www.glendaletechweek.com/accelerators

47 of 222

20 Exhibit C:

Draft Professional Services Agreement

CONTRACT No. _________
CONTRACT No. _________

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

BETWEEN THE CITY OF GLENDALE
AND
____________________

THIS AGREEMENT (“Agreement”), effective ________________, 20___ (“Effective Date”), is between the City of Glendale (“CITY”), a municipal corporation, and ____________________ (“CONSULTANT”), a [(Name of State) corporation/ partnership/ limited partnership/ limited liability company/ a sole proprietor/ an individual] (collectively, “PARTIES” or individually, “PARTY”).

RECITALS

A. CITY is a public entity organized and existing under its Charter and the State of California’s Constitution.

B. CONSULTANT represents that CONSULTANT is, and will continue to be for this Agreement’s duration, a [(Name of State) corporation in good standing/ partnership/ limited partnership/ limited liability company/ a sole proprietorship/ an individual.] [NOTE: staff must verify corporate status/ partnership/ LLC and Consultant’s license, if any, and obtain proof.] [ADD, IF APPLICABLE: (which) (who) employs persons who are duly registered or licensed to practice in the State of California.]

C. CONSULTANT possesses the competence, experience, expertise, skill, facilities, equipment, personnel, financial wherewithal, and other resources necessary to perform this Agreement’s tasks in a professional and competent manner.

D. CONSULTANT desires to furnish and perform professional services for CITY, on the terms and conditions described in this Agreement. CONSULTANT has the legal authority to provide, engage in, and carry out the professional services set forth in this Agreement. 48 of 222

21 AGREEMENT

THEREFORE, CITY engages CONSULTANT’s services, and in consideration of the PARTIES’ mutual promises, the PARTIES agree as follows:

1.0 INCORPORATION OF RECITALS

1.1. The Recitals constitute the factual basis upon which CITY and CONSULTANT have entered into this Agreement. CITY and CONSULTANT acknowledge the Recitals’ accuracy and, therefore, incorporate them into this Agreement.

2.0 TERM

[Select one of the following alternatives:]

2.1. [OPTION 1] This Agreement begins on the Effective Date, and continues in effect until completion of the work described in Article 3, unless this Agreement ends sooner according to the terms elsewhere in this document.

2.1. [OPTION 2] This Agreement’s Term is [ # ] [months/ years ], beginning on [DATE] and ending on [DATE] , unless this Agreement ends sooner according to the terms elsewhere in this document.

3.0 SERVICES

3.1. Scope of Work. CONSULTANT shall [specify services to be provided] (“the Services”) in accordance with the Scope of Work [ADD, IF APPLICABLE : and Fee Schedule ], which is attached as “Exhibit A” to this Agreement and is incorporated into it by this reference. [NOTE: “Exhibit A” must set forth in detail the nature and extent of services that professional person or firm will render. Scope of Work should identify specific tasks, list and describe any deliverables, and specify procedures/ criteria for acceptance.]

3.2. Written Authorization.
49 of 222

22 (A) CONSULTANT shall not make changes in the Scope of Work, perform any additional work, or provide any additional material, without first obtaining written authorization from CITY.

If CONSULTANT provides additional services or materials without written authorization, or if CONSULTANT exceeds the Maximum Cost in Paragraph 7.4 of this Agreement, CONSULTANT proceeds at CONSULTANT’s own risk and without payment.

(B) CITY will authorize CONSULTANT to proceed with discrete tasks by issuing written Task Orders. Receipt of a written Task Order, signed by CITY’s Project Manager, is a prerequisite for CONSULTANT to proceed with each task. [ADD, IF APPLICABLE: Each Task Order will specify a not- to-exceed price and a schedule for completion of the task. CONSULTANT shall not exceed the not-to- exceed price in each Task Order. ] In performing each phase or task, CONSULTANT shall not exceed the Maximum Cost in Paragraph 7. 4 of this Agreement. Issuance of a Task Order neither authorizes CONSULTANT to incur expenditures in excess of the Maximum Cost, nor relieves CONSULTANT from its responsibility for completing all of the Services within the Maximum Cost.

3.3. Professional Standard of Care. During this Agreement’s Term:

(A) CONSULTANT and its Subconsultants, subcontractors, employees, and agents (collectively, “CONSULTANT PARTIES”) shall perform all of the Services in this Agreement in an expeditious and professional manner, using professionals properly licensed and duly qualified to perform the Services.

(B) CONSULTANT PARTIES shall perform the work described in this Agreement in accordance with generally accepted professional practices and principles, and in a manner consistent with the level of care and skill ordinarily exercised under similar conditions by members of CONSULTANT PARTIES’ profession currently practicing in California. By delivering the completed work, CONSULTANT PARTIES represent and certify that their work conforms to: the requirements of this Agreement; all applicable (federal, state, county, local, CITY) laws, rules, regulations, orders, and procedures; and the professional standard of care in California.

(C) CONSULTANT PARTIES are responsible for making an independent evaluation and judgment of all conditions affecting performance of the work, including without limitation: site conditions; existing facilities; seismic, geologic, soils, hydrologic, geographic, climatic conditions; 50 of 222

23 applicable (federal, state, county, local, CITY) laws, rules, regulations, orders, and procedures; and all other contingencies or design considerations. Data, calculations, opinions, reports, investigations, or any other information or documents that CITY provides relating to site, local, or other conditions are not warranted or guaranteed, either expressly or implied, by CITY.

(D) When the Scope of Work requires or permits CITY’s review, approval, conditional approval, or disapproval, CONSULTANT acknowledges that CITY’s review, approval, conditional approval, or disapproval:

(1) Is solely for the purposes of administering this Agreement and determining whether CONSULTANT is entitled to payment for its Services;

(2) Is not to be construed as a waiver of any breach, or acceptance by CITY, of any responsibility — professional or otherwise — for the Services or CONSULTANT’s work product;

(3) Does not relieve CONSULTANT of the responsibility for complying with the standard of performance or professional care; or laws, regulations, or industry standards; and

(4) Does not relieve CONSULTANT from liability for damages arising out of CONSULTANT’s: negligent acts, errors, or omissions; recklessness; willful misconduct; or noncompliance with industry standards.

(E) Without additional compensation to CONSULTANT and at no cost to CITY, CONSULTANT shall correct or revise all errors, mistakes, or deficiencies in its work product, studies, reports, designs, drawings, specifications, or other services.

4.0 TIME FOR PERFORMANCE

[Select one of the following alternatives:]

51 of 222

24 4.1. [OPTION 1] CONSULTANT shall complete all of the Services by [DATE ] .

4.1. [OPTION 2] CONSULTANT shall perform the Services according to the Project Time Schedule, which is attached as “Exhibit B” to this Agreement and is incorporated into it by this reference.

CONSULTANT shall complete all of the Services by [DATE ] .

4.2. If the Project Time Schedule calls for performance of the Services in phases or discrete increments, CONSULTANT shall not proceed from one phase or increment to the next without written authorization from CITY’s Project Manager.

4.3. Force Majeure. If an event or condition constituting a “force majeure” — including, but not limited to, an act of God, labor dispute, civil unrest, epidemic, or natural disaster — prevents or delays a PARTY from performing or fulfilling an obligation under this Agreement, the PARTY is not in Default, under Paragraph 13.1 of this Agreement, of the obligation. A delay beyond a PARTY’s control automatically extends the time, in an amount equal to the period of the delay, for the PARTY to perform the obligation under this Agreement. The PARTIES shall prepare and sign an appropriate document acknowledging any extension of time under this Paragraph.

5.0 PERSONNEL

5.1. Project Management. Each PARTY shall appoint a Project Manager. The Project Managers shall meet [SET FORTH SPECIFIC TIMES: hourly/ daily/ weekly/ as needed ] to coordinate, review, and ensure CONSULTANT’s performance under this Agreement. CITY’s Project Manager will oversee the administration of CONSULTANT’s tasks under this Agreement.

5.2. Key Personnel. CONSULTANT’s project team shall work under the direction of the following key personnel [IDENTIFY CONSULTANT’s KEY PERSONNEL AND TITLE ]. [OR STATE :

CONSULTANT shall employ the key personnel identified in “Exhibit A.” ] CONSULTANT shall minimize changes to its key personnel. CITY may request key personnel changes, and CITY may review and approve key personnel changes proposed by CONSULTANT. CITY will not unreasonably withhold approval of key personnel assignments and changes.

52 of 222

25 5.3. Use of Agents or Assistants. With CITY’s prior written approval, CONSULTANT may employ, engage, or retain the services of persons or entities (“Subconsultants”) that CONSULTANT may deem proper to aid or assist in the proper performance of CONSULTANT’s duties.

CITY is an intended beneficiary of all work that the Subconsultants perform for purposes of establishing a duty of care between the Subconsultants and CITY. CONSULTANT is as responsible for the performance of its Subconsultants as it would be i f it had rendered the Services itself. All costs of the tasks performed or the expenses incurred by the Subconsultants are chargeable directly to CONSULTANT. Nothing in this Agreement constitutes or creates a contractual relationship between CITY and anyone other than CONSULTANT.

5.4. Independent Contractor.

(A) CONSULTANT understands and acknowledges that CONSULTANT is an independent contractor, not an employee, partner, agent, or principal of CITY. This Agreement does not create a partnership, joint venture, association, or employer-employee relationship between the PARTIES.

At its own expense, CONSULTANT is responsible for providing compensation; employment benefits; disability, unemployment, and other insurance; workers’ compensation; training; permits and licenses; and office space for CONSULTANT and for CONSULTANT’s employees and Subconsultants. CONSULTANT has, and shall retain, the right to exercise full control over the employment, direction, compensation, and discharge of all persons whom CONSULTANT uses in performing the Services under this Agreeme nt.

CONSULTANT shall provide the Services in CONSULTANT’s own manner and method, except as this Agreement specifies. CONSULTANT shall treat a provision in this Agreement that may appear either to give CITY the right to direct CONSULTANT as to the details of doing the work, or to exercise a measure of control over the work, as giving CONSULTANT direction only as to the work’s end result.

(B) CONSULTANT shall indemnify, defend (including CONSULTANT’s providing and paying for legal counsel for CITY), and hold harmless CITY for any obligation; claim; suit; demand for tax or retirement contribution, including any contribution or payment to t he Public Employees Retirement System (PERS); social security; salary or wages; overtime, penalty, or interest payment; or workers’ compensation payment that CITY may be required to make on behalf of CONSULTANT, an employee of CONSULTANT, or any employee of CONSULTANT construed to be an employee of CITY, for the work done under this Agreement.

5.5. Non-Discrimination in Employment. CONSULTANT shall not discriminate against any employee or person who is subject to this Agreement because of race, color, religion, religious belief, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, parenthood, medical condition, or physical or mental disability.

5.6. Disability Access Laws. CONSULTANT represents and certifies that the work product, studies, reports, designs, drawings, and specifications that CONSULTANT prepares under this Agreement fully conform to all applicable disability access and design laws, regulations, and standards— 53 of 222

26 including, but not limited to, the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. Sections 12101 et seq.) and Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations— when the Scope of Work requires or calls for compliance with those laws, regulations, or standards.

5.7. Prevailing Wage Laws. Services by persons deemed to be employees of CONSULTANT possibly may be subject to prevailing wages under California Labor Code Sections 1770- 1781. CONSULTANT’s sole responsibility is to comply with those requirements, should they apply. If a dispute based upon the prevailing wage laws occurs, CONSULTANT, at its expense, shall indemnify, defend (including CONSULTANT’s providing and paying for legal counsel for CITY), and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents, employees, and representatives from and against all liability, claims, suits, demands, damages, fines, penalties, wages, costs, or expenses pertaining to the prevailing wage laws.

5.8. Workers’ Compensation. CONSULTANT understands and acknowledges that all persons furnishing services to CITY under this Agreement are, for the purpose of workers’ compensation liability, employees solely of CONSULTANT and not of CITY. In performing the Services or the work under this Agreement, CONSULTANT is liable for providing workers’ compensation benefits to CONSULTANT’s employees, or anyone whom CONSULTANT directly or indirectly hires, employs, or uses. CITY is not responsible for any claims at law or in equity caused by CONSULTANT’s failure to comply with this Paragraph.

6.0 FACILITIES

6.1. CONSULTANT shall provide all facilities necessary to fully perform and complete the Services. If CONSULTANT needs to use a CITY facility, CONSULTANT shall meet and confer with CITY before CONSULTANT begins the work that this Agreement requires, the PARTIES shall agree to any costs chargeable to CONSULTANT, and in an amendment to this Agreement, the PA RTIES shall describe the facility’s terms of use and its charges.

6.2. CONSULTANT shall pay for any damage to CITY property, facilities, structures, or streets arising out of CONSULTANT’s use, occupation, operation, or activities in, upon, under, or over any portion of them.

7.0 PAYMENT

7.1. CITY’s payment to CONSULTANT will be based upon CONSULTANT’s Fee Schedule, which is attached as “Exhibit C” to this Agreement and is incorporated into it by this reference. [NOTE:
“Exhibit C” must include a breakdown of the not-to-exceed amount, including hourly rates for project staff, any overtime rates, a list and the rate for any reimbursable expenses, or a statement that costs are included in the hourly rate, and an explanation of any mark -ups.] Except as itemized in the Fee Schedule, 54 of 222

27 CONSULTANT shall pay for all expenses, including reimbursable or out -of-pocket expenses, that CONSULTANT incurs in performing the Services. The Fee Schedule will remain in effect for the Agreement’s Term.

[Select one of the following provisions:]

7.2. Fee. [OPTION 1] CITY shall pay for the Services in a lump sum, which is not to exceed _______ dollars ($_________), upon CONSULTANT’s satisfactory completion of the Services and CONSULTANT’s delivery of the work product.

7.2. Fee. [OPTION 2] CITY shall pay for the Services that CONSULTANT performs in accordance with this Agreement at the hourly rate(s) specified in “Exhibit C,” the TOTAL amount of which is not to exceed _______ dollars ($_________).

7.2. Fee. [OPTION 3] CITY shall pay for the Services in [IF PAYMENTS ARE IN INTERVALS, SPECIFY A PERIOD (e.g., monthly/ quarterly) OR SPECIFY A QUANTITY (e.g., two/ three/ five)] installments, the TOTAL amount of which is not to exceed _______ dollars ($_________). Each installment will be payable upon satisfactory completion, in CITY’s determination, of the work in each phase identified below, and in an amount proportionate to the work CONSULTANT performed or completed within each phase:

Phase: Description: Amount:

I – [Example: Construction Documents] $_________ II – [Example: Bid Documents $_________
III – [Example: Construction Support] $_________ IV – [Example: Project ‘s Closeout] $_________
TOTAL $_________

7.3. If CITY requires additional work not included in this Agreement, CONSULTANT and CITY shall negotiate the additional work, mutually agree on the amount of additional compensation, and memorialize the terms in either a separate written contract or an amendment to this Agreement.

55 of 222

28 7.4. Maximum Cost. CONSULTANT expressly acknowledges that the total cost to complete all tasks set forth in “Exhibit A” must not exceed ___________________________________ dollars ($__________) (“Maximum Cost”). When CONSULTANT has billed 75% of the Maximum Cost, CONSULTANT shall provide written notice to CITY’s Project Manager that CONSULTANT has expended 75% of the Maximum Cost.

7.5. Taxes. CONSULTANT shall pay all applicable (federal, state, county, local, CITY) excise, sales, consumer use, possessory interest, or other similar taxes required by law that are levied upon this Agreement or upon CONSULTANT’s services under this Agreement.

7.6. Invoices. CONSULTANT shall submit an original, itemized invoice to CITY for approval, before receiving compensation. CONSULTANT shall submit the invoice at no more than monthly intervals. All invoices must include a summary of total costs, description of the Servi ces performed, a brief itemization of costs associated with each task or phase, and the total phase or project costs to date.

8.0 AUDIT BY CITY

8.1. During this Agreement’s Term and for a period of four (4) years after the expiration, cancellation, or termination of this Agreement, or any extension of it, CONSULTANT shall:

(A) Keep and maintain, in their original form, all records, books, papers, or documents related to CONSULTANT’s performance of this Agreement; and

(B) Permit CITY or its authorized representatives, at all reasonable times, to have access to, examine, audit, excerpt, copy, photocopy, photograph, or transcribe all records, books, papers, or documents related to CONSULTANT’s performance of this Agreement including, but not limited to: direct and indirect charges, and detailed documentation, for work CONSULTANT has performed or will perform under this Agreement.

9.0 DATA, RECORDS, PROPRIETARY RIGHTS
56 of 222

29 9.1. Copies of Data. CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with copies or originals of all data that CONSULTANT generates, uses, collects, or stores in relation to all work associated with this Agreement. Data that CONSULTANT generates, uses, collects, stores, or provides must be i n a form acceptable to, and agreed upon by, CITY.

9.2. Ownership and Use.

(A) Unless CITY states otherwise in writing, each document— including, but not limited to, each report, draft, record, drawing, or specification (collectively, “work product”) — that CONSULTANT prepares, reproduces, or causes its preparation or reproduction for this Agreement is CITY’s exclusive property.

(B) CONSULTANT acknowledges that its use of the work product is limited to the purposes contemplated by the Scope of Work. CONSULTANT makes no representation of the work product’s application to, or suitability for use in, circumstances not contemplated by the Scope of Work.

9.3. Intellectual Property.

(A) If CONSULTANT uses or incorporates patented, trademarked, or copyrighted work, ideas, or products— in whole or in part— into CONSULTANT’s work product, CONSULTANT represents that:

(1) CONSULTANT holds the patent, trademark, or copyright to the work, idea, or product; or

(2) CONSULTANT is licensed to use the patented, trademarked, or copyrighted work, idea, or product.

(B) Unless CITY states otherwise in writing, all proprietary rights or intellectual property rights, including copyrights, that arise from creation of the work under this Agreement vest in CITY. 57 of 222

30 CONSULTANT waives and relinquishes all claims to proprietary rights and intellectual property rights, including copyrights, in favor of CITY.

(C) CONSULTANT shall indemnify, defend (including CONSULTANT’s providing and paying for legal counsel for CITY), and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents, employees, and representatives from and against all liability, claims, suits, demands, damages, royalties, fines, penalties, costs, or expenses arising out of or alleging any infringement or misappropriation of a patent, copyright, trade secret, trade name, trademark, or other intellectual property right or proprietary right.

9.4. Confidentiality. CONSULTANT shall not use any information that it obtains from performing the Services for any purpose other than for fulfillment of CONSULTANT’s Scope of Work.

Without CITY’s prior written authorization, CONSULTANT shall not disclose or publish— or authorize, permit, or allow others to disclose or publish— data, drawings, designs, specifications, reports, or other information relating to the Services or the work that CITY assigns to CONSULTANT or to which CONSULTANT has access.

9.5. Public Records Act.

(A) CONSULTANT acknowledges that this Agreement is a public record. This Agreement, its Exhibits, and all documents produced under this Agreement are subject to the California Public Records Act ( Government Code Sections 7920.005 et seq .), including its exemptions.

CONSULTANT acknowledges that CITY has no obligation to notify CONSULTANT when a request for records is received.

(B) CONSULTANT shall identify in advance all records, or portions of them, that CONSULTANT believes are exempt from production under the Public Records Act.

(1) CONSULTANT may, when notified by CITY of the request, seek protection from disclosure by timely applying for relief in a court of competent jurisdiction; or

58 of 222

31 (2) CITY may either decline to produce the requested information, or redact portions of the documents and produce the redacted records.

(D) If CONSULTANT fails to identify one or more protectable documents, in CITY’s sole discretion, and without its being in breach of this Agreement or its incurring liability to CONSULTANT, CITY may produce the records— in whole, in part, or redacted— or may decline to produce them.

(E) CONSULTANT shall indemnify, defend (including CONSULTANT’s providing and paying for legal counsel for CITY), and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents, employees, and representatives from and against all liability, claims, suits, demands, damages, fines, penalties, costs, or expenses arising out of or alleging CITY’s refusal to publicly disclose one or more records that CONSULTANT identifies as protectable, or asserts is protectable.

10.0 CONFLICT OF INTEREST; CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS

10.1. Conflict of Interest. CONSULTANT represents and certifies that:

(A) CONSULTANT’s personnel are not currently officers, agents, employees, representatives, or elected officials of CITY;

(B) CONSULTANT will not employ or hire a CITY officer, agent, employee, representative, or elected official during this Agreement’s Term;

(C) CITY’s officers, agents, employees, representatives, and elected officials do not, and will not, have any direct or indirect financial interest in this Agreement; and (D) During this Agreement’s Term, CONSULTANT will inform CITY about any possible conflict of interest that may arise as a result of any change in circumstances.

10.2. Campaign Contributions.

(A) CONSULTANT and its Subconsultants shall fully comply with Glendale Municipal Code Section 1.10.060, which places limitations on CONSULTANT’s and its Subconsultants’ ability to make campaign contributions to certain elected City officials or candidates for elected City office.

Specifically, Section 1.10.060 prohibits:
59 of 222

32 (1) A consultant (including a subconsultant)― who has a contract with the City of Glendale, Glendale Successor Agency, or the Housing Authority of the City of Glendale and that contract is subject to approval by the City Council, Successor Agency, or Housing Authority― from making a contribution to a City Council member, City Clerk, or City Treasurer, when the contract has a total anticipated or actual value of $50,000 or more, or a combination or series of contracts having a value of $50,000 or more; and

(2) A City Council member, Successor Agency member, or Housing Authority member from voting on a contract in which a consultant (or a subconsultant) has provided a campaign contribution.

(B) CONSULTANT acknowledges that even if the Maximum Cost in Paragraph 7.4 of this Agreement is less than $50,000, CONSULTANT still may be subject to the campaign contribution limitations in Municipal Code Section 1.10.060, when:

(1) CONSULTANT and CITY amend the Scope of Work in this Agreement which increases the Maximum Cost to equal or exceed $50,000; or

(2) CITY, Glendale Successor Agency, or the Housing Authority awards CONSULTANT another contract which has a total anticipated or actual value of $50,000 or more, or awards CONSULTANT a combination or series of contracts which have a value of $50,000 or more.

(1) CONSULTANT has read and fully understands the provisions of Municipal Code Section 1.10.060;

(2) CONSULTANT will not: (a) make a prohibited campaign contribution to an individual holding CITY elective office; or (b) otherwise violate Municipal Code Section 1.10.060; and
60 of 222

33 (3) CONSULTANT shall timely complete, return, and update one or more disclosure or reporting forms that CITY provides.

11.0 INSURANCE

11.1. When CONSULTANT signs and delivers this Agreement to CITY, and during this Agreement’s Term, CONSULTANT shall furnish CITY with insurance forms that fully meet the requirements of— and contain provisions entirely consistent with— all of the “Insurance Requirements,” which are attached as “Exhibit D” (D-1 to D-___) to this Agreement and are incorporated into it by this reference.

11.2. This Agreement’s insurance provisions:

(A) Are separate and independent from the indemnification and defense provisions in Article 12 of the Agreement; and

(B) Do not limit, in any way, the applicability, scope, or obligations of the indemnification and defense provisions in Article 12 of the Agreement.

12.0 INDEMNITY

12.1. To the maximum extent permitted by law— including, but not limited to, California Civil Code Section 2778 — CONSULTANT, its employees, agents, Subconsultants, and persons whom CONSULTANT employs or hires (individually and collectively, “CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR”) shall indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CITY, its officers, agents, employees, and representatives (individually and collectively, “CITY INDEMNITEE”) from and against a “ liability” [as defined in Subparagraph (A) below], or an “expense” [as defined in Subparagraph (B) below], or both, that arise out of, pertain to, or relate to an act, error, or omission of a CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR:

61 of 222

34 (A) “Liability” means claims, suits, actions, causes of action, proceedings, judgments, decrees, awards, settlements, liens, losses, damages, injuries, or liability of any kind, whether the liability is:

(1) Actual or alleged;

(2) In contract or in tort; or

(3) For bodily injury (including accidental death), personal injury, advertising injury, or property damage.

(B) “Expense” means fees, costs, sums, penalties, fines, charges, or expenses of any kind, including, but not limited to:

(1) Attorney’s fees;

(2) Costs of an investigation, litigation, arbitration, mediation, administrative or regulatory proceeding, or appeal;
(3) Fees of an accountant, expert witness, consultant, or other professional; or

(4) Pre or post: judgment interest or settlement interest.

12.2. Under this Article, CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR’s defense and indemnification obligations:

(A) Apply to a liability, or an expense, or both, that arise out of, pertain to, or relate to the actual or alleged passive negligence of a CITY INDEMNITEE; but (B) Do not apply to a liability, or an expense, or both, that arise out of, pertain to, or relate to the sole active negligence or willful misconduct of a CITY INDEMNITEE.

12.3. To the extent that CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR’s insurance policy provides an upfront defense to CITY, CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR’s obligation to defend a CITY INDEMNITEE under this Article:

62 of 222

35 (A) Means that CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR shall provide and pay for legal counsel, acceptable to CITY, for the CITY INDEMNITEE;

(B) Occurs when a claim, suit, complaint, pleading, or action against a CITY INDEMNITEE arises out of, pertains to, relates to, or asserts an act, error, or omission of CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR; and

(C) Arises regardless of whether a claim, suit, complaint, pleading, or action specifically names or identifies CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR.

12.4. Paragraph 12.3 does not limit or extinguish CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR’s obligation to reimburse a CITY INDEMNITEE for the costs of defending the CITY INDEMNITEE against a liability, or an expense, or both. A CITY INDEMNITEE’s right to recover defense costs and attorney’s fees under this Article does not require, and is not contingent upon, the CITY INDEMNITEE’s first:

(A) Requesting that CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR provide a defense to the CITY INDEMNITEE; or

(B) Obtaining CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR’s consent to the CITY INDEMNITEE’s tender of defense.

12.5. If CONSULTANT subcontracts all or any portion of the Services under this Agreement, CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with a written agreement from each Subconsultant, who must indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CITY INDEMNITEE under the terms in this Article.

12.6. CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR’s obligation to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless CITY will remain in effect and will be binding upon CONSULTANT INDEMNITOR whether the liability, or the expense, or both, accrues — or is discovered — before or after this Agreement’s expiration, cancellation, or termination.

12.7. Except for Paragraph 12.3, this Article’s indemnification and defense provisions are separate and independent from the insurance provisions in Article 11. In addition, the indemnification and defense provisions in this Article:

(A) Are neither limited to nor capped at the coverage amounts specified under the insurance provisions in Article 11; and
63 of 222

36 (B) Do not limit, in any way, the applicability, scope, or obligations of the insurance provisions in Article 11.

13.0 DEFAULT, REMEDIES, AND TERMINATION

13.1. Default. Default under this Agreement occurs upon any one or more of the following events:

(A) CONSULTANT refuses or fails — whether partially, fully, temporarily, or otherwise— to:

(1) Provide or maintain enough properly trained personnel, or licensed personnel, or both, to perform the Services that this Agreement requires;

(2) Pay for, obtain, maintain, or renew the insurance policies or coverages that this Agreement requires;

(3) Comply with indemnification, defense, or hold harmless provisions that this Agreement requires; or

(B) CONSULTANT, or its personnel, or both— whether partially, fully, temporarily, or otherwise:

(1) Disregards or violates a law, ordinance, rule, procedure, regulation, directive, or order;

(2) Refuses or fails to pay for, obtain, maintain, or renew requisite licenses;

(3) Refuses or fails to observe, perform, or fulfill a covenant, condition, obligation, term, or provision of this Agreement;
64 of 222

37 (4) Commits an unlawful, false, fraudulent, dishonest, deceptive, or dangerous act while performing the Services under this Agreement; or

(1) Or another party for or on behalf of CONSULTANT: institutes proceedings under any bankruptcy, reorganization, receivership or other insolvency; or assigns or transfers assets to its creditors;

(2) Delegates— whether in whole, in part, temporarily, or otherwise— its duties or obligations under this Agreement, without notifying CITY, or without CITY’s written authorization;

(3) Assigns, transfers, pledges, hypothecates, grants, or encumbers — whether in whole, in part, temporarily, or otherwise — this Agreement or any interest in it, without notifying CITY, or without CITY’s written authorization;

(4) Or one of its partners, directors, officers, or general managers, or a person who exercises managerial authority on CONSULTANT’s behalf, is convicted under state or federal law, during this Agreement’s Term, of embezzlement, theft, fraud, forgery, b ribery, deceptive or unlawful business practices, perjury, falsifying or destroying records or evidence, receiving stolen property, or other offense indicating a lack of business integrity or business honesty; or

(D) Any other justifiable cause or reason, as reasonably determined by the City Manager, or a designee.

13.2. Notice of Default. If CITY deems that CONSULTANT is in Default, or that CONSULTANT has failed in any other respect to perform satisfactorily the Services specified in this Agreement, CITY may give written notice to CONSULTANT specifying the Default(s) that CONSULTANT shall remedy within [SELECT: 5/ 10/ 14/ 30] days after receiving the notice. The Notice of Default will set forth one or more bases for any dissatisfaction and may suggest corrective measures.

65 of 222

38 13.3. Remedies upon Default. Within [SELECT THE SAME NUMBER IN PARAGRAPH 13.2 ABOVE: 5/ 10/ 14/ 30] days after receiving CITY’s Notice of Default, if CONSULTANT refuses or fails to remedy the Default(s), or if CONSULTANT does not commence steps to remedy the Default(s) to CITY’s reasonable satisfaction, CITY may exercise any one or more of the following remedies:

(A) CITY may, in whole or in part and for any length of time, immediately suspend this Agreement until such time as CONSULTANT has corrected the Default;

(B) CITY may provide for the Services either through its own forces or from another consultant, and may withhold any money due (or may become owing to) CONSULTANT for a task related to the claimed Default;

(C) CITY may withhold all moneys, or a sum of money, due CONSULTANT under this Agreement, which in CITY’s sole determination, are sufficient to secure CONSULTANT’s performance of its duties and obligations under this Agreement;

(D) CITY may immediately terminate the Agreement;

(E) CITY may exercise any legal remedy, or equitable remedy, or both, including, but not limited to, filing and action in court:

(1) Seeking CONSULTANT’s specific performance of all or any part of this Agreement; or

(2) Recovering damages for CONSULTANT’s Default, breach, or violation of this Agreement; or

(F) CITY may pursue any other available, lawful right, remedy, or action.

13.4. Termination for Convenience. Independent of the remedies provided in Paragraph 13.3, CITY may elect to terminate this Agreement at any time upon [SELECT: 10/ 14/ 30] days’ prior written notice. Upon termination, CONSULTANT shall receive compensation only for that work which 66 of 222

39 CONSULTANT had satisfactorily completed to the termination date. CITY shall not pay CONSULTANT for de-mobilization, takedown, disengagement, wind-down, or other costs incurred arising out of this Agreement’s termination.

14.0 GENERAL PROVISIONS

14.1. Entire Agreement. This Agreement represents the entire and integrated agreement between the PARTIES. This Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous communications, negotiations, understandings, promises and agreements, either oral or written. Neither CONSULTANT nor CITY has made any promises or representations, other than those contained in this Agreement or those implied by law. The PARTIES may modify this Agreement, or any part of it, by a written amendment with CITY’s and CONSULTANT’s signature.

14.2. Interpretation. This Agreement is the product of negotiation and compromise by both PARTIES. Every provision in this Agreement must be interpreted as though the PARTIES equally participated in its drafting. Therefore, despite the provisions in California Civil Code Section 1654, if this Agreement’s language is uncertain, the Agreement must not be construed against the PARTY causing the uncertainty to exist. In interpreting this Agreement and resolving any ambiguities, this Agreement will take precedence over any cover page or attachments. If a conflict occurs between a provision in this Agreement and a provision in an attachment, the following order of precedence applies, with the terms and conditions in the document higher on the list governing over those lower on the list:

(1) The Agreement.
(2) Exhibit D (Insurance Requirements).
(3) Exhibit B (Project Time Schedule).
(4) Exhibit A (Scope of Work).
(5) Exhibit C (Fee Schedule).

14.3. Headings. All headings or captions in this Agreement are for convenience and reference only. They are not intended to define or limit the scope of any term, condition, or provision.

14.4. Governing Law; Jurisdiction.

(A) California’s laws govern this Agreement’s construction and interpretation regardless of the laws that might otherwise apply under applicable principles of conflicts of law or choice of law.
67 of 222

40 (B) If CONSULTANT or CITY brings a lawsuit to enforce or interpret one or more provisions of this Agreement, jurisdiction is in the Superior Court of the County of Los Angeles, California, or where otherwise appropriate, in the United States District Cour t, Central District of California.

CONSULTANT and CITY acknowledge that the Agreement was negotiated, entered into, and executed— and the Services are performed— in the City of Glendale, California.

(C) Unless this Agreement provides otherwise, any reference to laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations include their later amendments, modifications, and successor legislation.

14.5. Waiver of Breach. If either PARTY fails to require the other to perform any term in this Agreement, that failure does not prevent the PARTY from later enforcing that term, or any other term. If either PARTY waives the other’s breach of a term, that waiver is not treated as waiving a later breach of the term. A waiver of a term is valid only if it is in writing and signed by the PARTY waiving it. This Agreement’s duties and obligations:

(A) Are cumulative (rather than alternative) and are in addition to (rather than a limitation on) any option, right, power, remedy, or privilege; and

(B) Are not exhausted by a PARTY’s exercise of any one of them.

14.6. Attorney’s Fees. If CITY or CONSULTANT brings an action at law or in equity to enforce or interpret one or more provisions of this Agreement, the “prevailing party” is entitled to “reasonable attorney’s fees” in addition to any other relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled. A “prevailing party” has the same meaning as that term is defined in California Code of Civil Procedure Section 1032(a)(4). “Reasonable attorney’s fees” of the City Attorney’s office means the fees regularly charged by private attorneys who:

(A) Practice in a law firm located in Los Angeles County; and

(B) Have an equivalent number of years of professional experience in the subject matter area of the law for which the City Attorney’s services were rendered.

14.7. Further Assurances. Upon CITY’s request at any time, CONSULTANT shall promptly:
68 of 222

41 (A) Take further necessary action; and

(B) Sign, acknowledge, and deliver all additional documents as may be reasonable, necessary, or appropriate to carry out this Agreement’s intent, purpose, and terms.

14.8. Assignment.

(A) This Agreement does not give any rights or benefits to anyone, other than to CITY and CONSULTANT. All duties, obligations, and responsibilities under this Agreement are for the sole and exclusive benefit of CITY and CONSULTANT, and are not for the benefit of another person, entity, or organization. Without CITY’s prior written authorization, CONSULTANT shall not do any one or more of the following:

(1) Assign or transfer a right or interest— whether in whole, in part, temporarily, or otherwise— in this Agreement; or

(2) Delegate a duty or obligation owed— whether in whole, in part, temporarily, or otherwise— under this Agreement.

(B) Any actual or attempted assignment of rights or delegation of duties by CONSULTANT, without CITY’s prior written authorization, is wholly void and totally ineffective for all purposes; and does not postpone, delay, alter, extinguish, or terminate CONSULTANT’s duties, obligations, or responsibilities under this Agreement.

(C) If CITY consents to an assignment of rights, or a delegation of duties, or both, CONSULTANT’s assignee or legal representative shall agree in writing to personally assume, perform, and to be bound unconditionally by the covenants, obligations, terms, and conditions in this Agreement.

14.9. Successors and Assigns. Subject to the provisions in Paragraph 14.8, this Agreement is binding on the heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of the respective PARTIES.

14.10. Time is of the Essence.
69 of 222

42 (A) Except when this Agreement states otherwise, time is of the essence in this Agreement. CONSULTANT acknowledges that this Agreement’s time limits and deadlines are reasonable for CONSULTANT’s performing the Services under this Agreement.

(B) Unless this Agreement specifies otherwise, any reference to “day” or “days” means calendar and not business days. If the last day for giving notice or performing an act under this Agreement falls on a weekend, a legal holiday listed in either Glendale Municipal Code Section 3.08.010 or California’s Government Code, or a day when City Hall is closed, the period is extended to and including the next day that CITY is open for business. A reference to the time of day refers to local time for Glendale, California.

14.11. Recycled Paper. CONSULTANT shall endeavor to submit all reports, correspondence, and documents related to this Agreement on recycled paper.

14.12. Notices.

(A) The PARTIES shall submit in writing all notices and correspondence that this Agreement requires or permits, and shall use the following delivery method:

(1) Personal delivery;

(2) U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid;

(3) “Certified” U.S. mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested;

(4) Facsimile; or

(5) Email.

(B) All written notices or correspondence done in the manner described in Subparagraph (A) above with the street address or place, facsimile number, or email address listed in Subparagraph (C) below will be presumed “given” to a PARTY on whichever date occurs earliest:

70 of 222

43 (1) The date of personal delivery;

(2) The third (3rd) business day following deposit in the U.S. mail, when sent by “first class” mail;

(3) The date on which the PARTY or its agent either signed the return receipt or refused to accept delivery, as noted on the return receipt or other U.S.

Postal Service form, when sent by “certified” mail; or

(4) The date of transmission, when sent by facsimile or email.

(C) CITY and CONSULTANT designate the following contact person, street address or place, telephone number, and facsimile number or email address for giving notice:

CITY: City of Glendale
Dept.:

Glendale, CA 9120
Attn:

Tel. No.:

Fax. No.:

Email:

CONSULTANT:

Attn:

Tel. No.:

Fax. No.:
71 of 222

44 Email:

(D) At any time, by providing written notice to the other PARTY, CITY or CONSULTANT may change the contact information listed in Subparagraph (C) above.

14.13. Survival. This Paragraph and the obligations set forth in Paragraphs 5.4, 5.6, 5.7,

5.8, 7.5, 8.1, 9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4, 9.5, 11.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.5, 12.6, 12.7, 13.3, 14.5, 14.6,

14.7, 14.8, 14.9, and 14.12 survive this Agreement’s expiration, cancellation, or termination.

14.14. Severability. The invalidity, in whole or in part, of any term of this Agreement will not affect this Agreement’s remaining terms.

14.15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which is an original, but all of which constitutes one and the same document. The PARTIES shall sign a sufficient number of counterparts, so that each PARTY will receive a fully executed original of this Agreement.

14.16. Digital Signatures. The PARTIES deem a copy of this Agreement, or any amendment to it, that bears a digital signature as having the same legal effect, for all purposes, as delivery of a signed original of this Agreement or the amendment, and each digital signature will have the same legal force and effect as a handwritten signature.

14.17. Representations – Authority. The PARTIES represent that:

(A) They have read this Agreement, fully understand its contents, and have received a copy of it;

(B) Through their duly authorized representative, they are authorized to sign this Agreement, and they are bound by its terms; and

Executed at Glendale, California.

72 of 222

45 CITY OF GLENDALE:

By Date:
(Name)
(Title)

CONSULTANT:

By Date:
(Name)
(Title)

APPROVED AS TO FORM

NAME:

TITLE:

SIGNATURE:

DATE:

73 of 222

46 74 of 222

47 EXHIBIT LIST

“Exhibit A”: Scope of Work
(__ pages)

“Exhibit B”: Project Time Schedule
(__ pages)

“Exhibit C”: Fee Schedule
(__ pages)

“Exhibit D”: Insurance Requirements
(__ pages)

75 of 222

48 EXHIBIT D

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

EXHIBIT D-1 to PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

“PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY” INSURANCE

1.1 Without limiting CONSULTANT’s liability and at its sole expense, CONSULTANT shall obtain, pay for, and maintain a Professional Liability insurance policy.

1.2 The Professional Liability policy must:

(A) Include “errors and omissions” coverage or “malpractice” coverage;

(B) Afford “practice specific” or “project specific” coverage;

(C) Provide limits of liability in an amount not less than:
(1) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per claim; and
(2) TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($2,000,000) in the aggregate;

(D) Cover a claim or claims arising out of the performance of professional services by:
(1) CONSULTANT;

(2) CONSULTANT’s Subconsultant(s);

(3) Anyone whom CONSULTANT or its Subconsultant(s) directly or indirectly employs or uses; or

(4) Anyone whose acts CONSULTANT or its Subconsultant(s) may be liable; and

(E) Provide coverage for:
(1) The duration of this Agreement; and
(2) At least three (3) years after the Project’s completion:
(a) CONSULTANT shall obtain, pay for, and maintain an endorsement that adds an “extended reporting period” (“ERP”) or a “discovery” feature — to allow CITY to report a claim — for a period of not less than three (3) years following the initial policy’s expiration, or following CITY’s recordation of its “notice of completion” for the Project, whichever date is later. The endorsement for the ERP or discovery feature must provide identical policy limits, and meet the conditions, described in subparagraphs 1.2 (A) through (D) above; or
(b) CONSULTANT shall obtain, pay for, and maintain successive renewal or replacement policies (with “prior acts” coverage), for a period of three (3) years following the initial policy’s expiration, or following CITY’s recordation of its “notice of completion” for the Project, whichever date is later. Each policy must have a 76 of 222

49 “retroactive date” that coincides with, or is earlier than, this Agreement’s Effective Date. Additionally, each policy must provide identical policy limits, and meet the conditions, described in subparagraphs 1.2 (A) through (D) above.

1.3 All ERP or discovery endorsements, renewal policies, and replacement coverage policies are subject to CITY’s review and approval, in its sole discretion.

1.4 CONSULTANT shall pay the full amount of all deductibles and any self -insured retention per claim for coverage under the Professional Liability insurance policy. 77 of 222

50 EXHIBIT D-2

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

“WORKERS’ COMPENSATION” INSURANCE

1.1 At its own expense, CONSULTANT shall obtain, pay for, and maintain— and shall require each of its Subconsultants to obtain and maintain— for the duration of this Agreement:

(A) Complete Workers’ Compensation insurance, meeting or exceeding the coverages and amounts that California law requires; and

(B) Employer’s Liability insurance in an amount not less than:

(1) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per accident for bodily injury or disease;

(2) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per employee for bodily injury or disease; and

(3) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) policy limit.

1.2 CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with a “certificate of insurance” and a subrogation endorsement, “Waiver of Our Right to Recover From Others”— on forms satisfactory to the City Attorney or City’s Risk Manager, and signed by the insurance carrier or its authorized representative— which fully meet the requirements of, and contain provisions entirely consistent with, this Agreement’s workers’ compensation insurance requirements.

1.3 CITY shall not be liable to CONSULTANT’s personnel, or anyone CONSULTANT directly or indirectly employs or uses, for a claim at law or in equity arising out of CONSULTANT’s failure to comply with this Agreement’s workers’ compensation insurance requirements.
78 of 222

51 EXHIBIT D-3

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

“COMMERCIAL GENERAL LIABILITY” OR “BUSINESSOWNERS LIABILITY” INSURANCE

1.1 At its own expense, CONSULTANT shall obtain, pay for, and maintain— and shall require each of its Subconsultants to obtain and maintain— a “Commercial General Liability” or a “Businessowners Liability” insurance policy on an occurrence basis to fully protect CONSULTANT and CITY from claims and suits for bodily injury, personal and advertising injury, property damage, and medical payments. The policy must add the City of Glendale and its officers, agents, employees, and representatives (collectively, “CITY AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES”) as additional insureds.

1.2 Coverage afforded to CITY AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES must be at least as broad as that afforded to CONSULTANT. If CONSULTANT has higher limits than the limits specified in these insurance requirements, or has additional broader coverage, or has both, the insurer shall make available the higher limits and broader coverage to CITY AND ITS REPRESENTATIVES. The insurance must be written for the limits of liability specified below:

(A) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per occurrence, or the full per occurrence limits of the policy― whichever limit is greater― for bodily injury (including accidental death) to any one person;

(B) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per occurrence, or the full per occurrence limits of the policy― whichever limit is greater― for personal and advertising injury to any one person;

(C) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per occurrence, or the full per occurrence limits of the policy― whichever limit is greater― for property damage; and

(D) TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($2,000,000) general aggregate limit, or the full aggregate limits of the policy― whichever limit is greater.

1.3 The liability insurance must include all major divisions of coverage and must cover:

(A) Premises Operations (including Explosion, Collapse, and Underground [“X,C,U”] coverages as applicable);

(B) Independent Contractors’ Protective Liability;

(C) Products and Completed Operations (maintain same limits as above until five (5) years after:
recordation of the Notice of Completion or final close-out of the Agreement);

(D) Personal and Advertising Injury (with Employer’s Liability Exclusion deleted);

(E) Contractual Liability; and

(F) Broad Form Property Damage.

79 of 222

52 1.4 CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with a “certificate of insurance” and an “additional insured endorsement”— on forms satisfactory to the City Attorney or City’s Risk Manager, and signed by the insurance carrier or its authorized representative— which fully meet the requirements of, and contain provisions entirely consistent with, all of the Insurance Requirements.

1.5 The “certificate of insurance” and an “additional insured endorsement” must state:

“The City of Glendale, and its officers, agents, employees, and representatives are included as additional insureds under the policy(s). This insurance is primary to all other insurance of the City. The City’s insurance, or self-insurance, or both, will apply in excess of— and will not contribute with— this insurance. This insurance applies separately to each insured or additional insured who is seeking coverage, or against whom a claim is made or a suit is brought. The issuing company shall mail thirty (30) days advance notice to the City for any policy cancellation, termination, non-renewal, or reduction in coverage.” 80 of 222

53 EXHIBIT D-4

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

“BUSINESS AUTOMOBILE” LIABILITY INSURANCE

1.1 At its own expense, CONSULTANT shall obtain, pay for, and maintain— and shall require each of its Subconsultants to obtain and maintain— a “Business Automobile” insurance policy on an occurrence basis to fully protect CONSULTANT and CITY from claims and suits for bodily injury, property damage, and medical payments. The policy must add the City of Glendale and its officers, agents, employees, and representatives as additional insureds.

1.2 The insurance must not be written for less than the limits of liability specified below or required by law, whichever coverage amount is greater:

(A) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per occurrence for bodily injury (including accidental death) to any one person; and

(B) ONE MILLION DOLLARS ($1,000,000) per occurrence for property damage; or

1.3 The liability insurance must include all major divisions of coverage and must cover all vehicles, whether rented, leased, hired, scheduled, owned or non-owned.

1.4 CONSULTANT shall provide CITY with a “certificate of insurance” and an “additional insured endorsement”— on forms satisfactory to the City Attorney or City’s Risk Manager, and signed by the insurance carrier or its authorized representative— which fully meet the requirements of, and contain provisions entirely consistent with, all of the Insurance Requirements.

1.5 The “certificate of insurance” and an “additional insured endorsement” must state:

54 EXHIBIT D-5

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

1.1 At all times, the insurance company issuing the policy must meet all three of these requirements:

(A) It must be “admitted” insurer by the State of California Department of Insurance or must be listed on the California Department of Insurance’s “List of Approved Surplus Line Insurers” (“LASLI”);

(B) It must be domiciled within, and organized under the laws of, a State of the United States; and

1.2 If the Agreement requires any of the foregoing insurance coverages to remain in force after the Final Payment, and if they are reasonably available, CONSULTANT shall submit to CITY— with the final Application for Payment— all certificates and additional insured endorsements evidencing the coverages’ continuation.

1.3 A deductible or self -insured retention is subject to CITY’s review and approval, in its sole discretion. The insurance company or its authorized representative must state either on the insurance certificate or in a separate correspondence:

(A) The amount of the deductible, or self-insured retention, or both;

(B) Whether a limit of insurance has been lowered by any pending or paid claim; and

1.4 Despite any conflicting or contrary provision in CONSULTANT’s insurance policy:
(A) If CONSULTANT’s insurance company adds CITY, and its officers, agents, employees, and representatives (collectively, “its representatives”) as additional insureds, then for all acts, errors, or omissions of CITY, or its representatives, or both, that insurer shall:

(1) Pay those sums that CITY, or its representatives, or both, become legally obligated to pay as damages; and
(2) Defend— and pay the costs of defending— CITY, or its representatives, or both;

(B) CONSULTANT’s insurance is primary;

(C) Other insurance (whether primary, excess, contingent or self-insurance, or any other basis) available to CITY, or its representatives, or both, is excess over CONSULTANT’s insurance;

(D) CITY’s insurance, or self -insurance, or both, will not contribute with CONSULTANT’s insurance policy;

82 of 222

55 (E) CONSULTANT and CONSULTANT’s insurance company waive— and shall not exercise— any right of recovery or subrogation that CONSULTANT or the insurer may have against CITY, or its representatives, or both;

(F) CONSULTANT’s insurance policy applies separately to each insured or additional insured who is seeking coverage, or against whom a claim is made or suit is brought, except that the naming of multiple insureds will not increase an insurance company’s limits of liability;

(G) CONSULTANT’s insurance policy applies to a claim or suit brought by an additional insured against a Named Insured or other insured, arising out of bodily injury, personal injury, advertising injury, or property damage; and

(H) CITY is not liable for a premium payment or another expense under CONSULTANT’s policy.

1.5 At any time during the duration of this Agreement, CITY may do any one or more of the following:

(A) Review this Agreement’s insurance coverage requirements; or

(B) Require that CONSULTANT:
(1) Obtain, pay for, and maintain more or less insurance depending on CITY’s assessment of any one or more of the following factors:
(a) CITY’s risk of liability or exposure arising out of, or in any way connected with, the services of CONSULTANT under this Agreement;
(b) The nature or number of accidents, claims, or lawsuits arising out of, or in any way connected with, the services of CONSULTANT under this Agreement; or (c) The availability, or affordability, or both, of increased liability insurance coverage; (2) Reduce or eliminate a deductible or self-insured retention as it applies to CITY; or (3) Obtain, pay for, and maintain a bond (as a replacement for an insurance coverage) from a California corporate surety, guaranteeing payment to CITY for liability, or costs, or both, that CITY incurs during CITY’s investigation, administration, or defense of a claim or a suit arising out of this Agreement.

1.6 CONSULTANT shall maintain the insurance policy without interruption, from the Project’s commencement date to the Final Payment date, or until a date that CITY specifies for any coverage that CONSULTANT must maintain after the Final Payment.

1.7 CONSULTANT’s insurance company or self -insurance administrator shall mail CITY written notice at least thirty (30) days in advance of the policy’s or the self-insurance program’s cancellation, termination, non-renewal, or reduction in coverage.
83 of 222

56 1.8 CONSULTANT shall not allow any insurance to expire, cancel, terminate, lapse, or non-renew. Twenty-one (21) days before its insurance policy’s expiration, cancellation, termination, or non-renewal, CONSULTANT shall deliver to CITY evidence of the required coverage as proof that CONSULTANT’s insurance policy has been renewed or replaced with another insurance policy which, during the duration of this Agreement, meets all of this Agreement’s insurance requirements.

1.9 At any time, upon CITY’s request, CONSULTANT shall furnish satisfactory proof of each type of insurance coverage required— including a certified copy of the insurance policy or policies; certificates, endorsements, renewals, or replacements; and documents comprising CONSULTANT’s self-insurance program— all in a form and content acceptable to the City Attorney or City’s Risk Manager.

1.10 If CONSULTANT hires, employs, or uses a Subconsultant to perform work, services, operations, or activities on CONSULTANT’s behalf, CONSULTANT shall ensure that the Subconsultant:

(A) Meets, and fully complies with, this Agreement’s insurance requirements;

(B) Delivers to CITY — for its review, or approval, or both — all insurance policies, certificates, and endorsements that this Agreement requires; and

(C) Furnishes CITY, at any time upon its request, with a complete copy of the Subconsultant’s insurance policy or policies for CITY’s review, or approval, or both.

1.11 CONSULTANT’s failure to comply with an insurance provision in this Agreement constitutes a breach upon which CITY may immediately terminate or suspend CONSULTANT’s performance of this Agreement, or invoke another remedy that this Agreement or the law allows. At its discretion, CITY may obtain or renew the insurance, and CITY may pay all or part of the premiums. Upon demand, CONSULTANT shall repay CITY for all sums or monies that CITY paid to obtain, renew, or reinstate the insurance, or CITY may offset the cost of the premium against any sums or monies that CITY may owe CONSULTANT.

84 of 222

57 EXHIBIT D-6

INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

CONSULTANT’S SUBMITTAL OF CERTIFICATES AND ENDORSEMENTS

1.1 CONSULTANT shall have its insurance carrier(s) or self-insurance administrator(s) complete and execute the following insurance documents, unless an exception below applies. When CONSULTANT signs and delivers the Agreement to CITY, CONSULTANT also shall deliver:

(A) A “certificate of insurance” for each required liability insurance coverage;

(B) An additional insured endorsement for Commercial General Liability coverage or Businessowners Liability coverage and Automobile Liability coverage , unless this Agreement does not require CONSULTANT to obtain and maintain Commercial General Liability coverage, Businessowners Liability coverage, or Automobile Liability coverage;

(C) A “certificate of insurance” for Workers’ Compensation insurance; or If CONSULTANT is self-insured for workers’ compensation, a copy of the “Certificate of Consent to Self-insure” from the State of California; or
If CONSULTANT is lawfully exempt from workers’ compensation laws, a n “Affirmation of Exemption from Labor Code §3700” form;

(D) A subrogation endorsement, “ Waiver of Our Right to Recover From Others ,” for Workers’ Compensation coverage; and

(E) A complete copy of CONSULTANT’s Professional Liability insurance policy, including all forms and endorsements attached to it.

1.2 CITY will neither sign this Agreement nor issue a “Notice to Proceed” until the City Attorney or City’s Risk Manager has reviewed and approved the insurance documents. CITY’s decision as to the acceptability of all insurance documents is final. Unless CONSULTANT obtains CITY’s written approval, CITY will not permit or allow a substitution of an insurance policy, or a change in a certificate’s or an endorsement’s form and content, or both.

INSURANCE OBLIGATION IS SEPARATE FROM INDEMNITY OBLIGATION

2.1 This Agreement’s insurance provisions:

(A) Are separate and independent from the indemnification and defense provisions in Article 12 of the Agreement; and

(B) Do not limit, in any way, the applicability, scope, or obligations of the indemnification and defense provisions in Article 12 of the Agreement.

85 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

1 June 3, 2024
ADDENDUM NO. 1
Request for Proposals
Glendale Tech Startup Growth Programs

NOTICE TO ALL PROPOSERS
Notice is hereby given to all potential Proposers that this is an addendum to the Request for Proposal for Glendale Tech Startup Growth Programs, issued on May 15, 2024, in response to the need by the City of Glendale to shift the timeline for the submission and evaluation dates. This Addendum is attached to and made part of the above-entitled RFP from the City of Glendale.

Instructions:

• Each Proposer shall acknowledge receipt of this addendum on Form A – Addenda Acknowledgement in their submitted Proposal.

CHANGES TO RFP SPECIFICATIONS
No changes to the RFP specifications besides an updated timeline and additional details added to the timeline for the evaluation and selection milestones.

Updates, modifications, and additions to the RFP consist of the following:

Updates to the deadline for Milestone 3, “Written Questions Due”, of the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14.

Updates to the deadline for Milestone 4, “Responses to Written Questions Issued”, of the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14.

Updates to the deadline for Milestone 5, “Deadline for Submitting RFP”, of the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14.

Modification of the language of Milestone 5 of the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14 from “Deadline for Submitting RFP” to “Deadline for Submitting Proposals”.

Updates to the timeline for Milestone 6, “Selection Committee reviews RFPs”, of the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14.
86 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

2 Modification of the language of Milestone 6 of the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14 from “Selection Committee reviews RFPs” to “Selection Committee reviews Proposals”.

Updates to the timeline and modification of the language of Milestone 7 of the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14 from “Final Selection of Operator” to “Interviews with Top 5 Proposals”.

Addition of Milestone 8, “Selection Committee’s Recommendations to City Council for Final Approval” to the Schedule listed under the Evaluation Process section on page 14.

THE CHANGES TO THE RFP ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Page 14: Schedule
The City’s updated and anticipated schedule for the selection of the most qualified Operators is as follows:

Date Milestone

1. May 15, 2024 Issuance of Request for Proposals

2. May 29, 2024 Pre-Bid Conference (Attendance
strongly encouraged)

3. June 21, 2024 Written Questions Due

4. June 28, 2024 Response to Written Questions Issued

5. July 12, 2024 Deadline for Submitting Proposals

6. Late July and August 2024 Selection Committee reviews Proposals

7. Late August 2024 Interviews with Top 5 Proposals

8. September/October 2024 Selection Committee’s
Recommendations to City Council For
Final Approval
.

2. Page 1: “Submission Deadline: June 28, July 12, 2024, 5:00pm PST”

3. Page 3: NOTICE OF PROHIBITION OF COMMUNICATION WITH, AND GIFTS OR GRATUITIES TO, THE CITY AND OTHERS, Section B
87 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

3 “…the deadline for receiving proposals in response to this RFP is 5:00 pm on June 28 July 12, 2024

4. Page 14: SUBMISSION DEADLINE AND REQUIREMENTS
“Full proposals must be received by no later than June 28 July 12, 2024 by 5:00 pm Pacific.”

Regards,

BRADLEY CALVERT, AICP
Director of Community Development

SOUA VANG
Deputy Director of Community Development – Economic Development 88 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

1 July 1, 2024
ADDENDUM NO. 2
Request for Proposals
Glendale Tech Startup Growth Programs

NOTICE TO ALL PROPOSERS
Notice is hereby given to all potential Proposers that this is an addendum to the Request for Proposal for Glendale Tech Startup Growth Programs, issued on May 15, 2024, in response to questions submitted by potential applicants that were not answered during the pre-bid conference held on May 29th, 2024 (link to the recording can be found at www.glendaletechweek.com/accelerators under the RFP Timeline section). This Addendum is attached to and made part of the above-entitled RFP from the City of Glendale.

Instructions:

• Each Proposer shall acknowledge receipt of this addendum on Form A – Addenda Acknowledgement in their submitted Proposal.

CHANGES TO RFP SPECIFICATIONS
No changes to the RFP besides the addition of the following questions and their corresponding answers.

The following questions were submitted by potential applicants. Answers were given directly to the asking party and, in an effort to make the application process fair and transparent, are being made publicly available here. The questions and answers presented below are grouped based on topic.

SUBMITTED QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Topic: Growth Program Goals and Structure

1. Is the purpose of this accelerator to help startups prepare to secure venture capital funding or do the startups need to secure venture capital funding prior to admissions? The City’s updated and anticipated schedule for the selection of the most qualified Operators is as follows: The RFP does not give any specific requirements around startup-funding obligations 89 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

2 for the Growth Program beyond acknowledging that a successful program should be able to connect startups with funding sources when appropriate. We understand that funding needs will differ for startup teams depending on the stage of the product and startup, so different types of Growth Programs would need to have different roles in connecting startups with funding sources.

2. Is the accelerator a new private non-profit entity that will be anchored in the Glendale community or will this be a city-run program via a private operator agreement? The Operator(s) can be an existing organization, a new organization, or a collaboration between new and/or existing organizations. Additionally, there is no requirement for the organizational structure of this Growth Program (non-profit, etc.). The City will award the winning Operators the grant money but will not be in charge of running the Growth Program. The Operators will be solely in charge of planning and operating the Growth Program.

3. Are previous recipients able to be considered for this grant as long as the funds are allocated towards a new program and not existing business operations.

As long as the program is seen as a significant addition to your existing programming and not just enabling business growth as usual, and it meets the other items listed in the grant RFP, it would meet the requirements and be considered. There is nothing in there preventing previous awardees of grants from the City from applying and being selected.

4. Can groups collaborate with other organizations/programs to apply for the grant together? Partnerships are absolutely acceptable! You would just need to list out everyone involved and their roles.

5. Is there any requirement for the length of the program? The entire growth program is expected to last the 3 years of the grant period and beyond. One of the evaluation criteria is sustainability. We are looking to recruit a program that will continue to benefit the startup ecosystem beyond the 3 year grant period. As far as a time requirement for any given program that a startup my participate in (cohort, class, etc.), there is no specific requirement outlined in the RFP as those durations will naturally vary between different types of growth programs (accelerators, incubators, etc.). We expect that applicants will include the duration that best fits their proposed growth program.

6. Economic Development engaged the local startup community to gather feedback regarding the needs of local entrepreneurs, overall ecosystem needs, and potential best uses for the grant funding.” What did ED learn in each of these 3 areas?
The feedback led us to expand the scope of the grant to attract applicants that will broaden and 90 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

3 strengthen the startup ecosystem.

7. Understanding $167K/yr budget is very limited, if City could only accomplish 1 key objective, what single outcome is most important to you?
All objectives are stated in the RFP.

8. Does City prefer a focused program or agnostic?
Growth Programs with a focus and strong reasoning behind selecting this focus will be given preference, though generalists may apply.

9. Are there any minimum requirements on how we need to “directly support 10 companies per year”?
The exact details have been left intentionally vague in the RFP as they vary greatly depending on different types of growth programs. The requirements are listed in the RFP.

10. Do the 10 companies need to come to Glendale for a period of time or can the program be virtual or hybrid?
As described in the RFP, the program can be virtual or hybrid, but at least one in-person event needs to be held in Glendale each year.

11. As a global innovation platform, we feel confident that [our organization] has all the necessary resources to complete the extent of the Glendale Tech accelerator. If an additional partner is required, can you please offer examples of ideal partners to submit the RFP alongside (Real estate, university, VC partners, etc.)?
Additional partners are not required. The selection committee will be looking for proof that a network of resources is able to be tapped into to support the startups participating in a proposed Growth Program. This may come from within an organization, through partnerships, or through any other means.

12. Can you expand on the expected timetable for the accelerator program each year, as well as any specific guidelines or metrics you wish to establish, like the duration of the program annually? Would a three-month program per cohort be workable? The RFP is intentionally vague regarding specific timelines for the program as these timelines would look different for different types of Growth Programs (e.g. a 3 month program makes sense for an accelerator, although it may not be the right duration for an incubator, startup studio, etc.). The expectation is that you propose a structure that makes sense for the type of program you are proposing.

Topic: Growth Program Funding and Financials
91 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

4 13. I wanted to follow-up with a clarifying question: just wanted to triple check on the language of the RFP that the funding allocated will be $1M over 3 years, not $1M per year for 3 years– essentially either $333k per year for a sole operator or $166k per year with two operators. Is that correct?
The grant will be a total of $1,000,000 distributed evenly over 3 years, not $1 million each year.

14. The costs to run an effective program far exceed $167K/year. Are you really looking for 2 Operators or are you willing to select 1? Under what circumstances would you choose 1? As stated in the RFP, we are looking to select 2 operators unless 1 operator proposes a convincing enough proposal to merit both halves of the award. We do not anticipate that this will be the only source of funding for the Growth Programs. As we are looking for this project to sustain beyond the 3 years of the grant, we expect other sources of funding or revenue to be present.

15. Can you provide more details regarding the financial requirements? Are you seeking evidence that we have the capacity to manage the program, or are you looking for proof of specific financial metrics?
The selection committee will be looking for evidence that you have the capacity and experience required to manage the awarded funds.

16. The RFP specifies a yearly budget of $166,666.66 per operator. Does this budget include the costs associated with leasing a physical location within the City of Glendale? Additionally, could you confirm if there are any specific guidelines or constraints related to the physical location, such as required amenities or preferred square footage? There are no specific requirements regarding how the funds are spent as long as the proposed financials are clear and relevant to the proposed structure. (See question regarding space requirements for the answer to the second part).

Topic: Growth Program Location

17. Does the City already have a space identified or does the operator need to utilize the grant funding for the lease of new space?
The City does not have a space identified or reserved where this Growth Program will operate.

18. Can City recommend any potential available spaces?
The city can help with site selection if required.

19. Can Operator use a co-working space in Glendale for its physical/operational presence? Yes, working within a co-working space is not an issue.

92 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

5 20. What are the specific requirements for the physical location of the Growth Program within Glendale? Are there any particular amenities or facilities that are expected to be included? Operations must be run from a physical location within the City of Glendale where people are able to visit. It does not have to be large enough to host all participating startups, but it must be a physical location and not just a P.O. Box. It is okay if this location exists within a partner location or a co-working space, as long as that space is dedicated to the accelerator. Events hosted by the program are not required to take place in this location. The location is required to meet all relevant local, County, State, and Federal labor laws and requirements.

21. Could you clarify if there are any specific guidelines regarding the home base or location for participating startups? Additionally, how often are startups expected to be in-person versus virtual for the program, especially considering the varying lengths and times of each potential cohort?
Given the reality that different types of Growth Programs will require different structures, the RFP does not outline specific requirements related to the physical location of startups participating in the programs - beyond the one in-person event held within the City of Glendale each year. The selection committee will review proposed program structures based on, among other things, viability, rationale in choosing in-person, virtual, or hybrid, and how the program structure will contribute to the desired goals laid out in the RFP and the Glendale Tech Strategy.

Topic: Submission Requirements and Other

22. Questions about the Draft Professional Services Agreement (Exhibit C of the RFP) a. The contract suggests that any IP that is created in this SOW will be owned by the CITY.

Is that the case here? Can you provide more detail if so? b. The contract suggests that payments are not made until a defined portion of work is completed? How is this determined? Is it expected that the operator/consultant should front the costs associated with the SOW?
The contract attached in Exhibit C was a sample boilerplate contract to show the general terms of contracts with the City. Contracts specific to the proposed Growth Program(s) will be written up with the selected Operator(s) post selection and are open for the typical term negotiation.

23. Is it required to submit questions?
No. Submitting questions is optional.

24. As City is aware, most similar efforts to get Companies to stay after a program is complete are not successful unless there’s already a thriving ecosystem and City provides attractive targeted incentives that directly address the needs of the Companies and their Talent. What current and future incentives can the City offer to help Companies stay in Glendale? What current and future incentives can the City offer to help Talent stay in Glendale? We have several ecosystem-building initiatives that are being planned separate from the RFP. 93 of 222

CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA 633 E. Broadway, Suite 201 Economic Development Glendale, CA 91206
Tel. (818) 548-2005
glendaleca.gov

6 The Growth Programs are a small part of the strategy. Various other network building, talent pipeline development, physical space optimization, resource development, and policy incentives are at different stages of being discussed, planned, and implemented.

25. Does City prefer Operators that have an LA County presence and understanding of the local ecosystem or is City willing to select out of region, out of state or out of country Operators? The RFP does not state any preference for the location of the operators prior to the beginning of the Growth Program. The only requirement is that the Operator have a physical operations hub for the Growth Program within the City of Glendale during the grant period.

26. Can you specify how detailed our descriptions of expected planned partnerships should be? [Our organization] collaborates with several universities and organizations in many capacities, for example, by sharing deal flow, identifying startups, promoting event attendance, and including leaders in panels.

Descriptions of planned partnerships should be detailed enough to convey to the selection committee the nature of the relationship between partners, the estimated frequency of interaction, and the role the partners will play in the proposed Growth Program here in Glendale.

27. Given that you have operated 2 programs in the previous years, we would appreciate understanding any feedback or areas of improvement the City of Glendale aims to address with this year's program. Insights into these areas will help us tailor our proposal to better meet the city's objectives and ensure a more successful implementation.

We are treating this grant as wholly separate from the grant that was released in 2020 by the City of Glendale. We are pleased with the successes of the accelerator programs funded by the previous grant over their three years of funding and are now presenting a separate grant opportunity. We are seeking to identify and fund additional Growth Programs that will further expand the startup ecosystem here in The City and be good partners in advancing the Glendale Tech Strategy and The City’s tech ecosystem building efforts.

94 of 222

GlendaleTechStartupGrowthProgram
Presenting:

TheGlendaleGrowthAlliance(Pre)SeedtoScaleGlendaleB2B&B2CDualAccelerators PoweredbyFoundersBoostinPartnershipwithHackerFundandtheAllianceforSoCalInnovation BlakeCaldwellCEOofStartupBoostInc.201NBrandBlvdDowntown,Suite200Glendale,CA91203Email:[email protected]:424-272-7228 95 of 222

July12,2024
SouaVangDeputyDirectorofCommunityDevelopment-EconomicCevelopmentGlendaleEconomicDevelopmentDivision633EastBroadway,Suite201Glendale,CA91206 DearMs.Vang,
WeareexcitedtopresentourproposalfortheGlendaleTechStartupGrowthProgram.Thisinitiative,poweredbyFoundersBoostinpartnershipwithHackerFundandtheAllianceforSoCalInnovation,isdesignedtoenhanceGlendale'sstartupecosystemthroughourGlendaleGrowthAllianceprogram.A(pre)SeedtoScaleapproachwithdualacceleratorsforBusiness-to-Business(B2B)andBusiness-to-Consumer(B2C)businesses.

OurGlendaleGrowthAllianceprogramaimsto:

1. Showcasethelocalstartupcommunityandprovideemergingcompanieswiththetoolsandsupporttheyneedtothrive:LeveragingGlendale’svibrantdowntownanddynamicbusinessenvironment,wewillofferstartupsmentorship,resources,andnetworkingopportunities.2. PromoteGlendaleasaninnovationhub:BycapitalizingonGlendale’sproximitytotopuniversitiesandtechnologycompanies,wewillhighlightthecityasapremierdestinationforinnovationandentrepreneurship.3. Attractandretainadiversepooloftechtalent:Glendale’sculturalvibrancyandconnectivitymakeitanideallocationfortechprofessionals.Theprogramwillactivelypromotetheseattributestoattractandretainskilledtalent.4. Drivelocaleconomicdevelopment:Supportinghigh-growthpotentialstartupswilldriveeconomicgrowth,generatesubstantialrevenue,andcreatehigh-wagejobsinGlendale.

FoundersBoostInc.hasaprovenhistoryofsupportingearly-stagefounderswithoutrequiringpaymentorequity,ensuringinclusivityandaccessforentrepreneursfromallbackgrounds.SinceourlocallaunchinLosAngeles,wehaveexpandedglobally,running90programsacross20ecosystemsandhelpingalumniraiseover$250million.

Partneringwithus,theAllianceforSouthernCaliforniaInnovationprovidescrucialconnectionstoinstitutionalcapital,havingsupported80startupswith$85MininvestmentsthroughitsSoCalVenturePipeline.HackerFund,thenation'sleaderininventioneducation,empowersover60,000inventorsannuallythroughhackathonsandcollaborationswithschools,governments,andtoptechcompanies.

OurGlendaleGrowthAllianceprogrampromisestocatalyzetechnologicaladvancementsandeconomicprosperityinGlendale.Ourproposaldetailshowweplantoachievethesegoalseffectively,leveragingour 2 96 of 222

collectiveexpertiseandresources.

WeareconfidentthatoureffortswillsignificantlyimpactGlendale’seconomiclandscape,fosteringinnovationandentrepreneurship.Thankyouforconsideringourproposal.WelookforwardtotheopportunitytoworkwiththeCityofGlendaletoachieveoursharedvisionofathriving,innovativecommunity.

Respectfully,
BlakeCaldwellCEO,FoundersBoost
3 97 of 222

Qualification,Experience,PastPerformance
EntityName(s):

Primary:FoundersBoostPartner:HackerFundPartner:AllianceforSouthernCaliforniaInnovation Contactinformationforprimaryentity:

BlakeCaldwellCEOofStartupBoostInc.201NBrandBlvdDowntown,Suite200Glendale,CA91203Email:[email protected]:424-272-7228 Typeofentity,yearfounded,andbusinessregistration(ifapplicable):
● FoundersBoostisaDelawareC-Corp,foundedin2017,withanEINof88-1335400.FoundersBoostalsohasa501(c)3arm,FoundersBoostFoundation,fiscallysponsoredbyHackerFund.● HackerFundisa501(c)3foundedin2014,withanEINof47-2485464● TheAllianceforSouthernCaliforniaisa501(c)6organizationfoundedin2017withanEINof82-1726203.TheAlliancealsohasa501(c)3armfiscallysponsoredbyCommunityPartners.

Listofowners,partners,ormembersofprimaryentity:

FoundersBoost:● BlakeCaldwell,CEO● GeneMurphy,Co-Founder● ChrisKay,Founder.

Organizationalhistoryandbackground:

ABOUTFOUNDERSBOOST:TheFoundersBoostprogramwasoriginallydesignedtoaddresstheubiquitouslackofaccessiblesupportforearlystagefoundersinstartupecosystemsnearlyeverywhere.Byremovingtheneedtopayandgiveupcompanyequity,foundersfromallbackgroundscouldbenefitfromasupportnetworkusuallyunavailableorunattainabletothem,anddosowithoutgivingupvaluableequityneededtosucceedinthefuture.Theprogramwasdesignedtobeextremelyefficientwhilemaximizingimpact,andislaser-focusedonprovidingthenecessarysupportforstartupsintheearlystage,activatingnetworksoftalentedvolunteersandsimultaneouslydemonstratingvaluetodrawthesupporttofundtheprograms. 4 98 of 222

FoundersBoostlaunchedlocally,inLosAngeles,andhasasevenyearhistoryofprovensuccessinthisarena.In2017FoundersBoostofficiallylaunchedin4ecosystems,LA,Detroit,Toronto,&Dublin.In2018itaddedNYC,London,andaBlockchainverticalprogram.in2019,Pittsburgh&Chicagojoined.In2020,Kenya,Newcastle,Vancouver,andZambiajoined.Despitetheeffectstheglobalpandemichadonnearlyeveryaspectofindustry,theprogramnotonlypersevered,butexpandedevenfurther,provingboththevalueandtheresilienceofthebusinessmodel.In2021,Austin,Italy,SouthFlorida,&WashingtonDCjoined.In2022,weaddedprogramsforDenver,Netherlands,Turkey,andanAutismfocusedaccelerator.Todate,wehavecompleted78programsinvolving150programleaders,250expertspeakers,and700+mentorswhohavehelpedover1000foundersfrom500+graduatedstartups.

FoundersBoosthasrun14acceleratorprogramsinLosAngelesand90totalacceleratorprogramsacross20ecosystemsglobally.Alumnihavegoneonfromtheircohortstoraiseover$250million.

Dedicatedtoinclusivity,wefirmlybelievethatgreatideasknownoboundaries.Westrivetoleveltheplayingfieldandprovideequalopportunitiesforentrepreneursfromallbackgrounds,regardlessofgender,ethnicity,orsocio-economicstatus.

FoundersBoostStatistics:
● NumberofAlumniStartups:594● NumberofAlumniFounders:1k+● NumberofApplications:7k+● TotalFunding:$250M+● Diversity(Startups):80%(89%inLA)● NumberofCohorts:14● NumberofProgramsRun:91● NumberofYearsRun:7 UnderservedBreakdown StartupsLA StartupsGlobal
BIPOCFounded 55% 53%
BlackFounded 10% 27%
LatinxFounded 20% 8%
POCFounded 45% 28%
WomenFounded 44% 35%
ImmigrantFounded 45% 30%
LGBTQFounded 10% 5%
DisabilityFounded 5% 4%
5 99 of 222

NeurodiverseFounded 0.00% 3%
VeteranFounded 5% 3%
MarginalizedFounded 6.45% 3.80%
Total% 88.71% 79.75%
ABOUTTHEALLIANCEFORSOUTHERNCALIFORNIAINNOVATION:

PartneringwithFoundersBoostistheAllianceforSouthernCaliforniaInnovation(“theAlliance”),a501c6non-profitorganization,whichservesasaregionalsuperconnectorsupportingtheSoCalinnovationecosystem.InMarch2021,theAlliancelaunchedtheSoCalVenturePipeline(SVP)toaddresstheaccessgapforfirst-timefounders,especiallythosefromunderservedcommunities,whoaredisconnectedfromcrucialsourcesofinstitutionalcapital.TheAllianceleveragesourrobuststakeholderrelationshipnetworkdevelopedoverthepastsevenyearstodirectlyconnect“investor-ready”founderstoournationwidenetworkofover200VCsandothersourcesofinstitutionalcapital.Sofar,therigorouslyselectiveprogramhasdirectlysupported80startups(outofthe704applicationsreceived)withtargetedmatchmakingofindividualinvestorintroductions.Theapplicationdatarevealsthat60%ofthefoundersidentifiedasnon-white,32%asnon-male,and34%arefirstgenerationcollegegraduates.Sofar,theSVPmatchmakingprogramhasledto20startupsgettingfundedforatotalof$85Mininvestment.TheAlliancehasalsobeguninvestingoutofanew$5.5MVentureFund(CatalystFund)tofundSoCalVenturePipelinecompaniesandinjusttwomonthssinceitslaunch,hascompletedtwoinvestmentsintoLACountystartupstotalling$500K,withanotherinvestmentimminent.

ABOUTHACKERFUND:

JoiningFoundersBoostandtheAllianceforTheGrowthAllianceprojectwillalsobeHackerFundwhosebeliefisthatartistscreatetoexpress,inventorscreatetosolveproblems,andahackeristheentrepreneurattheintersectionofthetwo.Weinventwaystosavetheworldasanexpressionofourselvesandwhatwestandfor.HackerFundisthenation’sleaderininventioneducationwhereweempowerhackerstohelpthedisadvantaged,educatethecommunity,andprotecttheenvironmentthroughthehackathonmodelandfiscalsponsorship.

AtHackerFund,weserveover60,000inventorsannuallythroughhackathonsthatcollaboratewithschoolsandgovernmentsundertheguidanceofmentorsfrom150+ofthetoptechnologycompaniesintheworldincludingApple,Google,Microsoft,Tesla,SpaceX,Disney,andSnap.Weactivelybuildrelationshipswithfunders–includingangelinvestors,seed-stagefunds,foundations,philanthropists,andventurecapitalists–ensuringwell-attendeddemodaysthatspotlightourinventors.AligningwithUSPTOguidelines,weenhanceSTEM/STEAMcurriculabyintegratinginventioneducationandintellectualpropertyconceptsintoclassrooms,teachingvaluableproblem-solvingskillsthatbenefitstudentsacrosscareerpathsandinterests.Throughour“hackathonmodel”,wedeliverasuiteofworkforcedevelopmentandtrainingprogramsthatremainresponsivetotheevolvingneedsoftechbusinesses,ensuringsustainedgrowthandinnovationinthecommunitiesweservenationwide. 6 100 of 222

Byengagingkeypartnersfromprivate,non-profit,philanthropic,andpublicsectors,wedevelophackathonsandrelatedprogrammingfocusedoncivicinnovation.Wetirelesslyseekgrantfundingfortechnologyeducation,promotelocaldemocracy,andadaptnewtechnologiestomeetcommunityneeds.Additionally,weco-designinventionacademieswithcityandworkforcepartners,connectingstudentstopaidsummerinternshipsandapprenticeshipsinthetechindustry,nurturingthenextgenerationofcivictechnologyentrepreneurs.

KeyPersonnel
ThekeypersonnelfortheGlendaleGrowthAlliancewillbeBlakeCaldwell,EricEide,andJustinBrezhnev.PotentialDirectorsfortheprogram,shouldthegrantbeawarded,areArezuAghaseyorScottWitt.

BlakeCaldwell:Blakewillserveasthemainpointofcontactforthisprogram.HeistheCEOofFoundersBoostandhasarichbackgroundinstartupacceleration,founder,andasaninvestor.Hehasbeeninstrumentalinlaunchingandrunningnumeroussuccessfulacceleratorprogramsglobally.SeeBlake’sresumebelow(AppendixA).

EricEide:EricistheManagingDirectoroftheAllianceforSouthernCaliforniaInnovationandbringsextensiveexperienceinfosteringinnovationandcollaborationwithintheSouthernCaliforniatechecosystem.HehasworkedwithinanLA-basedunicornstartup(Bird)andhasalsoworkedattheU.S.SmallBusinesswherehehelpedoperatethefederal$4.5BSmallBusinessResearchInnovationResearch(SBIR)programacross11federalagencies.Healsospent2yearsconductingfieldworkinIndiatounderstandhowentrepreneursbuildstartupsandstartupecosystemsinemergingeconomies.SeeEric’sresumebelow(AppendixA).

JustinBrezhnev:Justinisafirst-generationAmericanwhosefamilyimmigratedfromtheformerSovietUnion(whatisnowUkraine)whofoundedHackerFundandhasbuiltacareerasoneoftheleadinghackathonorganizersintheworld,havingfoundedtheprolifichackathons,LAHacksforUCLAandHacktechforCaltechandorganizedthelargesthighschoolhackathoninhistory-HSHacksatPaypalTownhall.Heisavisionaryleaderwithapassionforempoweringyounginventorsandtechnologyentrepreneursthroughhackathonsandventurefunding.SeeJustin’sresumebelow(AppendixA).

ArezuAghaseyistheproposedManagingDirectorofTheAccelerator,supportedbyBlakeCaldwellandFoundersBoost.CurrentlytheProductInnovationandStrategyDirectoratCrea,sheleadsproductdevelopmentforstartupsandmanagestechnologyneedsforacceleratorsandVCs.HerexpertiseindigitaltransformationandDesignThinkinghasdrivencorporate-drivenacceleratorsforMetaandWalmartthroughlaunchingprogramsatPlugandPlayLAandbuildingouttheLAstartupecosystem.AtDeloitte,sheidentifiedandimplementedemergingtechnologiesforFortune100clients.APasadenaresident,shehassupportedadtechfirmsinproductdevelopmentandmarketing.Recognizedasa25xhackathonwinner,ArezuhaswoncompetitionssponsoredbyVisa,CapitalOne,BoostVC/Coinbase,CapitolRecords,andMozillaallowinghertostayuptodatewithtechnologyandtakingthem0-1.SeeArezu’sresumebelow(AppendixA).

ScottWittistheproposedsecondaryManagingco-DirectorofTheAccelerator,supportedbyBlakeCaldwellandFoundersBoost.Scottisalong-timeGlendaleresidentandentrepreneurialengineerwithanMBAinmarketingandstrategyandabackgroundintheartsandeducation.Hehelpsfounderstosucceedinavariety 7 101 of 222

ofways:1)PitchCoach:helpfounderstounderstandandarticulatethepotentialoftheirventure,andthencraftandpresentacompellingstorytostakeholders;2)StartupAdviser:providefounderswithuniqueinsights,recommendations,andthought-provokingquestions;3)Consultant/IndividualContributor:hands-onprojectworkinmarketing,productdesignanddevelopment,strategy,operations,andbusinessdevelopment;and4)FractionalExecutive:experiencedseniormanagementresourceonapart-timebasis.Hiscontributionsasanentrepreneurialeducatorincludeacademicsettings(UCLAAnderson,USCKeck,Caltech),accelerators(CleantechOpen,FoundersBoost)andcommunityorganizations(AllianceforSoCalInnovation,InnovatePasadena,SocalBio,andBCLA).AsamentorandcoachhehashelpedfounderstoreachthefinalsoftheCleantechOpen,USC’sMaseehPrize,andTechCoastAngelsQuickPitch.Inthelastfouryearshehasspentover600hoursworkingwithunder-representedfounders.SeeScott’sresumebelow(AppendixA).

RelevantExperience
FoundersBoostFoundersBoosthasrunover90acceleratorprogramsfrom20acceleratorsacrossecosystemsglobally.TheLosAngelesacceleratorlaunchedin2017andisstillthriving,havingcompleteditsmostrecentprograminJune,2024.PleaserefertotheLetterofSupportbyourreferenceforfurtherinsightsintoourabilitytodeliverimpactfulprograms.

FoundersBoostLAAcceleratorProgram:● NameandLocation:FoundersBoostLAAcceleratorProgram,LosAngeles,CA● Ownership,Financing/EquitySources:OwnedandoperatedbyFoundersBoost;financedbycorporatesponsorsincludingProsperaLaw,Google,andBCGx● LaunchDate:2017● CurrentStatus:Ongoing,withthemostrecentprogramcompletedinJune2024● PhysicalSpaceUsedfortheProgram:TheprogramsessionswerehostedatBCGxinElSegundo,featuringa600sqftpresentationroomthataccommodates50peoplewithhybridtechnology,akitchen,andparking.DemoDaywashostedatGoogleVenice,with100attendees(50%investors)intheirlargeconferenceroomwithhostedfoodandbeveragesfromlocalbrands.● TeamMembersInvolved:○ RonLeshem,Co-Director:Responsibleforpreparingandexecutingtheprogram,includingteambuilding,mentorandspeakerrecruitment,founderrecruitmentandevaluation,andprogramanddemodaypreparationandexecution.○ PaulGenberg,Co-Director:SharedequalresponsibilitieswithRon,managingtherestoftheteamandoverseeingprogramoperations.○ JennaFuentes,ProgramLeader:Handledcommunityengagement.○ DennyTian,ProgramLeader:Managedprogramduties,ensuringalltaskswerehandledefficiently.○ LeonardTatum,ProgramLeader:Supportedallaspectsoftheprograminautilityrole’.● ProjectMetricsforSuccess:○ Supported115startups,withnearly90%havingunderrepresentedfounders.○ Startupshavecollectivelyraisedover$100Minfunding.○ Createdover1,000jobs. 8 102 of 222

○ Generatedwellover$40Minrevenue.

FoundersBoost,inpartnershipwithavarietyofcorporatestakeholders,isactivelyrunningmanyotherlong-standingprogramswhichinclude:Detroit(launched2017),Toronto(launched2017),NYC(launched2018),Kenya(launched2020),Vancouver(launched2020),Italy(launched2021),SouthFlorida(launched2021),Austin(launched2021),WashingtonDC(launched2021),AutismInnovation(launched2022),andNetherlands’EuropeAI(launched2022).

TheAllianceforSoCalInnovationTheAllianceforSoCalInnovationhasspentthepast7yearsworkingtounitetheSouthernCaliforniainnovationecosystemtopromoteandadvancetheregion.TheSoCalVenturePipelineprogram,launchedin2021,hasgrowntobecomeoneoftheAlliance’smostimportantprograms.TheSVPisprimarilyfundedbycorporatesponsorsandtheEDA’sBuildtoScalegranttocoverthefounderoutreachandinvestormatchmakingservices.TheAlliance,inpartnershipwithitsco-GPpartner,PasadenaPrivateFinancialGroup,hasraisedandbeguninvestingfromanewventurefund(TheCatalystFund),whichgeneratesmanagementfeestohelpcovercostsofrunningtheno-costprogram.

TheSVPProgramisoperatedvirtually,butfoundereventsareregularlyhostedinlocalcitiestobringtogetherfounders,investors,andstakeholders,helpfoundersprepareandlearnaboutfundraising,andraiseawarenessaboutthenocost,noequityhelptheSoCalVenturePipelinecanprovide.

TheAlliancealsoregularlyconvenesinvestor-onlyeventsacrosstheSoCalregiontofosterandextendtheinvestorrelationshipstoenabletheinvestorimpactoftheprogram.IncludedintheseoutreachesisanannualinvestorhappyhoureventhostedatCaltech,whichbringstogethertwodozeninvestorsbasedinthetri-cityareathathasbeenheldeachofthelastthreeyears.

TheSoCalVenturePipelinealreadyservesfoundersbasedinGlendaleandthetri-cityareaandwillbeabletoserveandsupportmanymorewiththeawardofthisgrant.Todate,theSVPprogramhasreviewed31applicantsfromtheBurbank-Glendalearea,another31fromthePasadenaarea,andanadditional101fromthenearbydowntownLAarea.FourcompaniesfromtheBurbank-GlendaleareahavebeenacceptedintotheSVPprogramtodate.

AllianceSVPTeammembers:● EricEide,ManagingDirectorisresponsibleformanagingtheoverallSoCalVenturePipelineprogram,theCatalystVentureFund,andliaisingwithcitiesontheireconomicdevelopmentstrategies.EriclivesandworksinPasadena.● DanDavidson,ProgramManagerisresponsibleforventurematchingfounderstofundersandrunningthedaytodayoperationsoftheSoCalVenturePipeline.DanlivesandworksinthePasadenaarea.● JayVelasco,VentureOutreachManagerisresponsibleforsourcingandliaisingwithfoundersandrepresentingtheAlliancetothestartupcommunity.● NimaAshraf,VentureAssociateisresponsibleforsourcingandassessingfounders.NimalivesandworksinGlendaleandwillfocusonsourcingventure-readyfoundersfromGlendaleandtheTricitiesarea. 9 103 of 222

TheAlliancehasavirtualofficeatIndustriousPassarroyo,251S.LakeAvenueinPasadena.ThismembershipallowstheAllianceteamaccesstotheIndustriousGlendale.

HackerFund:HackerFundisa501(c)(3)fiscalsponsorestablishedin2014toempowertechnologiststocreatesocialchange.HackerFundhasworkedwiththeLAMayor’sOfficetosupportentrepreneursinSouthLosAngelesthroughtheinitiativecalledtheVisionLab(https://visionlab.la/)whichisdesignedtoaddresstheinequitiesofthedigitaldividethrough10-weekbusinessideaaccelerators,freeeducationalevents,andhackathons.Thisprogramlaunchedin2022andoperatesfromvenuessuchastheMichelleandBarackObamaSportsComplex,TheMetaphorClub,andBrotherhoodCrusade.

Inadditiontoempoweringentrepreneursthroughacceleratoractivities,wehaveoperatedasanincubatorfornonprofittechnologygroupsthatinclude:HackforLA,ArtificialIntelligenceLosAngeles,TheBurg,andtheS.T.E.A.M.Collective.

Additionalhighlightsarebelow:● WinnerofLA2050GrantCompetitionforS.T.E.A.M.Collectivein2022● Organizedthefirst-everComptonTechweekin2019● PartneredwiththeComptonUnifiedSchoolDistricttobuildtheComptonInnovationCenteratCentennialHighSchool,thefirst-everpublicaccessinnovationspacein Compton.● WasthefiscalsponsorforHackforLAandArtificialIntelligenceLosAngeles,twoofthelargestmembershiporganizationsinLosAngelesthatfocusontheintersectionofcivicengagementandtechnology.● Organizedthefirst-everHacktoberfestin2015inLosAngelesinpartnershipwiththeOfficeofMayorEricGarcetti● Facilitated/mentored/advised100+hackathonsincludingtheRecyclathonfortheLADepartmentofSanitation,theCityofSantaMonica’sHacktheBeach,andthelargest highschoolhackathonofalltime,HSHacks,whichbroughttogether1000+highschoolstudents● OfficialfiscalsponsorpartnerfortheMayor’sCupinpartnershipwiththeOfficeof MayorEricGarcetti Press&Media:https://www.forbes.com/profile/justin-brezhnev/https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west/news/2019/08/14/compton-tech-week-offers-freetechnology-workshopshttps://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/meet-3-latinas-leading-virtual-augmented-realityn656361https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2016/06/10/how-to-inspire-the-nextgeneration-of-programmers/#2399490d3afdhttps://channel9.msdn.com/Blogs/raw-tech/Build-a-Mentor-Army-to-Teach-Students-to-Codethrough-Hacker-Fund 7 10 104 of 222

References
EachofthethreepartnerscollaboratingonTheAcceleratorhavereceivedenthusiasticsupportfromtheirrespectivenetworks.Wewillsubmittheapplicationwithattachmentsthatincludelettersofsupport.Theseattachmentsinclude,butarenotlimitedto,recommendationsfromthebelowindividualswhohaveexpressedtheirinterestinservingasreferencesforthepurposesofthisapplication.

ForFoundersBoost:MoazHamid,ManagingDirector,mvmtventures,415-255-5441,moaz@mvmt.vc.MoazisalongtimementorofFoundersBoostLAandotherprograms.Additionally,asamentorfor20otherstartupsupportorganizations,hecanspeaktothequalityofFoundersBoost.

FortheAlliance:JCRuffalo,VenturePartner,CoveFund,(949)400-7282,jc.ruffalo@covefund.com.JCRuffaloisaninvestorwhohasservedontheAlliance’sEvaluationCommitteeforthepasttwoyears.He,andhispeerinvestors,bothgiveandreceivevaluethroughtheirparticipationandhelpcatalyzeinvestmentsintolocalfounders.PleaserefertodetailinAppendixCformoredetailontheSoCalVenturePipelinestartupreviewprocessandthosewhoarepartofit.

ForHackerFund:RachelKornak,TechEducationManageratCityofLAMayor'sOffice,(248)697-8750,rachel.kornak@lacity.org.RachelKornakisoneofthevisionariesbehindtheVisionLabfortheCityofLAandherteamworkscloselywithHackerFundtocoordinatementorshipopportunities,demodays,andhackathonsthatengagewithinventorsandentrepreneurs.

Partnerships:

FoundersBoost:FoundersBoosthasdevelopedanincrediblenetworkofecosystempartnersbothinLosAngelesandacrosstheglobe.SeeAppendixBforafulllist.

OurInvestmentpartnersinLAincludeTechCoastAngels,PowerhouseCapital,andMorpheusVentures.OuracceleratorpartnersinLAincludeExpertDojoandWelaunch.WehaveaverycloserelationshipwithTechstarsinparticularandwilloftenrunsharedmixersandinformationsessions.Weworkcloselywithmanyco-workingspacescurrentlyandinthepast,includingtheKinn,CrossCampus,CTRLCollective,WeWork,andothers.

FoundersBoosthastwoofficialglobalpartners.WehaveaglobalpartnershipwithMorrow,whichrunsGAN,theGlobalAcceleratorNetwork.Thisprovidesuswiththeabilitytosendourstartupstothemandfortheiracceleratorstosharethosethatmightbeabetterfitforus.WealsohaveaglobalpartnershipwithF6S,whichisatechplatformconnectingstartupstoopportunities.Italsohastheircoreproductofbeinganapplicationmanagementsystem.Aspartofourpartnership,theyreachouttohundredsofstartupsthatfitourcriteriaforeveryprogramwerun,whichtheypriceat$10kperprogram.Theybothalsopromoteourprogramstotheirglobalnetworksonsocialmedia.

TheAllianceforSoCalInnovation:
11 105 of 222

TheAlliancehasanimpressivenetworkofinnovationecosystempartners.Wehavehundredsofstrategicpartnersincludingleadingcorporations,not-for-profitandcommunityorganizations,VCs,andacademicresearchinstitutions.OurBoardofDirectorsandworld-classAdvisoryCouncilincludesdistinguishedlocalcommunityandcorporateleaders,successfulentrepreneurs,LA-basedventureinvestors,andthetopresearchuniversitiesinSouthernCalifornia.Withthehelpofournetwork,weareuniquelypositionedtobeabletoconvenetherightpeopletogethertomakemeaningful,significantintroductionsandultimatelyattractandretainmorecapitalintotheregion.TheAlliancehasspentthemajorityofthepast7yearscreatingallianceswitheachofthecontributingstakeholdergroupsresponsibleforcreatingavibrantinnovationecosystem. ● ForcorporationsandVCs,theAllianceconnectsthemtokeystakeholdersandleaderswithintheSoCalinnovationecosystemforcollaboration,problemsolving,andcommunity.Ofnote,theAlliancewasinstrumentalinpavingthewayforTechstarsandUSC’srecentcollaboration.WehavealsobeenkeyinsettingthestageforafuturedealbetweenMitsubishiElectric’sAnyMileprojectandKaiserPermanente. ● Fortheregion’scommunities,theAlliancestandsupteamsoflocalleaderstodevelopstrategiesthatbuildonlocalassetsandfillgapsintheecosystem;● Fornon-profitandcommunityorganizations,weholdconveningstocollaborateandpromoteeachother’scauses;and● Fortheresearchinstitutesanduniversities,wehosteventsandprogramswhereintheirresearchcanbepresentedtospecificcorporateandVCsinterestedindiscoveringmoreabouttheinnovations.

TheSoCalVenturePipelineprogramgrewoutofthatfoundationofpartnership,andinvolvesseveral 12 106 of 222

differentcollaboratorroles,includingcommunityleads(early-stageinvestors,accelerators,communityleaders,andecosystemorganizations)thatcanmarketandrefercompaniesfromtheircommunitiesaswellasreviewSVPapplications.TheAlliance,throughtheSVPProgramalsohasarobustresourcenetworkforearlystartups.Becauseprogramselectivityisthekeytoretaininginvestorengagement,roughly75%ofthestartupapplicantswillinitiallynotbereadyforVCinvestmentandwillneedfurtherassistancefromecosystempartners.Mentors,nurturersandadvisorshelppreparethesecompaniesforfuturefundingrounds.Partnersinclude:HackerFund,Techstars,SAMPreccelerator,ExpertDojo,Grid110,NSFI-Corps,SpringBoard,805startups,InnovatePasadena,andlocalSmallBusinessDevelopmentCenters(SBDCs),amongothers.

AlsothroughtheSVPProgram,theAlliancehasarichnetworkofover300investorsincludingmarqueeSoCalVCfirmssuchasBonfire,Craft,CrossCut,Greycroft,March,M13,Upfront,andTenOneTen;aswellasnationalorglobalVCs,suchasa16z,Sequoia,VerticalVentures,UnionSquare,etc.(SeeAppendixB).

HackerFund:

HackerFund,thenation’sleadingproducerofhackathons,bringsunmatchedexpertiseandarobustnetworkofpartnershipstotheGlendaleTechStartupGrowthProgram(TSGP).Foundedbytheorganizerofthefirst-evercollegiatehackathonontheWestCoast,HacktechinPasadena,HackerFundhasbeenfosteringinnovationthroughhackathonssince2014.ThispositionsusuniquelytodriveGlendaleTSGPandadvancetheGlendaleTechStrategy.Wehavestrongpartnershipswithlocalcollegesanduniversities,includingGlendaleCommunityCollege,PasadenaCityCollege,Caltech,UCLA,USC,andCalStateNorthridge.Theseinstitutionsprovideasteadystreamoftalentedstudentswhoparticipateinourhackathonsandbenefitfromourinnovation-focusedenvironment.

OurextensivenetworkincludescollaborationswithkeySouthernCaliforniacompanieslikeDisneyandDreamWorks,whichofferuniqueopportunitiesforourparticipantstoengagewithindustryleaders.Localstartupsandinvestmentfundsensurethatinnovativeideasgeneratedduringhackathonshavethenecessaryresourcesandmentorshiptogrow.Additionally,partnershipswithnon-profitsandotherinstitutionsenhancethesupportecosystemforourparticipants,promotingsociallyimpactfulinnovations.HackerFund’srelationshipswithGlendale-basedcompaniesplayacrucialroleinsupportingourinitiatives.Disneyand 13 107 of 222

DreamWorksnotonlyparticipateinourhackathonsbutalsoprovidementorshipandresources.Glendale’sstartupcommunityandinvestmentfundsactivelycollaboratewithustoofferfundingandsupporttoemergingentrepreneurs.

Picturedabove:Thehackathonsabovearewhatwehavesupportedinproduction–HackathonbytheSea(VenturaCountyOfficeofEducation),Hacktoberfest(LAMayor’sOffice),LAHacks(UCLA).

DETAILEDPROGRAMPLANANDAPPROACH:

FoundersBoostFoundation,inpartnershipwithHackerFundandtheAllianceforSoCalInnovation,willestablish,launch,andoperatetheGlendaleGrowthAlliance(“TheAccelerator”)Thisinnovativeprogramaimstosupporthigh-potentialunderrepresentedfoundersfromtheLAregion,attractingthemtotheGlendaleecosystem.Thecoreinitiativerevolvesaroundbi-annualFoundersBoostacceleratorsfocusedonscalabletechstartupsledbyunderrepresentedfounders.Additionally,graduateswillreceivesupporttoentertheAlliance’sSoCalVenturePipeline,providingthemwithfurtheropportunitiesforgrowthandinvestment.

Establish,Launch,andOperatetheStartupGrowthProgram:

FoundersBoostPre-seedStageAccelerators:FoundersBoostwillconducttwoacceleratorcohortsperyear,eachsupporting8pre-seedstagestartupsandapproximately20founders.Thecohortsincludesevenweeksofintensivesupportincludingone-on-onementorshipandweeklyexpert-ledworkshopsfocusingondifferenttopicsforeachworkshop.Thefinalweekofeachacceleratorincludesademodayandglobalinvestorshowcase.

TargetedParticipants:TheAcceleratorwillincludetwonewsectorfocusedacceleratorprogramsthatwillrunbi-annuallyinthecity.OneacceleratorwillhaveaBusiness-to-Consumer(B2C)focus,leveragingGlendale’sstrengthinentertainmentandlifestylesectors,andtheotherwillhaveaBusiness-to-Business(B2B)focus,leveragingGlendale’sstrengthinSaaS.BecauseoftheinherentnatureofthethreeorganizationspartneringinTheAccelerator,themajority14 108 of 222

oftheapplicantsandparticipantswillbehistoricallyunderrepresentedfoundersincludingimmigrant,firstgeneration,BIPOC,non-male,LGBTQ+andsimilarunderservedpopulations.OtherthanthefocusonB2CinoneandB2Bintheother,thetypeofindustrywillnotbelimited.Preferencewillbegiventofounderslocaltothetri-cityareaorthosewillingtorelocatetotheregionpermanently.

AllianceSupport:ThroughtheSoCalVenturePipeline,theAlliancewillassistwithdealflowofstartupsbeingconsideredforeachcohortand,uponcompletionoftheacceleratorprogram,enlistthemostpromisinggraduatesintotheVenturePipelineforpotentialseed-stageinvestment.FordetailsontheSoCalVenturePipeline’smonthlyscreeningprocessandtheinvestorsandexpertswhoareengagedinthiswork,pleaserefertotheAppendixC.

TheAlliancewillhostanannual“FundraisinginToday’sMarket”foundereventfeaturingapanelofPre-seed,Seed,andSeriesAinvestorsintheCityofGlendale.TheeventwillbehostedduringtheannualGlendaleTechWeekinSeptember.TheeventwillbemarketedpubliclyviatheAlliance’smultiplesocialmediachannels,twomonthlyeventsfocusednewsletters,andthroughdirectemailinvitations,whichwillservetopromoteGlendaleanditstechecosystem.Theeventwillattractapproximately50highlyrelevantinnovationexperts,founders,andinvestors.Targetaudiencebreakdownisasfollows:30venture-readyfounders,10investors,afewstaffmembers,ecosystemchampions,andsponsors.TheAlliancehoststheseeventsquarterlyaroundtheSoCalregionandhasaproventrackrecordofproducinghighqualityandsoughtaftereventsfoundersandinvestorswanttoattend.

TheAlliancewillhostanannualVCHappyHourwithatleast24VCs,aswellasthecoreventureteamstafffromCaltechforthepurposeofnetworkingandshiningalightonstartupinvestmentopportunitiesinGlendaleandthesurroundingtri-cityarea.TheAlliancehashostedasimilareventforeachofthepast3yearsandhasaproventrackrecordofturningoutinvestorsforthisevent.

Inparallel,theAlliancewillseektohelpventurereadyfoundersthatarebasedinGlendaleortheimmediatelysurroundingareas,eveniftheyarenotformallypartoftheacceleratorcohortsFoundersBoostoperates.NimaAshraf,AllianceVentureAssociatebasedinGlendale,willfocusonengagingfoundersinthecommunityandconnectingthemtoventureservicesoperatedbytheAlliance,referringthemtoFoundersBoost,HackerFund,andotherrelevantregionalpartnersasappropriate.

RECRUITMENTPROCESS:FoundersBoostreachesfoundersthroughournetworksandthroughpartners.Thisrequiresamixtureofengagingotherswhoworkwithstartupstosharewiththeircommunities,performinginformationevents,socialmediaengagement,pressreleases,anddirectoutreachtostartups.Toensurewereachunderrepresentedfounders,wetargetleadersandcommunitiesthatcansharetheopportunitytoletthemknowweareopentoall.Also,F6Sdirectlyreachesouttohundredsofstartupsonourbehalfaspartofourpartnership.

Wewillalsoruncommunityeventsthatacttopromotetheapplications.Thisincludestwomixerstopromotetheprogram,oftenruninpartnershipwithanotherstartupsupportorganization,likeTechstars.Furtherour 15 109 of 222

partners,theAllianceandHackerFundwillactivelypromotetheprogramandsourcecandidatesforthecohorts.

PROPOSEDCURRICULUMMODEL:

OverviewFoundersBoosthascatalyzedthesuccessofhundredsofstartupsglobally.Wearecommittedtonurturingdiversityandinclusionwithinthestartuprealm,deliveringapivotalsix-weekacceleratorprogramdesignedtoempowerpre-seedandseedstagetechfounders.Ourparticipantsemergeequippedwithvitaltoolstoachievemilestonessuchasinvestmentprocurement,revenuegeneration,orentryintoesteemedgrowthstagestartupaccelerators.

Pre-ProgramPreparationTwoandahalfmonthspriortothefirstsession,theleadershipteamworksdiligentlytosettheprogramupforsuccess. ● Outreach&Marketing:Twoandahalfmonthspriortoinitiation,ourleadershipteamamplifiesawarenessoftheupcomingprogram,targetingpotentialfoundersthroughdiversechannels.● ResourceMobilization:Weenlistexpertspeakersandmentorstocontributetotheprogram,securevenues,establishpartnerships,andgatherallrequisitelogisticalsupport.

ApplicationandAdmissionProspectiveparticipantsmustsubmitapplicationsviaourwebsitebeforeastipulateddeadline.Theselectionprocessinvolvesmeticulousreviewsandinterviewsbyourreviewcommitteetoalignfounderaspirationswithprogramobjectives.

ProgramStructureAfterfoundersareaccepted,theywillundergoanonboardingprocessandthenbeginthecoreprogramming:● WeeklySessions:Sixenrichingsessions,eachthreehourslong,offerfoundersinsightsfromexpertspeakers,pitchdevelopment,andpersonalizedmentorship.● ResourceProvision:Foundersenjoyaccesstoarepositoryofeducationmaterialsandrecordedspeakertalks,alongsideaccesstoover$200kinexclusiveoffersandrebatesfromourpartnersinordertoreducetheirspendingandincreasetheirrunway.

KeyProgramComponents:FoundersBoost’sacceleratorprogrammodelisdesignedasaniterativeweeklyprocessthatallowsthesecompaniestoacceleratetheirlearningandenhancetheirabilitytoreachtheirgoals.Thekeycomponentsofthisweeklyprocessare:1. TailoredMentorshipEachweeklysessionincludestwo1-on-1mentorshipsessionsaimedathelpingfoundershonetheirbusinessmodelstomaximizepotentialandimpact.Foundersgaininvaluableinsightsandconnectionsfromarotatingrosterofseasonedentrepreneurs,industryexperts,andinvestorsfromtheircommunitieswhohavededicatedthemselvestosupportingthenextgenerationofearly-stagebusinesses.Thesementorshaveintimateexperiencewithwhatittakestofoundoroperateearly-stagestartups,whichistheknowledgeneededtoaccuratelyguidethesefoundersforward.Thementorswillencouragethestartupstofocusonspecificgoalsandactivitiesduringtheweekbetweensessions.2. PitchDevelopmentProcessSeeourobjectivessectionforfurtherelaboration.3. FocusTopicsIneachsession,anexpertspeakerwilltalkondifferenttopicskeytoafounder’sjourney.TopicstypicallyincludeCustomerDevelopmentandBusinessModelCanvas,PitchandPresentation,MarketSizing,Product-MarketFit,Fundraising,andVentureFundingandAccelerators.Therearealsospeakersspecifictothesectorspecificprogramming.Thestartupswilladditionallyhavehomeworktodobetweensessionsthatrelatetothatparticulartopic.4. BetweenSessions(OutsidetheClassroom) 16 110 of 222

Betweeneachsession,thefounderswillfocusontheirbusinessandtheindividualizedguidancethey’vereceivedfromthementors.Theywillcomebackthenextweekhavingaccomplishedthegoalssetforthem(whetheritbetointerviewcustomers,meetwithconnectionsintroduced,figureoutpricing,etc.)sothattheycangrowquickly.Additionally,theywillcontinuetoevolvetheirpitchanddeck,improvingtheirabilitytotelltheirstoryandreceivebettersupport.Adedicatedleadmentorensuresconsistentweeklysupport,fosteringacceleratedgrowth.

DemoDay Asaculminationofallthehardwork,DemoDayfunctionsasanopportunityforprogramleaderstobringpotentialinvestors,partners,andcustomerstogetherinoneplacetomeetandcelebratethefounders.Apanelofinvestorswillaskquestions,judgetheevent,andpartakeinaquickpaneldiscussion.It’saninviteonlyeventbringingthestartupcommunitytogether.Typicaldemodaysinclude100attendeeswith50%investors.

GlobalInvestorShowcase ThefinalelementoftheprogramistheVirtualGlobalInvestorShowcase,whichoccursafter DemoDay.Thisshowcaseactstointroducethestartupstoinvestorswhocouldnotattendthelocaldemoday,bothlocallyandfromournetworkofinvestorsglobally.

Post-programSupportThefounderjourneydoesnotendaftertheprogramconcludes,andneitherdoesthesupportavailabletothefounders:● NetworkEnrichment:Aftertheprogramconcludes,foundersjoinanexpansivecommunityofpeers,mentors,andadvocatesfromallFoundersBoostprogramspastandpresent.TheplatformallowsthemtoremaindirectlyconnectedwiththeirlocalprogramandBoostcommunityaswell.Further,therewillbenetworkingandgatheringeventstoprovidein-personconnectionopportunities.

OngoingSupport:Ourdirectorsassistfoundersinnavigatingfutureopportunities,beitwithventurecapitalists,otheraccelerators,ordifferentprograms.Theestablishedmentorandpeerrelationshipsremainalastingprofessionalsupportnetwork.

InadditiontotheongoingsupportbyFoundersBoost,thegraduatesfromeachcohortwillbeencouragedtoapplytotheAlliance’sSoCalVenturePipeline.Whilethereisnoguaranteethatanygraduatewouldbeselectedfortheprogram,theirfamiliaritywithitanditsnetworkofsupporterswouldprovidethemwithanadvantageoverotherapplicants.PleaserefertoAppendixCformoreinformationontheSVPprocess.

PromotingtheRegionandCollaborationwithExistingGlendaleProgramming:ThepartnerswillhighlightGlendaleasaprimelocationfortechstartupsthroughsuccessstories,mediacoverage,andparticipationinregionalandnationaltechevents.WewillengagelocalbusinessesandstakeholderstosupportandparticipateintheprogramandwewillworkalongsideexistinginitiativeslikeGlendaleTechWeekandGlendaleTechonTap.Additionally,wewillcoordinatewithcityeffortstoenhancetheoveralltechecosystemandprovideadditionalvaluetoparticipants.

ByleveragingthecombinedexpertiseofFoundersBoostFoundation,HackerFund,andtheAllianceforSoCalInnovation,thisprogramaimstobecomeoneofthepreeminentinitiativessupportingunderrepresentedfoundersinSouthernCalifornia,drivingeconomicgrowthandinnovationinGlendale.WecandirectlypromoteGlendale’stechinitiativesthrough:● FoundersBoostImpact:Bysupporting8startupsperacceleratorcyclewith7weeksofintensivesupport,followedbyademodayandglobalinvestorshowcase.● TheSoCalVenturePipeline’sImpact:Bysupportingthetop6seed-stagegraduatecompaniesinsecuringinstitutionalcapital.● HackerFund’simpact:Byrunningquarterlyhackathonsandregularworkshopstoengagethe 17 111 of 222

communityandproviderapidprototypingopportunities.

QUANTIFIABLEMETRICS:WewilltrackthepercentageofTheAccelerator’sgraduateswhosecureseed-stagefundingaswellasthenumberofjobscreatedbyparticipatingstartupsinGlendale.WeintendtoalignwithGlendale’sTechStrategytoincreasethenumberoftechstartupsoperatingintheregionandwilltrackthenumberofparticipantsandattendeesinhackathonsandcommunityeventsaswell.

FoundersBoostwillcapturethedetailedmetricsoutlinedbelowatthetimeofapplicationtotheacceleratorcohorts,afterstartups“graduate”fromthecohort,andonanongoingbasiswheneverpossible.● Demographicsaboutfounders● DemographicsaboutStartups● Industry/Sector● CustomerEngagementModel● Location● FundingTotals● JobsCreated Founder’sBoostwillalsocapturethefollowingmetricsbeforeandaftertheprogram,ongoingwheneverpossible,andafter2years,willassessstartupgrowth.● Additionalfunding● Increaseincustomers● Revenueincrease TheAlliancewillcapturedetailedmetricsatthetimeofapplication,reapplication(ifappropriate),andiftheCatalystFunddirectlyinvestsintheSoCalVenturePipelinecompany.Fundingdatawillalsobecollectedquarterlyafteritisannouncedpubliclyorreportedviastartuppublicdatabases,includingCrunchbaseorPitchbook.● Demographicsaboutfounders● DemographicsaboutStartups● Industry/Sector● CustomerEngagementModel● Location● FundingTotals● JobsCreated HackerFundwillmeasurethefollowing:● numberofhackathonparticipants,● numberofhackathonprojects,● totalnumberofportfolioscreated● numberofinternshipssecured● numberofemployersparticipatinginmentorofficehours 18 112 of 222

● netpromoterscoreofourhackathonprograms● numberofnewinventions● numberofnewfeaturesbuiltforcompanies● numberofnewjobssecuredbyourparticipants● Empowermentwithrespectto:○ Careerreadiness○ Findingajob○ Startinganewcompany○ Findingcapitalforaventure○ Findingcapitalforaninvention Timeline:
19 113 of 222

Location 13OurCurrentOfficeisatRegusSpaceslocatedat201NBrandBlvd.Ithasasquarefootageof2200feetandtheamenitiesincludemeetingrooms,break-outareas,parking,andmore.

Alternatively,wewillinquireaboutthenon-guaranteedofficespacepotentiallyavailablebytheCityofGlendale,asdiscussedinthePre-BidConference.

Weutilizevenuesponsorstoprovidelocationsforthecoreprogram,whichincludesacceleratorsessions,DemoDays,andHackathons.Beingthatwerunourprogrammingintheevenings,orweekendsinthecaseofthehackathons,wearealwaysabletosecurespace.Ifforsomereasonwewereunableto,ourplanistomoveourofficestoWeWorkGlendale,locatedat611NBrandBlvd,whichhasconferenceroomslargeenoughtohosttheacceleratorsessions.Thefullspacehasasquarefootageof51,030andincludesamenitieslikelargeconferencerooms,onsiteparking,nearbytransitoptions,mother’srooms,andmicrokitchens.

Fordemodaysweprefertohavelargereventspacesthatarenotcommontomostco-workingspaces.Forinstance,GoogleVenicewasFoundersBoostLA’sgracioushostin2023&2024.

Budget,Revenue&Sustainability
Inadditiontoplanninganefficientuseofawardedgrantfundingoverthreeyears,wewillidentifyotherfundingopportunitiessuchasprivateinvestments,sponsorships,andin-kindservices.Wewilldiligentlyworktodevelopaplanforcontinuedoperationbeyondtheinitialthreeyears,leveragingsuccessfulprogramoutcomestoattractfurtherinvestment.Notethateachofthepartnersonthisgrantapplication,FoundersBoost,AllianceforSouthernCaliforniaInnovation,andHackerFundhaveproventrackrecordsforsustainingtheirprogrammingyearoveryear.

CorporateSponsorshipAspartofouroutreachstrategy,wefeelconfidentinourabilitytosecurecorporate sponsorshipsandpartnershipopportunitiesforthespace,events,andtheprogram.Thiscanincludetitlesponsorshipoftheofficespace,in-kindsupport/services,annualsponsorshipofevents.Betweenourthreeorganizations,oursponsorsforcommunityprogramshaveincludedMicrosoft,Google,Amazon,Disney,Mitsubishi,andTechstars.

EventRevenueWhilewewanttoensurethatTheAcceleratorremainsfree,wedoseeanopportunitytogeneraterevenuethroughcertainelementsofourprograms.ThiscanbethroughadmissionfeesforeventssuchastheHackathons. 20 114 of 222

PersonnelCo-Director1 $30,000.00Co-Director2 $30,000.00ProgramManager $20,000.00Associate $5,000.00AlliancePersonnel $5,000.00HackathonPersonnel $121,808.00TOTAL $211,808.00 OperationsLegal $15,000.00Insurance $2,000.00Rent $11,195.00Tech $8,400.00TOTAL $28,195.00 AcceleratorProgramsFood&Bev $11,200.00Marketing $7,950.00TOTAL $19,150.00 Hackathon&CommunityRentals $2,500.00Supplies $5,500.00Insurance $1,250.00TOTAL $9,250.00 Alliance
FringeBenefits(benefits&Taxes) $30,452.00Phoneandinternet $600.00 GlendaleIn-personFounderEventw/VCPanel&Networking $6,000.00VCNetworkingevent $2,500.00Software $8,520.00Mileage $185.00Parking $120.00 Total $48,377.00
GrandTotal $316,780.00AskofGlendale $166,666.00
21 115 of 222

22 116 of 222

FURTHERADVANCINGGLENDALETECHSTRATEGY
WebelievewecanfurtheradvancetheCityofGlendale’sTechStrategybybeingawardedbothhalvesofthegrant($1millionintotal),wehavesubmittedasecondbudget,inadditiontotheGrowthProgrambudgetrequired,toprovidesubstantivebasisandreasoningforaccomplishingtheobjectivesoutlinedbelow:
(1)LeverageGlendale’srobusttechnetwork,includingitssoon-to-berenovatedCentralLibrary,oracompanywhoiswillingtoopentheirdoorstohostlocalhackathons.(2)Thecitycancommittopilotingtopinnovationsbasedonideasathackathonsorothertech-centeredevents.(3)Engagekeypartnersintheprivate,non-profit,philanthropic,andprivatesectorstodevelophackathonsorrelatedprogrammingfocusedoncivicinnovation.(4)launchprojectsthatpromotelocaldemocracyandadaptnewtechnologiesfortheCityofGlendale(5)TheGlendaleCentralLibrarycanalsobeaspaceforinnovationforyouth.Beinganaccessiblespace,bothgeographicallyandfinancially,youthwouldgreatlybenefitfromtechnologyclasses,hackathons,andaccesstocodingsoftwareoreducationalprogramstopropelthemintotheworldoftechnology.(6)buildrelationshipswithinvestors–angels,seed-stagefundsandventurecapitalists–sothatdemodayswillbewellattended.(7)supportexistingtechnologypartnershipprogramsbetweenGlendaleCommunityCollege(GCC)andlocalK-12schools,includingtheSTEAMactivitiesGCCiscurrentlyrunningtheGCCScienceCenterandPlanetarium.(8)GCCalreadyrunsapopulardualenrollmentprogram,whichallowshighschoolstudentstotakecollegecoursesforhighschooland/orcollegecredit.WorkforcedevelopmentpartnersmaywishtoworkwithGCCandexplorethepossibilityofofferingdualenrollmentcoursesfocusedontheSTEMfields.TheGlendaleCentralLibrarycanalsobeaspaceforinnovationforyouth.Beinganaccessiblespace,bothgeographicallyandfinancially,youthwouldgreatlybenefitfromtechnologyclasses,hackathons,andaccesstocodingsoftwareoreducationalprogramstopropelthemintotheworldoftechnology.(9)ConnectingpromisingGCCstudentstopaidsummerinternshipsandapprenticeshipsinthetechindustry,nurturingthenextgenerationofGlendale-basedtechentrepreneurs.(a)Collaboratingwithitsvariousworkforcedevelopmentpartners,shouldundertakethefollowingtosupportcontinuingeducationandsupportforitstechworkforce.(b)Supportandmaintainasuiteofworkforcedevelopmentandtrainingprogramsthatareresponsivetotheneedsofthetechbusinesses.(c)Creativelyandproactivelymarketthesuiteofworkforceprogramstotechcompanies,byparticipatingintherecurringTechonTapseries,workingwiththepotentialtechfocusedadvocacyorganization,andothercredibletechvenuesandnetworks.(d)Developasetofmarketingmaterialstomarketworkforcetrainingprogramstotechcompaniesandjobseekers.Thesematerialsshouldsuccinctlydescribethepurposeandbenefitofagivenprogram,aswellasasingularpointofcontactformoreinformation.(e)SupporttheVerdugoWorkforceDevelopmentBoard“BeyondJobs”initiative,aimedatsupportingtech’scontingentworkforce.ThecityandinterestedstakeholdersshouldsupportVWDBeffortsinacquiringprivateorphilanthropicfundingforthisinitiative. 23 117 of 222

(f) Broadlymarketthelowornocostvarioustrainingresourcesavailabletotechcompaniesandjobseekers:TheProfessionalDevelopmentCenteratGCC,StudioArts,GCC’sRoboticsandAdvancedManufacturingFacilities,andothers.

JEWELCITYHACKS
Civicinnovationhackathonthattakesplacetwiceperyear(Fall/Spring)inordertoengagetheentireTri-cityregionwiththeCityofGlendalebeingthecrownjewelofinnovation.Wewillorganizetwocommunity-widehackathonsthatwillfurthertheGlendaleTechStrategy.Photosareprovidedbelowtoshowcasethetypeofinventioneducation,workforcedevelopment,mentorshipandentrepreneurshipengagementthatwilltakeplace:
24 118 of 222

14 25
119 of 222

APPENDIXARESUMES
[email protected]
Professional SummaryInnovativeCEO&Co-Founder ofFoundersBoost withaproventrackrecordinguidingstartupstowardssuccess, angelinvestingwithnotableexits, andfosteringglobal startupecosystems.

ExperienceCEO&Co-Founder, FoundersBoost(2017- now)Anacceleratoroperatinginmultipleecosystemsgloballywithamissiontosupport pre-seed&seedstagecompanieswithouttakingequitybyleveragingpaidpartnershipsandhighlyskilledvolunteers.●Spearheadedthelaunchof20global pre-accelerator chapters, running90programs.●Recruitedandmanagedover 100volunteer programleaderstorunthechapters.●Scaledour abilitytodeliver programssimultaneouslywithasmall teambyoptimizingsupport andleveragingeachprogramtocreateastronger impact for all.●Evaluatedover 7kapplicationsasateamtoselect 600promisingpre-seedstartupsandtheir 1000foundersforour programs, toimprovetheir businessesinpreparationfor aninvestment and/or revenuetrack, with20%raisingor generatingrevenueover $1M.●Cultivatedanetworkofhundredsofinvestorsgloballythat reviewour alumni, helping30%ofstartupstoraiseprofessional funding, totalingover $250M.●Launchedanon-proﬁt arm, inalignment withour ethosofhelpingentrepreneursfor free, particularlythoseofunderrepresentedbackground(80%ofour startupswereunderrepresentedfounder-led), toreceivecharitabledonationsandtarget grant opportunities.●Securedandranprogramsfor corporatepartnersinterestedindeliveringinnovationprograms:○ConsensyswithaBlockchainfocusinNYC(2018).○TWG(acquiredbyDeloitteDigital)withageneral focusinToronto(2017- 2018).○SunderlandSoftwareCitywithageneral focusinNewcastle(2021- 2023).○MultipleHubwithanAutismfocusglobally(2022- now).●Establishedpaidandin-kindpartnershipstopower FoundersBoost, includingwithGoogle, F6S, GAN,Techstars, SVB, Dentons, andcountlessother startupserviceproviders.●Constructedanewfounder-friendlyinvestment agreement securinginvestment rightsandinformationrightsintostartupscomingthroughour program, whichwasfrictionlesslyagreedtobystartupsjoiningour programsthelasttwoyears.

Investor&Advisor, Self(2015-now)AngelandLPinvesting(pre-seed&seed);Startupadvising&mentoring(pre-seedthroughSeries-A)●Angel investedinpre-seedandseedstartupsincludinganotableinvestment inCaper, whichresultedina25xexit viaasaletoInstacart.●InvestedasaLimitedPartner inthreeventurecapital funds.●Personallymentoredand/or advised100+startups, nowcollectivelyvaluedat over $1B.

Founder, TheMoGuard(2014-now)PioneeredtheMoGuard, aninnovativemustacheprotectingcupattachment, capturingauniqueniche(b2c)inNorth 26 120 of 222

AmericaandEurope. Also, wholesale(b2b)asbothapromotional product andacomplementaryofferingwithinfacial haircarebrands' product lines.●Innovatedandmarketedauniqueconsumer product, achievingretail presenceacrosstheUS, Canada, &Europe.●Identiﬁedandcapitalizedonnichemarket opportunities, drivingbrandrecognitionandsales.●EstablishedaB2Bwholesalesegment asapromotional product.●Automatedlogistics&operationstoallowit tooperatenear autonomously, actingasaself-sustaininglifestylebusiness.

Founder, 2332Collective(2016-2019)Amusicproductionandfestival companythat enhancedWest LA'scultural scene. I grewtheﬂagshipevent to10kattendeesandestablishedanagreement tosell thecompany–bothhaltedpermanentlybyCovid.●Orchestratedlarge-scaleevents, establishingaprominent communitypresence.●Theﬂagshipevent wasSamJam, a4year runningsummer musicfestival inVeniceBeachthat hostednearly10,000paidattendees.●BookedlargeactsincludingCapital Cities&Phantogramwhilealsosecuringnational brandsponsorsofthelikesofiHeartRadio&PBR.●CoordinatedneedsofLAcitycouncil, ﬁvecityenforcement departments, recordlabels, artist management,non-proﬁt partners, vendors, andsponsors.●Negotiatedthesaleofthefestival in2020toWinstonHouse, which, alongwiththefestival itself, washaltedandultimatelyderailedbytheCovid-19pandemic.

Director, StartupNextLosAngeles,(2013-2016)Aprogramthat preparedstartupsfor acceleratorsandseedinvestment throughhighqualitymentorship. DevelopedinsideUpGlobal, inpartnershipwithGoogle, thenacquiredbyTechstars.●RantheLAprogramfor 6cohorts, supporting65startups.●WorkedwiththeHQteamtodevelopandevolvethemodel toareﬁnedstateby2016, whichwastheprecursor toFoundersBoost.

Consultant&Entrepreneur(2011-2016)Asoftwaredevelopment consultant for corporatesandbusinessdevelopment consultant for startups. Built &launchedtwotechstartupsandearnedapatent.●DevelopedandlaunchedSwitchYourTix, apeer2peer event ticket swappingsite. Establishedapilot partnershipwithLiveNation. (2011-2012)●DevelopedandlaunchedLarcChat, anaugmentedrealityvideochat startup. Securedapatent onthetechnology[patent &continuationpatent]. (2012-2014)●Consultedcompanieswithsoftwaredevelopment andbusinessdevelopment withamixedequity&feestructure, ultimatelyrewardingmetobecomeanaccreditedinvestor. (2011-2016)●ConsultediCRcowithongoingdevelopment oftheir PACSsuiteofproducts. (2011-2012) LeadPACSSoftwareDevelopmentEngineer, iCRco(2009-2011)LeddevelopmentofPACSradiologysoftwaresuiteusedbyradiologiststodomostoftheirwork.●Ledthesoftwareteamdevelopingprojects, advancinginnovativeradiological imagingsolutions.●Improvedsoftwarereliabilityandeﬃciency, contributingtocompanygrowth.●Ledthesoftwaredevelopmentteamthat developedandmaintainediCRco'sbackendPACSsystemandfrontendviewer, amongaplethoraofothersoftwareproductsandtools.●Alsoactedastheeffectiveproduct manager doingcustomer development. Thisincludedmeetingwithchiropractorstodevelopindustryspeciﬁctoolsthat allowedthecompanyto4xtheir growthinthat segment.

EducationJohnsHopkinsUniversityReceivedamastersinECEwithabiomedical engineeringfocus; ReceivedaBachelorsinSciencewithadoublemajor in 27 121 of 222

ECEandNeuroscience.●MastersinElectrical andComputer Engineering(2006- 2007)●BScinComputer Engineering(2001- 2006)●BScinNeuroscience(2001- 2006) DrexelUniversityCollegeofMedicineI completedcoursesfor the1st year ofmedical school.●Medical SciencesCertiﬁcate(2007- 2008) Skills●StrategicLeadership&CommunityBuilding●StartupEcosystemDevelopment●Angel Investing&VentureCapital●SoftwareDevelopment &Product Innovation●Mentoring&Coaching●StrategicPartnerships&Networking●Diversity&InclusionAdvocacy●Digital Marketing&BrandStrategy●EcosystemDevelopment●E-commerce●Event Production PatentSystemandmethodfor interactiveanimationsfor enhancedandpersonalizedvideocommunications[US9454840B2]. 28 122 of 222

EricR.Eide,Ph.D.Pasadena,CA (415)336-3063linkedin.com/in/eeide [email protected] Innovation,Investment&EconomicDevelopmentProfessional
Aseasonedinnovationleader offeringstrongexperienceinbusiness andinvestment attraction,retention,andP3partnerships,andworking closely with startup founders, investors, and related stakeholders. Ability to run programwith diverse stakeholders andabilitytomanagecross-functionalteams.

SelectCareerHighlights
● Launched$5MVentureFund–Helpedraisefund,honedinvestmentthesis,andrunoperationswithfounders.● Developed&Launchednewventurematchingprogram–sourceandvetover700“ventureready”SoCalstartups,matchingthebesttoanationalnetworkofover250activeinvestorsleading20companiestoraise$85M.● SpearheadedCaliforniastatelegislativeefforttosponsor,draft,andbuildneededsupporttopassbillAB2989-thefirste-scooterregulationsinthecountrythatextendedhelmetuseguidelinesfrombicyclestoe-scooters.● DevelopedLosAngelesMayor’sInternationalExportProgram–end-to-endinternationaltradeprogramdesignedtoenablesmallandmedium-sizedbusinessesmaximizeoverseassales.● LedplantoestablishSpaceX’smanufacturingsiteatPortofLA–workedwithCFOtodefinemanufacturingrequirementsfornewinterplanetaryrocket,facilitatedsiteselectionwithSpaceXandPortstaff,monitored18-monthenvironmentalreviewtobring700newjobstoLAHarbor.● CraftedStateDepartmentoutreachstrategytorepairandadvanceUS-Indiarelationship–followingdiplomaticcrisis,spearheadedoutreachplantargetingUS-basedSouthAsiandiasporapopulations. CoordinatedcommunityeventswithUSdiplomatsandarrangedmediainvolvement.Traderelationsvaluedatover$125B.● Memberofteamthatdevelopedapolicydirectivefor$4.5BearlystageseedfundingSBIRprogram–establishedprogramrequirementsandcreatedactionplanfor11USgovernmentagencieswithspecificfocusonpublicoutreachanddatareportingrequirements. Teamcompletedtheentirepolicydirectivein2months.

ProfessionalOverview
AllianceforSoCalInnovation–LosAngeles,CAManagingDirector 2019–current● LaunchedCatalyst$5MVentureFund,serveonInvestmentCommittee,andrunFundoperationswithfounders● Built,hired,trained,andcoachedAlliance’sCapitalAccessteamtodrivetwonewCapitalAccessprograms.● ArchitectedanewVCEngagementprogram,recruited24VCstojoin,securing$180Kinnewrevenue,andlaunchedSoCalVenturePipelineprogramtoconnectover400+investorstostartupsseekingcapitaltodrivejobgrowth.● LedgovernmentaffairsstrategywithStateandSoCalcountiesandcities,draftedandpitched$500MeconomicrecoveryproposaltoCAGovernor’sstaffandstatelegislators,servedonCAGov’seconomicrecoveryworkinggroup● Drovebusinessdevelopmentactivities;draftedagreements,ledsponsorshipdealsworthover$65K,andsupportedcloseofanother$275Konprojectsdirectlymanaged.● Marketedorganizationat60+speakingeventswithaudiencesupto250;conductedpressinterviews,draftedover10blogarticlesandbi-monthlynewsletter,aswellascontentforwebsitesandpresentations.

BirdRides,Inc.–LosAngeles,CASeniorManagerofGovernmentRelations 2018–2019● Scaledandmanagedgovernmentrelationsteamtoengageandadvocatewithofficialsandstaff,resultedinexpansionintoover100citiesproviding10millionridesinthefirstyearofcompanyoperations● Reviewed,tracked,andcommunicatedgovernmentlegislativeissuesacross13westernstatesandinternationally● LedinternationalexpansioneffortsinCanada,NewZealand,andhelpedlaunchEuropeanoperations● Executedlegislativeefforttosponsor,draftandgeneratesupporttopassCAbillAB2989onscooterregulations● Hostedandpresentedtoexecutiveteamand11Californialegislatorstoestablishfoundationalrelationships;identifiedand 29 123 of 222

liaisedwithmultiplelegislatorswillingtosponsorindustrylegislation● Establishedprojectscopeandmanagedteamofexternalconsultantstodrivepolicyoutcomes,whichcontributedtothecompany’sabilitytolaunchorretainoperationsindozensofadditionalcities CityofLosAngeles,OfficeofMayorEricGarcetti–LosAngeles,CADirectorofInternationalTrade&Investment 2015–2017● Ledsix-personteamresponsibleforincreasingglobalrelationshipswiththeCityofLA,developinginternationalbusinessactivity,facilitatingimportsandexports,andattractingforeigninvestors● Doubledthesizeofthetradeandinvestmentteam;interviewed,hired,andtrainednewteammembers● AdvisedMayoronbusinessandtradepolicies;draftedspeeches,reports,andbriefings. RepresentedMayor’sofficeonbusinessandinvestmenttopicsandspokeatover50eventswithaudiencesofupto700● EnsuredalignmentwithMayor’spolicywithothercitydepartments,suchasthePortofLosAngeles,LosAngelesWorldAirport,DeptofTransportation,Dept.ofPlanning/Building&Safety,andTourismandConventionBureau● InitiatedprojectwithSpaceXtocreatemanufacturingfacilityatLAPortwith700jobs(leaselatercanceled) U.S.DepartmentofState,BureauofSouthandCentralAsia–Washington,DCAdvisorforStrategicPartnerships 2013–2015● CraftedandledU.S.domesticstrategytoadvanceforeignrelations;supportedturnaroundofU.S.-Indiarelations● DevisedandexecutedAmbassadorledtradedelegationsresultinginmultimillion-dollardeals;advisedambassadors,seniorofficials,andlegislatorsonpolicygoalsandtradeopportunities. Draftedpressguidanceandtalkingpoints ForeignAffairsOfficer–EconomicandStrategicUnits 2012–2013● ManagedbroadportfolioswithinthebilateralU.S.–Indiarelationshipincludinginformationcommunicationtechnology,cyber,intellectualproperty,scienceandtechnology,environment,space,andsmallbusinessinitiatives● Liaisedwithfederalagencies,WhiteHouseofficials,andstatestoensureU.S.policygoalswerecoordinated U.S.SmallBusinessAdministration,OfficeofInvestmentandInnovation–Washington,DCInnovationandTechnologyAnalyst 2011–2013● Memberof6-personteamresponsibleforwriting$4.5billionSmallBusinessInnovationResearchprogramdirective● Launched,managed,andscaledprogramSBIRoutreachtoaccelerators,universities,andbusinesses Education
UniversityofMichigan–AnnArbor,MI Ph.D.inSociology2011Research:Economicdevelopment;industrialpolicy;innovation;public-privatepartnershipsDissertation:“IndustrialUpgradinginIndia’sInformationTechnologyEnabledServiceIndustry” UniversityofCalifornia–SantaBarbara,CA B.A.inSociology1999GraduatedwithHighHonors;MinorinGlobalPeaceandSecurity 30 124 of 222

JUSTINBREZHNEV633½IndianaAvenueVenice,CA90291310.963.9976|[email protected]

SUMMARY
JustinBrezhnevisanentrepreneur,activist,andnonprofitconsultantwhosince2014hashelpedraisemillionsofdollarsforsocialimpactfromcommunityfoundations,corporatesponsors,andphilanthropicinvestors.Hiscommunity-drivenprojectshavebeenfeaturedintheUCLADailyBruin,BusinessRockstars,theMicrosoftDeveloperNetwork,andtheJewishJournal.HisworkhasalsoreceivedendorsementfromLosAngelesMayorEricGarcetti,CAStateAssemblymembers,andmembersofCongress.

SKILLS●Sales:Products&Services●Content&ProposalWriting●CustomerDevelopment●FinancialBudgeting●GrantResearch&Writing●MarketAnalysis●NonprofitBookkeeping●Canvassing●PhoneSolicitation●PublicSpeaking ●Translationto/fromRussian●LegalResearch●FundDevelopment&Fundraising●ProjectManagement●DigitalMarketing EDUCATIONUCLA,CommunicationStudies,‘14●CommunityOrganizing●GoldenKeyHonorsSociety-Top4%inGraduatingClass●HonorsCollegeGraduate PROFESSIONALEXPERIENCEA1ManagementGroupLosAngeles,CAFounder&Manager(August2016-Present)●Ledentrepreneurialworkshops&keynotespeechesthatserved15,000+studentsintheUS.●Createdcustomersuccessprogramsfornonprofitsengagingthe20,000studentsinMayorGarcetti’sHIRE-LAYouthProgram●Managedteamsof5engineersandprocuredhardwaretechnologytoproducearealitytelevisionshowpilotforCBSinpartnershipwithFreemantleMedia.●Designed“EntrepreneurialCommunication”coursecurriculum&seminarsthathavebeenutilizedbytheUCLADepartmentofCommunicationStudies,GBAdeInovacaodeBrazil,andTEALSK12.●TrainedtechnicaltalenttowriteproposalsandsalescontentyieldingincontractbidsfromFortune500companies.HackerFundLosAngeles,CACofounder&ExecutiveDirector(October2014-Present)●RecruitedthefoundingBoardofDirectorsandraisedinitialphilanthropicseedcapitalfromcorporatesponsorsincludingMicrosoft,IBM,andGoogle.●Implementedacomprehensivefiscalsponsorshipprogramthatincubated10+projects●Developedfundraisingstrategyplaybooksandonlinedonormanagementsystemsthatgrewsmall-memberdonorbasebymorethan1000%between2015and2016.●Designedthefirst-everComptonInnovationCenterandComptonTechweekinpartnershipwiththeComptonUnifiedSchoolDistrictandComptonCityCouncilin2019.●Managedapre-approvedgrantfiscalsponsorshipprogramthatworkedinpartnershipwiththeCityofLosAngelesandCityofSantaMonica,empowering200+technologists.StartupSportsLosAngeles,CACofounder(August2014-Present)●Implementedriskmanagementandlegalprotocolsacrossallcompany-relatedevents,includinganexecutiveplaybookforsafetymeetings,emergencyactionplans,insuranceprocurement,andmemberwaiverdesign.●Deliveredannualcorporatesponsorshipstrategyandsolicitationmaterialsforsalesteams.●Designedcustomer 31 125 of 222

successmeasuresthatincreasedsubscriptionmembershiptoover90companiesinLosAngeles.●Producedwebsitecontentandmarketingcopyforallfliers,annualreports,andsocialmediamarketingcampaigns.●Hiredandmanagedafieldteamthatnowoperatesleagueeventsyear-roundCTRLCollectiveLosAngeles,CACofounder(September2014-2016)●Compiledbusinessplanandpitchdeckmaterialsthatraised$500,000inseedcapitaltofundthefirstfacility,andmorethan$1MMinfollow-oninvestorcapitalfortheexpansionintomultiplecities.●Devisedsalesstrategyandmanagedtheteamthatsoldouteveryofficespaceinthefirst26,000square-footfacilityinPlayaVistabeforelaunchday.●Inventedthecoworkingmodelusedbythecompany:“80-20impactrule”thathasledtoacommunityof1000+entreprenuersacross4facilitiesbetweenLosAngelesandDenver.●Designedlogoandbrandingforwebsiteandmarketingmaterials.●Builtfoundingteamtoconductaninitialmarketanalysisandcreateacustomerdevelopmentplan.

COMMUNITYAFFILIATIONSDynamoSportsClubinBeverlyHills-“InternationalMixedMartialArts&Self-DefenseAcademy”Founder&Sensei(2006-Present)BeverlyHillsHighSchoolCTE-“CareerandTechnicalEducationinBeverlyHills”AdvisoryBoardMember(2015-2016),Part-TimeTeacher(2018-2019)Hacktech-“TheFirstMegahackathonontheWestCoast”FoundingBoardMember(2014)LAHacks-“TheOfficialHackathonofUCLA”FoundingBoardMember(2014)BruinEntrepreneurs-“ThePremierEntrepreneurshipOrganizationatUCLA”FoundingBoardMember(2014) AWARDS● Forbes30under30-Education(2022)● JewishJournal30under30(2017)● CertificatesofAppreciation-MayorEricGarcetti(2017),CongresswomanMaxineWaters(2015) ● 32 126 of 222

AREZUAGHASEY+1-628-800-2219Pasadena, [email protected]/in/arezua

EDUCATION
UCBerkeley
●
Master’sinInformationManagement Systems
●
Bachelor’ inAppliedMathematics: Civil andEnvironmental Engineering ● CertificateinEntrepreneurshipandTechnology

AWARDSANDRECOGNITIONS
25XHackathonwinner focusingonleadershipandtechnologyinnovationwithhighlightsbelow:
●
ApplauseAwardbyDeloitte: 5+ApplauseAwardsfor exemplaryclient serviceandfirmcontributiondemonstratingfocusedleadershipindevelopingandexecutingsuccessful enterpriseimplementations. ●
Women’sInitiativeLeadershipandTopPerformer byDeloitte: RecognizedWomen'sInitiativeLeader withtop10%performanceachievement,showcasingabilitytomanagediverseteamsandprojectsusingleadershipskills, contributingsignificantlytothefirm'sbusinessgrowth. ●
1st PlacebyBoostVC: Bitcoinblockchainvisualizationtool providingcryptocurrencyeducationtonewusersof blockchaintechnologies; receivedentryintoBoostVCAccelerator Batch1andwinning5Bitcoin. ●
1st PlacebyCapital One: 30dayfinancial challengestool for hiddensavingsopportunitiestoincreasesavingsabilitiesandmeet financial goalsintuitively. ●
2ndPlacebyMeta: 'Save' featurefor newsfeedpoststhat ledtoproduction. ●
2ndPlacebyVisa: Communitysavingsplatformfor LATAMmarkets.

TECHNOLOGYPUBLICATIONS
●
Mobile Learning Utilizing AugmentedReality, Online Maps, andPhysical Maps. ● Statistical Study onEmotional Impacts of SoundandHaptic Sensors for Wearables. ● TheDevelopment of TheDesignExchange.org: Connecting DesignProblems andMethods. ● Better DataGovernance =Better DataTesting Deloitte Eminence Publication.

THOUGHTLEADERSHIPSPEAKINGENGAGEMENTS
●
MissiontoMarswithDTI: Presentedondeeptechinvestment approaches. ●
GoingGlobal SerieswithSVB: Addressinghowstartupscanscaleglobally. ●
WebSummit Qatar 2024: Openingremarksonimportanceof international corporateinnovation. ●
StartupSummer Festival byPlugandPlay2022: FeaturedonFOXLAfor hosting500+forumfeaturingcityleads, investors, startups, andFortune500s. ●
PlugandPlayLAWomen’sMonthShowcase: Plannedcorporatepanel andfemalefounder showcaseenablingnetworkingandmentorshipoutcomes.

CERTIFICATIONS
●
ScrumMaster, CertifiedSAFeAgilist, SAFePracticeConsultant.

CORESKILLS
●
AgileMethodologies: ScrumMaster, Sprint Planning, RequirementsGathering, UsabilityTesting, A/BTesting, WorkshopFacilitation, SteeringCo/ExecutivePresentations. ●
SoftwareApplicableLanguages: MySQL, Python, HTML/CSS, JavaScript, R, Matlab. ●
TechnologyTools: Salesforce, Tableau, Figma, Axure, Hubspot, MixMax, Monday.com, Airtable, Canva, Notion, Microsoft Office(Excel, Powerpoint,Word), Confluence, Jira.

EXPERIENCE
Product InnovationandStrategyDirector, CreaIncJuly 2023–Present SanFrancisco, CA|UnitedArabEmirates (UAE) ●
Buildprocessesandassemblethetechnologystackfor portfoliomanagement functionsfor venturecapital, accelerator, andstartupecosystemfirms. ●
Definemission-critical strategicinitiativesfor enterpriseAI/MLstartups, enhancingproduct/servicediversificationinUSandEMEA. ●
SpearheadCRMimplementationandmanagerelationshipsacross300+partners, facilitatingsuccessful salespipelineandnegotiationprocesses. ●
Conduct duediligenceandSPVinvestmentsinB2Banddeeptechstartups.

CorporateInnovationPartner SuccessSenior Manager, PlugandPlayFebruary 2022–May 2023Sunnyvale, CA 33 127 of 222

●
Launchedandmanaged2corporate-sponsoredaccelerator services, driving$1M+contract renewalswithFortune500clientssuchasMeta. ● Led20dealflowsbetweenstartupsandcorporatepartnersandfacilitatedsuccessful pilotsalignedwithpartner’stechnologyneeds. ●
Managedprogrammanagement processprovidingstartupswithtailoredmentorshipandstrategicguidancegoingfrom0-1. ●
Championedandexecutedbrandawarenessfor thefirmbyeducational andpartnershipeventswith500+attendeestobuildnetworkandcommunityamongsttheLAstartupecosystem, resultinginincreasedinvestment referrals.

TechnologyManager - Product Lead, DeloitteConsultingLLPAugust 2015- February 2022SanFrancisco, CA ●
Directedproduct development, credibilitybuildingandpresentationswithexecutivestakeholders(VPsandhigher) andengineeringteams(USandIndia),managingproject goals, andresourceandfinancial modelingfor $10M+RFP/Contract for digital transformationprojectswithFortune100clients; focusingonemergingtechnologiesandend-to-endimplementation. Notable highlights:
●
Fortune1Client: Product owner responsiblefor requirementsgatheringbasedoncurrent stategapanalysisanddesignedproduct roadmapforconsolidatedITprocurement systemimpacting5keymarkets. ●
Fortune10Client: Product leadfor redesignof claimsprocessing, enrollment andbillingplatformsfromIBMMainframelegacysystemstocustomsoftwaredevelopment leadingproduct strategyandroadmap. Conductedmarket research, leddevelopment sprints, testingandpresentedtoleadership, resultingin$5Msavingsinfrauddetection. ●
Fortune45Client: Product leadfor dynamicsystemrefactoringandredesigninitiativefor Multifamilyinvestment briefs, drivingthedevelopment andexecutionof acutting-edgereal-timesetupanddeployment process; Achieved25%reductionintimeandacceleratedapproval rates. ●
Fortune100Client: Datagovernanceleadfor MedicareAdvantagedataconversionfromlegacysystemstovendor solutionadheringtoCMSmandateswithon-timedelivery. ●
StateClient: Systemintegrator spearheadingtheenterprisestrategyfor astatewideSAPERPimplementationacrossimpacting70businessprocesses. Ledcross-functional teamsof 80+businessanalystsandengineers, includingexternal vendors, achieving25%adoptionincreasewithin9months. ●
FirmInnovationInitiative: Identifyandpresent blockchainusecasestoinsurtechexecutivepartnersandclient leadership, drivingstrategicdecision-makingfor statementsof work(SOW) for R&D/innovationwork.

Product MarketingManager, OpenXMay 2015- August 2015Pasadena, CA ●
Identifiednewfeaturerecommendationsfor implementationintoProgrammaticGuaranteedproduct basedonanalysisof publisher needs, industry/marketconditions, andcompetitiveintelligence.Product MarketingStrategist, NissanMay 2015- August 2015Sunnyvale, CA ●
Pilotedandlaunched'NissanDiscoveryCenter' Go-To-Market strategyfor LEAFEV, targeting$16Mrevenuepotential intheU.S. andJapanbybringingtestdriveexperiencestocustomer-focusedeventsandattractions. 34 128 of 222

ScottD.WittWittVentureDevelopment
AnentrepreneurialengineerwithanMBAinmarketingandstrategyandabackgroundintheartsandeducation.Mymantra:Startwiththecustomer,andworkback … Ihelpfounderstosucceedinavarietyofways:● PitchCoach:helpfounderstounderstandandarticulatethepotentialoftheirventure,andthencraftandpresentacompellingstorytostakeholders● StartupAdviser:providefounderswithuniqueinsights,recommendations,andthought-provokingquestions,● Consultant/IndividualContributor:hands-onprojectworkinmarketing,productdesignanddevelopment,strategy,operations,andbusinessdevelopment,● FractionalExecutive:experiencedseniormanagementresourceonapart-timebasis I’vespentdecadesin-the-trenchesworkingwithacademicsandtechnologiststocommercializetheirinventions.InstartupsI’mthe‘techsavvybusinessguy’whoteamsupwiththebrillianttechnologist.Myexpertiseinthetimelesspatternsofsuccessandfailurethatstartupsexperienceisbasedontheoryandpractice.

Mycontributionsasanentrepreneurialeducatorincludeacademicsettings(UCLAAnderson,USCKeck,Caltech),accelerators(CleantechOpen,FoundersBoost)andcommunityorganizations(AllianceforSocalInnovation,InnovatePasadena,SocalBio,andBCLA).AsamentorandcoachI’vehelpedfounderstoreachthefinalsoftheCleantechOpen,USC’sMaseehPrize,andTechCoastAngelsQuickPitch.InthelastfouryearsI’vespentover600hoursworkingwithunder-representedfounders.

APPROACHWithmoststartups,myinitialfocusisensuringthatfoundersarethinkingstrategicallyabouttheirmarket,sotheycanbuildauniqueproductthatcustomerswanttobuy.Withaclearmarketstrategy,wecantellagreatstoryaboutthebusinesstopotentialinvestors,employees,andcustomers.ThenIcanassistinbuildingagreatcustomer-centricproductandasolidbusinessthatsuccessfullymarketsandsupportsit.Ideally,wegrowandrefinethebusinesswithtoolslikecontinuousimprovement.

EXPERIENCEAsaboundaryspanner,myprofessionalexperienceisbroadandvaried:● Rolesincludeengineering,marketing,sales,design,support,andmanufacturingandoperations,● Industriesincludemedicalimaging,entertainment,publictransit,andsmartbuildingsystems,● Companiesincludegaragestartups,universityspinoffs,aSiliconValleypioneer,andseverallargemulti-nationalcorporations, EDUCATIONMBA-UCLAAndersonSchool.Ifocusedonwhytechstartupsfail(mistakesinthemarket)andwhattheycandoaboutit.Iwastheleadteachingassociatefortheheadoftheentrepreneurshipprogram.

BSEE-UniversityofWisconsin,Madison.Itrainedasacomputerandbiomedicalengineer,studyingelectricalengineering,computerscience,andtechnicalwriting.Iworkedasarecordingengineer,aTAintheschoolofmusic,andasasailinginstructor.

Mybackgroundintheartsincludeswriting,music,theater,anddesign,andtheyarefrequentlyappliedtomyworkwithstartups. 35 129 of 222

APPENDIXBNetwork/Partners
AllianceforSoCalInnovationCorporatePartners:

AllianceforSoCalInnovationAcademicandResearchPartners:
36 130 of 222

VCsFoundersBoost:AspireTechFundNewYorkAngelsPasadenaAngelsFundsGaingelsTCAVentureGroup(LA)TechCoastAngelsTiEGlobalAngelsTiESoCalAngelsKWAngelFund2045VenturesSolCapitalAccelepriseAccentureAcequiaCapitalA16ZAdaselGlobalPartnersLLCAnqaVenturesBluVenturesCaesarVenturesEarlybirdDigitalEastFundForumVCAnthemisAntlerArrowheadInnovationFundGFRFundGoingVCBCGDigitalVenturesGreenSkyVenturesHangar75VenturesInclu3ionVentureJoyancePartnersBlue9CapitalMavenVenturesBotristaMicroVenturesBrightlaneVenturesMuckerCapitalClocktowerTechnologyVenturesConneticVenturesRockstartSEVENTUREPARTNERSSiliconRoadVenturesStandUpVentures StartfastVenturesSunwayCVCWedbushVenturesAdvaitaCapitalAGTVenturesAmplifyLAAnthemVenturePartnersAscendVenturesBAMVenturesBessemerVenturePartners’SteelDAOFrameworkVenturePartnersBisonVenturesFRONTIERVENTURECAPITALFusionLABOLDCapitalPartnersG7CrescentaGlobalVenturesCrosscutVenturesGlobalFoundersCapitalErezCapitalGreenShoresCapitalEverythingMarketplaces&MarketplaceCapitalGVCPartnersHalogenVCHarmonicEquity,LLCInnoventCapitalK1InvestmentManagementLaconiaCapitalInnobridgeCapitalManagementLUMOLabsJJLakeMoonshotsCapitalMorpheusVenturesMuseCapitalKaporCapitalKBPartnersKiwiTechNurtureVenturesOrbitStartupsOriginVenturesPowerhouseCapitalPropel(x)SmartGateVCMaCVCSVBMiLACapital TruStageVenturesUnicornVenturePartnersVamosVenturesWatertowerVenturesMVMTVCAmericanFamilyVenturesNewfundCapitalOCVDiversityVentureCapitalHarlemCapitalPlug&PlayVenturesLighterCapitalloeb.nycReinventureCapitalNewarkVenturePartnersRTPSeedRumbleVenturesSolideaCapital&HomeRoom(YCW22)SlipperyRockVenturesSynchronyVenturesTowerResearchVenturesViceVenturesWolfeResearchSwitchVCTaleVenturePartnersGeorgianTenOneTenTheVentureCityTheWXRFundInformationVenturePartnersInoviaCapitalTransLinkCapitalUpfrontVenturesValorVenturesVDoshVentureCapitalVoicePunchVCRelayVenturesWavemakerThree-SixtyHealthSBIInvestmentBDCCapitalSproutFundYaletownVenturePartnersSteamworkVenturesLvlUpVenturesOutlanderVCStruckCrypto 37 131 of 222

VCsAllianceforSoCalInnovation:
3LCapital6thManVentures75&Sunny8VCAcademyInvestorNetworkACMEAcreVenturePartnersActOneVenturesAdAstraVenturesAgilityCapitalAlignedClimateCapitalAllroundCapitalAlmaLifeSciencesAlphaEdisonAmasiaAmboyStreetVenturesAmplifyAmplifyCapitalAnamikaVenturesAndreessenHorowitzAngelsPartnersAnkhImpactVenturesAnkonaCapitalAnthemVenturePartnersAnthosCapitalAnzuPartnersArdenRoadInvestmentsAugustCapitalAustinCapitalPartnersBCapitalBAMVenturesBankTechVenturesBaronDavisEnterprisesBasisSetVenturesBeaconRosePartnersBenchmarkBessemerVenturePartnersBioRockVenturesBlackDiamondVenturesBlingCapitalBlue9CapitalBlueBearCapital,LLCBlueprintEquityBonfireVenturesBoschVenturesBrewerLaneVenturesBridgescaleCapitalPartnersBrilliantFuture(UCIFund)BullpenCapital BusinessLegalPartnersCalibrateVenturesCamdenAssetManagement,LPCanaanCapitalGroupCapitalResearchGlobalInvestorsCedarsSinaiHealthVenturesCedars-SinaiCerraCapVenturesCityrockVenturePartnersCivilizationVenturesCleanBusinessInvestmentSummitClimaxVenturesClocktowerCoastBioVenturescoastgroupenterprises.comColorCapitalComcastVenturesConnectVentures(CAA)CorazonCapitalCoreInnovationCapitalCorrelationVenturesCoveFundCraftVenturesCrosscutVenturesDallasVentureCapitalDangerousVenturesDigitalisVenturesDreamersVCElementzVenturesElevationVenturesEmbarkVenturesEmergenceCapitalEmergingVenturesFundEniacVenturesEntradaEvokeAdvisorsExpaExpertDojoFaroutFelicisffVentureCapitalFifthWallFikaVenturesFinCapitalFirstRoundFlareCapitalForerunnerForesiteCapitalLLC FoundationCapitalFounder'sFundFoundersCapitalPartnersFoundryGroupfpcventures.comFreeFlowVenturesFullCycleFusionXVenturesGenerationSpaceGeorgianPineInvestmentsGlasswingVenturesGlobalFoundersCapitalGoodGrowthCapitalGoogleVenturesGothamGalVenturesGreatscaleVenturesGreycroftGreyhawkCapitalGreylockGriffinGamingPartnersGroup11HalogenVenturesHeritageGroupHinesInterestsLimitedPartnershipHMCINQHouseofVenturesHustle&TrustVenturesHyperthermVenturesIdealabIlluminaVenturesImpulsumCapImpulsumVenturesIncludeVenturesIndexVenturesInnoventCapitalGroupInspovationVenturesInterlockCapitalIVPJacksonSquareVenturesJavelinVenturePartnersJLLSparkGlobalVenturesJMIEquityJumpCapitalJUMPInvestorsK5VenturesKairosVenturesKaiserVenturesKBPartnersKDTVentures 38 132 of 222

kernvg.comKeshifVenturesKillCapitalKingRiverCapitalKWCapitalPartnersLadderVenturesLDRVenturesLearnCapitalLegendaryVenturesLightspeedVenturePartnersLockheedMartinCorporationLongleyCapitalLudisCapital*Nocrunchbaseprofile*LumiraCapitalLuxCapitalManagementLLCm13MaCVenturesMagnifyVenturesMandalaSpaceVenturesMantisVCMarchCapitalPartnersMarcyVenturePartnersMarkIVCapitalMarsBioMavenMCJCollectiveMCTMDBCapitalHoldingsMEDAAngelsMedTechInnovatorMindtheBridgeMiramarDigitalVenturesMiromaVenturesMitsubishiElectricUSMomentVenturesMoodoosInvestmentsMoonshotsCapitalMorpheusVenturesMuckerCapitalMuseCapitalMvmtMVPFUNDSNautilusVenturePartnersNavigateVenturesNEANeutronStarAssetsLLCNewmanCapitalNewtypeVenturesNexCubedNextGenVenturePartnersNorwestVenturePartnersNumenorVenturesObjective OCVPartnersOkapiOutcomeCapitalOverturePalmDriveCapitalLLCPasadenaAngelsPearVenturesPelionVenturePartnersPismoVenturesPlassaCapitalPLGVenturesPlugandPlayPlusCapitalPowerPlantPartnersPritzkerGroupPrivateerSpacePropelBioPartnersQualcommVenturesQubitsVenturesQuestVenturePartnersRainfallRedTreeVentureRedpointRegenerationVCRenegadeCapitalRezVenPartnersRidgeVenturesRivervestRogueCapitalRusheenCapitalPartners,LLCSalesforceVenturesSamsungNextVenturesSantaBarbaraAngelAllianceSantéScienceScopusVenturesSection32SequoiaCapitalOperationsLLCSerpentinePartners,LLCSerraVenturesShareVenturesShastaVenturesSlauson&CoSmartgateVCSmashCapitalSmashVenturesSnocapVenturePartnersSocialLeverageSoftBankSolardisHealthVenturesSomaCapitalSouthQuadLLCSperoVentures StageVenturePartnersStepStoneGroupStoryHouseVenturesStruckCapitalSunstoneManagementSupplyChangeCapitalSusaVenturesSwayVenturesSwitchVenturesT2VenturesTaihoVenturesTakedaTCGTechCoastAngelsTechHoldingTechnologyCapitalPartnersTechstarsTenOneTenTGMThe22FundTheCapitalGroupThielCapitalThinLineCapitalThink+VenturesThresholdVenturesTIMEBioVenturesTIOBioventuresTouchdownVenturesTownHallVenturesTrousdaleVenturesLLCTVCCapitalTwoBearCapitalUluVenturesUnlockVenturePartnersUntappedVenturesUPPartnersUpfrontVenturesUrbanInnovationFundUTAVenturesVamosVenturesVertexVenturesVerticalVenturePartnersVeteranFundVibrantVenturesVidaVenturesVivaBioInnovatorVivoCapital,LLCVoLoEarthVenturesWatertowerVenturesWaveEdgeCapitalWavemakerWavemaker360HealthWaverleyCapital 39 133 of 222

WedbushVenturesWellcapVenturesWestlakeVillageBioPartners WestwaveCapitalWillowGrowthPartnersWonderVentures
WorkLifeVenturesXFactorCapital
ACCELERATORSAllianceforSoCalInnovation:AmplifyLAArtcenter'sTheDesignAcceleratorBraidTheoryCalPolyHotHouseAcceleratorCedarsSinaiAcceleratorExpertDojoFounderInstituteGrid110Hub101InternationalBusinessAcceleratorLaunchpadLALongBeachAcceleratorLosAngelesCleantechIncubatorMAcceleratorMasterMindsOCStartupAcceleratorWorkshopsMatterlabsMuckerLabOctane'sLaunchpadPledgeLASabioLAStarburstAcceleratorStartEngineStartupUCLAStubbsAlderton&Markiles,LLPPrecceleratorTechStarsSDSUTechStarsUSCTechStars-LAUniversityLabPartnersUntappedUSGBC-LosAngelesNetZero EducationPartnersHackerFund:UCLAUSCLACCCaltechPierceCollegeElCaminoCollegeGlendaleCommunityCollegePasadenaCityCollegeLosAngelesValleyCollegeWestLACollegeSantaMonicaCollegeLATTCComptonCollegeLAUSDLAHacksHacktechHackSC 40 134 of 222

AppendixC:HowtheAlliance’sSoCalVenturePipelineWorks
FounderOutreachFoundersdiscovertheSVPprogramviamultiplepathwayssuchasdirectreferralsfromadiversesetofpartners(detailedbelow),attendingpubliceventswehostorco-hostwithpartners,throughmarketingoutreachsuchassocialmedia(linkedinandtwitter) andthroughourtwomonthlynewsletters(+5kemailaddresses).Further, westaff afull-timededicatedOutreachManagerwhobuildsrelationshipswithpartnersandattendseventsthroughouttheregiontomeetfoundersandpromotetheSVPprograminthecommunity. TheAlliancehostsandorganizesfounder-focusedeventsinavarietyofformats.Since2022,theAlliancehasproducedseveninpersonfounder-focusedeventsfeaturingexpertsspeakingontopicssuchas“FundraisinginToday’sMarket”and“InsiderInsightstotheVentureCapitalProcess,”attractingatotalof300attendees.

SVPApplicationandScreeningProcessSincelaunchingtheSoCalVenturePipelinealittleoverthreeyearsago,wehavereceivedover705applicationscompletedbySoCal-basedfoundersviaouronlineportalwhichrequiresthedisclosureofdetailedinformation,includingDEIdata,similartoapplyingtoaprestigiousacceleratorprogram.Theapplicationdatarevealsthat60%ofthefoundersidentifiedasnon-white,32%asnon-male,and32%arefirstgenerationcollegegraduates.ThisdiverserepresentationoffoundersseekingaccessisbothareflectionofthevibranttalentpoolthatresidesinSouthernCaliforniaandourintentionaloutreachtotraditionallyunderrepresentedcommunities.

Eachapplicationreceivedgoesthroughastagedvettingprocesstoensurethatthestartuphasreachedthestageintheirlifecyclewheretheyareattractivetoinvestors.SelectivityandcurationiscrucialtoretainVCinterestinthecompanieswesubmit.IfVCsconcludethatthecompanyintroductionstheAllianceofferedwerenotventurereadyorafitfortheirfund’sinvestmentthesis,theywouldstoprespondingtoouroffersofconnectionandwewouldlosetheabilitytoadvocateforthestrongstartupfounderswhoreallydeservethefunding.

ThreeStagesofReviewtoGetAcceptedintoSVPBeforeConsiderationofDirectInvestmentbyCatalystFund

1. StaffReview: ThefirstreviewisdonebyAlliancestaff whowillchecktoensurethattheapplicationmeetsthebasiccriteriasuchastheyaregeographicallybasedinoneofthesixSoCalcounties(Ventura,SanBernardino,Riverside,LosAngeles,Orange,SanDiego)andhaveevidencetheyarematureenoughtobetakenseriouslybyaninvestorsuchashavingsometractionorasolidbusinessmodel,forexample.Eachmonth,thestaff selectsthetop12startupapplicationsreceivedtobereviewedbytheEvaluationCommitteewhichmeetsonceamonth.

2. EvaluationCommittee: Thesecondreviewisdonebyagroupofinvestorsandstartupexpertswhomeetvirtuallyonceamonthtoreviewthetop12companiesandcollectivelyagreeonarankorderofthetop5companiestoadvancetothenextround(theSelectionCommittee).Startupswhodonotgetchosenforthenextroundofreviewareoftengivensomefeedbackonthecommittee’srationale.

3. SelectionCommittee:SeasonedinvestorsandsubjectmatterexpertsarethelastlineofqualitycontrolandhavethefinaldecisiononwhichstartupsarereadytobeintroducedtomatchingSeedorSeriesAinvestors.The5startupsareinvitedtoattendthemonthlyvirtualcommitteemeetingtodelivera5-minutepitchfollowedbyQ&Awiththecommitteemembers.Aftercarefuldeliberation,the 41 135 of 222

committeedecideswhetherthestartupshouldbeacceptedintotheprogramformatchmakingwithinvestors,orpotentiallyreferredtolocalresourcesformentoringandadvicesothattheymayremedyanyissuesandre-applyinthefuture.LiketheEvaluationCommittee,thisfeedbackisdeliveredinformallybacktothefounderalongwiththeyes/nodecision.

4. CatalystFundInvestmentCommittee: ThefundleveragestheAlliance’sSVPcapitalmatchingprogram,investinginfounderswhosecurealeadinvestmentfromaninstitutionalVCthatcommitsatleast20percentinapricedseedorseriesAequityroundroundandmeetsotherfoundationalinvestmentcriteria.TheCommitteemeetsmonthlytoreviewqualifieddealsandmeetwithfounders.TheCommitteeiscomposedoftworepresentativesfromeachofthetwoGeneralPartnerentities,TheAlliance&PasadenaPrivateFinancialGroup,allbasedintheTricitiesarea,andaformerVCwhoisbasedinLaCanada.

EvaluationCommitteeMembers:● MikePanesis, ExecutiveDirector, StevenDorfmanCenterforInnovation&Entrepreneurship,CaliforniaLutheranUniversity;experiencedangelinvestor(SantaBarbara&VenturaCo.)● YashChopra, SeniorAssociate,PlassaCapital(LosAngeles)● JoshResnick, Co-Founder&GeneralPartner, OpenSkyVentures;FounderandCEO,Sugarfina,PureImaginationBrands;experiencedangelinvestor(LosAngeles)● ScottWitt, startupadvisorwithdeeptech/healthindustryexperience(Glendale/LACounty)● J.C.Ruffalo, VenturePartner, TheCove(OrangeCounty)● Jeff Bocan, Partner, Okapi(Orange&LACounties)● PatHwang, Partner, HeedfirstVentures&PresidentofTCAVentureGroup-OC(OrangeCounty) SelectionCommitteeMembers:● ReneeLaBran, BusinessAdvisor, Investor, DirectoratIdealab,Sambazon,TomboyX,andStateBarofCalifornia(EastLA)● Krisztina(Z)Holly, VenturePartner, GoodGrowthCapital(WestLA)● IvánMarkman, 20yearsasstartup/scaleupexecutive(Yahoo,etc),15yearsasstartupadvisor, AngelinvestorinData,AI,cleantech(WestLA)● MarkdiTargiani, SVP, StartupServices,BancofCalifornia(BayArea)● JadeTran, SVP, TechnologyBanking&VentureLending,BancofCalifornia(WestLA)● Kenji(Ken)Funahashi, Partner, WilsonSonsiniGoodrichRosati(WSGR)(EastLA)● DavidBailey, Partner, KPPB(OC&LA) CatalystFundCommitteeMembers:● AndyWilson,ExecutiveDirector, AllianceforSoCalInnovation● EricEide,ManagingDirector, AllianceforSoCalInnovation● CraigColbath,COO,PasadenaPrivateFinancialGroup● SimonReeves,SVP, PasadenaPrivateFinancialGroup● ReneeLaBran,BusinessAdvisor, Investor, DirectoratIdealab,Sambazon,TomboyX,andStateBarofCalifornia 42 136 of 222

137 of 222

138 of 222

139 of 222

140 of 222

141 of 222

Friday,July12th,2024
TotheCityofGlendale,
Thisletterofrecommendationisbasedonmyovertwodecadesofexperiencewith theventureecosystemandmyexperienceworkingwithFoundersBoostsince2017.

IhighlyrecommendBlakeCaldwellforhiscommitmenttoentrepreneurshipandthe communitythathehashelpedbuild,shape,andgrowintoaglobalnetwork supportingentrepreneursallovertheworld.

FoundersBoostisuniqueinitsapproachtocommunityandecosystembuilding, whichdiﬀerentiatesitfromotherprogramswhereImentorandteach.After supportingover20diﬀerententrepreneurshipprogramsandcohortsglobally, FoundersBoostremainsuniqueinthefollowingaspects:

1. FoundersBoostistheonlyprogramthatteachesmentorshowtodeliver greatsessionsandprovidevaluablefeedbacktoentrepreneurs.

2. Mostearly-stagestartupsjoinaprogramtocompletetheirbusiness modelsanddevelopanunderstandingofwhat’sneededtoachievethenextlevelof success.FromdayoneatFoundersBoost,you’llnoticethatmostentrepreneursare stillﬁndingtheirbusinessdirection.However,byweek7oftheprogram,wementors areveryproudoftheprogressandsigniﬁcantaccomplishmentsofthese entrepreneurs.ThissuccessiswhyIhavereturnedtomentor14cohortsofLos Angelesprogramsandthreemorefromdiﬀerentregions.

3. I’vebeenvolunteeringtomentorandteachwithover20diﬀerent organizations,includingsomeofthebiggestprogramsrunningtoday.Unfortunately, Ioftenmeetentrepreneursfromtheseprogramswhofeelover-mentoredyethave nothingtoshowforallthetimetheyspent.Thisisacommonshortcomingofmany programsthatfocusmoreonquantitythanqualityofresults.
2024©mvmtventuresLLC
142 of 222

4. PerhapsthemostuniqueaspectofFoundersBoostisthelasting friendshipsandsenseofcollaborationformedbetweenmentorsandfounders,as wellasamongmentorsandamongfounders.Thiscollaborationleadstoeﬀective problem-solvingandthedevelopmentofahealthyecosystemwhere entrepreneurshipcanﬂourish.

LookingbackatalltheyearsIspentmentoringwithFoundersBoost,IbelieveIama bettermentorthankstotheexperienceIgainedandthelessonsIlearnedfromother mentors.Thisistheonlyprogramwherementorsandmenteesgrowandlearn togetherinatruecommunity.

IwholeheartedlyrecommendFoundersBoostandBlakeCaldwell.Ilookforwardto what’snextandtocontinuingtomentor,support,recommend,andjoinfuture cohorts.

#1008466v1<ACTIVE> - Letter re: Glendale Accelerator (7.11.24)

July 11, 2024

Startup Boost Inc.

Blake Caldwell
12832 Short Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90066

Dear Mr. Caldwell:

Re: Commitment to Sponsor the Glendale Accelerator Program

We are pleased to formally commit to sponsoring the proposed Glendale Accelerator Program (the “Program”), an initiative aimed at fostering innovation and supporting early-stage startups through accelerator programs in Glendale. Prospera Law is an elite venture-focused corporate law firm in the greater Los Angeles area. As a dedicated partner, Prospera Law is enthusiastic about contributing to the success and growth of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Glendale. We are pleased to commit to the following support, should Startup Boost Inc. be selected as the provider of the Program.

1. Financial Support. Prospera Law will provide financial sponsorship amounting to $20,000 per year for the duration of the Program. This funding will be allocated towards operational costs, program development, and resources essential for supporting participating startups.

2. Pro-bono Support for Program Operations. Prospera Law will offer pro-bono support valued at $15,000 per year to assist with contracts, document review, and legal and structuring advice for the Program.

3. Pro-bono Support for Program Startups. Prospera Law will provide pro-bono legal guidance and work valued at $55,000 per year for the startups participating in the Program. This support will cover a range of legal services essential for early-stage companies.

We anticipate that our sponsorship will help create a robust support system for startups in Glendale, fostering innovation and driving economic growth. Based on our past sponsorship experience with FoundersBoost, we expect similar successful outcomes, including significant funding raised by startups, job creation, and revenue generation.

We look forward to collaborating closely with Startup Boost Inc. and other stakeholders to achieve these goals.

Our commitment will span one year, with the full intent to continue support on an ongoing basis.

For any questions or further discussions, please feel free to contact me directly at [email protected] or by phone at (424) 239-1929.

We are excited to embark on this partnership and contribute to the thriving startup ecosystem in Glendale.

Thank you for considering our commitment. We look forward to working together to make the Glendale Accelerator Program a resounding success.

Sincerely,

Benjamin A. Wiles, Esq.

Partner, Prospera Law LLP
144 of 222

BlakeCaldwell
CEOofStartupBoostInc.
201NBrandBlvdDowntown,Suite200
Glendale,CA91203
Email:[email protected]
Phone:424-272-7228
July4th,2024
DearBlake,
WeareveryexcitedtobesupportingtheGlendaleGrowthAlliance.Weshallbeproviding $50,000.00throughin-kindvolunteersupporteachyearforthenextthreeyearsinsupport oftheacceleratoryouareproposingtoproducefortheCityofGlendale.Ournetworkof volunteersincludestechnologistsfrom150+companiesincludingDisney,Google,Microsoft, Tesla,andSnap.

Thisvolunteerssupportwillbeassistinghackathonprogamdevelopmentthatwill accomplishthefollowinggoals:
●ShowcasetheGlendalestartupcommunityandprovideemergingcompanieswiththe toolsandsupporttheyneedtothrive:LeveragingGlendale’svibrantdowntownand dynamicbusinessenvironment,wewillofferstartupsmentorship,resources,and networkingopportunities.
●PromoteGlendaleasaninnovationhub:BycapitalizingonGlendale’sproximityto topuniversitiesandtechnologycompanies,wewillhighlightthecityasapremier destinationforinnovationandentrepreneurship.
●Attractandretainadiversepooloftechtalent:Glendale’sculturalvibrancyand connectivitymakeitanideallocationfortechprofessionals.Theprogramwillactively promotetheseattributestoattractandretainskilledtalent.
●Drivelocaleconomicdevelopment:Supportinghigh-growthpotentialstartupswill driveeconomicgrowth,generatesubstantialrevenue,andcreatehigh-wagejobsin Glendale.

Withgratitude,
JustinBrezhnev
Founder&ExecutiveDirector
mail:4130OverlandAve.CulverCity,CA90230|email:[email protected]|phone:213.785.7382|www.hacker.fund 145 of 222

Hero House Glendale
Venture Building
Program 2024-2027
Prepared for the City of Glendale by SmartGateVC LLC
Date: 07/11/2024
Contact Person: Ashot Arzumanyan, Managing Director
Email: [email protected]
Address: 326 Mira Loma Ave, Glendale CA 91204
146 of 222

WHO | EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS & REFERENCES
What is Hero House?
5 5
Primary Entity Details 5
Startup Growth Initiatives Developed, Implemented, and Operated by SmartGateVC Hero House Glendale GateWay accelerator program
Hero House Angel Network
6 6
7 Regional events 7
Business relocation support 8
Hero House Glendale Building Blocks & Connections
Qualiﬁcations and Experience of Key Personnel: Program Team, Advisors and Strategic Partners About SmartGateVC
8 11
11 12
12 17
19 20
20 21
21 22
22 23
24 25
26 26
27 27
27 27
27 28
29 29
29 32
32 36
About HyeRise Investments
Team
Industry Advisors and Mentors
References
WHY| COMMITMENT TO THE GLENDALE TECH COMMUNITY
Why is the City of Glendale a Suitable Tech Destination? Glendale Tech Strategy
Brand Identity
Business Culture & Innovation Ecosystem
Mission Alignment with the Glendale Tech Strategy
Hero House is Already an Integral Part of the Glendale Tech Scene Hero House Glendale Physical Location
HOW | STRUCTURED APPROACH TO TECH AND STARTUP DEVELOPMENT Hero House Glendale Venture Building Program
Relocation support
Tech Investor Network
In-house VC ﬁrm
In-house Hero House Angel network
Partner VC ﬁrms and Angel networks
Collaborations and Partnerships
Youth Startup Engagement
Co-working Space
WHAT| PROPOSED PLAN AND AND APPROACH

1. Hero House Venture Building Program
Target Participants
Recruitment and Selection Process
Curriculum modules and program components
2 147 of 222

Quantiﬁable metrics 42
42 42
42 43
44 45
46 47
48 48
49 49
49 51
52 52
52 53
54 57
59 60
61 Post-Program Funding Metrics
Growth Metrics in Customer Base and Revenue | Customer attraction:

Survival Rate Metrics:

Measurement Methods
Marketing and Branding Plan to Advance Glendale as a Leading Tech Hub

2. Support activities in Glendale Tech Week Implementation Objectives
Glendale Tech Week 2025-2027
Recommended Timeline for Glendale Tech Week
Scope of Activities

3. Quarterly Tech on Tap meetups hosted by Hero House
Event Overview
Marketing and Promotion
Timeline of Implementation for Proposed Initiatives
Financial Capacity
Proof of Funds and Financial Stability
Readiness to Proceed and Ability to Meet Contract Terms Conﬁdentiality and Competitive Considerations
Detailed Line - Item Budget
Annex 1 | Residents to Hero House Glendale Physical Location Annex 2 | Hero House Angels Portfolio
Annex 3 | Alternative Budget
Annex 4 | Resumes for Key Personnel
3 148 of 222

July 11, 2024
Attn: City Manager and Members of the City Council of the City of Glendale Ladies and Gentlemen:

SmartGateVC is pleased to submit an unsolicited proposal for the operation and management of Hero House Venture Building program with its various components. SmartGateVC is a venture capital ﬁrm that actively operates in Glendale and the larger California area. Investors in SmartGateVC’s funds include Tim Draper of DFJ, One Way Ventures, as well as other seasoned investors, entrepreneurs and professionals from California and beyond.

Hero House Glendale was launched by SmartGateVC in 2021 when SmartGateVC was awarded by the City Council a $500k Governor's Oﬃce Of Business & Economic Development Local Assistance Grant. During the last three years, Hero House has established its presence in Glendale by implementing various tech and entrepreneurship development initiatives. Hero House harbors ambitious aspirations to advance Glendale as a tech and entrepreneurship hub, has seamlessly become part of the business community, and enjoys the trust of essential local stakeholders. Many leaders in the Tri-City tech community serve as hands-on advisors and mentors of SmartGateVC and Hero House companies.

SmartGateVC has already established a signiﬁcant, permanent presence in Glendale and has made a strategic commitment to expand its activities and presence in the region. The proposed initiatives include:
(1) Hero House Venture Building program to supplement Hero House startup growth programs through targeting companies at their earliest stages of development. (2) Active support in seamless implementation of Glendale Tech Week (3) Organization of quarterly Tech on Tap meetups at Hero House.

Awarding a contract to SmartGateVC will insure:
● Operational Eﬃciency: SmartGateVC's involvement ensures uninterrupted progress and eﬃcient resource utilization. Our familiarity with the project's nuances expedites the timeline, crucial for the project's success.
● Financial Commitment: With the City of Glendale allocating $1M and SmartGateVC providing a substantial mix of cash and in-kind support, the ﬁnancial foundation for the three-year program is exceptionally strong. This combined funding of $2.6M increases the program's viability and long-term impact.

If the City decides to award SmartGateVC the contract, we will utilize the City's funding along with SmartGateVC’s own resources, including $70M+ upcoming Venture Capital funds ($10M SmartGate Fund II & $60M SmartGate Fund III) to position Glendale as a premier and highly appealing tech destination for tech founders of AI companies to establish their headquarters. SmartGateVC team will work with companies to support their relocation eﬀorts and together we can lead the City of Glendale towards transformation, where it is home to more companies like ServiceTitan, Disqo, Beyond Limits, and others, which in turn means hundreds of million dollar investments that will ﬂow to the city, its people, and infrastructure.
4 149 of 222

WHO | EXPERIENCE, QUALIFICATIONS &

REFERENCES
What is Hero House?
Hero House was established by SmartGateVC in 2017 with a mission to build a pipeline of extraordinary investment opportunities for the fund. Over time, it evolved into a focal point where capital, technology, and entrepreneurship converged, serving as an incubator for industry-leading technology startups.

In 2020, SmartGateVC started a collaboration with the City of Glendale through a $500K Governor's Oﬃce of Business & Economic Development Local Assistance Grant awarded to the ﬁrm. The aim of this collaboration was to expand Hero House’s operations to Glendale and establish a pilot startup accelerator to support and promote the growth of startups in the region.

Primary Entity Details
Entity Name: SmartGateVC LLC
Contact information for primary entity:

Name: Ashot Arzumanyan,
Title: Managing Member,
Address: 1117 Elm Ave, Apt 107, Glendale, CA 91201
Phone: (650) 433 9038
Email: [email protected]
Type of entity: LLC
Year founded: 2021
Business registration: 5939386
List of owners, partners, or members of primary entity: Ashot Arzumanyan 5 150 of 222

Startup Growth Initiatives Developed, Implemented, and
Operated by SmartGateVC
Successful Collaboration with the City of Glendale
Over the last three years of its operation in Glendale, SmartGateVC has established and developed a comprehensive tech ecosystem at Hero House, serving the needs of early-stage companies with several elements, including but not limited to:

Hero House Glendale GateWay accelerator program
The Hero House Glendale Gateway Program is a 16-week program that has successfully nurtured and accelerated early-stage companies, primarily at the idea and MVP stage, facilitating their fundraising eﬀorts with over $11M raised during and after the program (the number will continue to grow as companies advance to the next stages of development). 6 151 of 222

Operating on a global scale, the 3-year-long program has collaborated with 30 startups from 7 diﬀerent countries and has played a pivotal role in relocating 5 tech startups to Glendale.

Notable achievements by program participants include gaining recognition in prestigious publications like TIME and Forbes, receiving esteemed design awards, and securing high-proﬁle clients such as Google, Stanford, and the Department of Defense. These achievements underscore the program's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation on an international scale.

Hero House Angel Network
SmartGateVC has successfully formed a robust angel investor network, known as Hero House Angels, which has grown to 72 members in under a year. The network comprises senior executives coming from prominent technology giants such as Google, Meta, Bank of America, Amazon, Snap, Netﬂix, Sony Music, Wells Fargo, and more. Additionally, it includes seasoned angel investors and serial entrepreneurs. Notably, Hero House Angels has invested over $500,000 in 4 promising tech startups, highlighting its strong commitment to supporting innovation and entrepreneurship. More about the companies can be found in Annex 2 .

Regional events
Hero House Glendale has supported the organization of Glendale Tech Week for three consecutive years, from 2021 to 2023, during the annual 3 to 5-day events focusing on biotechnology and AI. These tech weeks featured pop-up events at Hero House with an impressive lineup of over 30 speakers and attracted more than 350 attendees, including prominent representatives from industry giants like Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Johnson & Johnson, and Amgen, as well as leading academic institutions such as Caltech, UCLA, and Stanford. In 2022, Hero House took a signiﬁcant step by organizing an inaugural Science to Industry Venturing event as an integral component of the Glendale Tech Week, thereby uniting various stakeholders under one platform.

Additionally, Hero House Glendale demonstrated its commitment to fostering tech innovation among students by hosting the Startup Boost Days student hackathon, which saw participation from 100 students across Glendale Community College, Glendale Uniﬁed School District and other Tri-City educational institutions. Hero House consistently facilitated 40+ tech meetups and events featuring high-proﬁle speakers from various tech disciplines, drawing between 60 to 200 attendees to each event.
7 152 of 222

Business relocation support
Hero House Glendale is at the forefront of business relocation support initiatives, fostering growth and collaboration within the Southern California region. We have successfully welcomed eLabNext, a division of the Eppendorf Group, a major player in the life science industry with a global footprint and over $1B in revenue, hosting their Los Angeles team at Hero House.

In addition, Hero House has assisted a number of investor-backed startups in their move to Glendale including Buildern, a construction management software startup, to relocate to the area, and Expper Technologies, a healthcare robotics company working with kids in pediatric facilities. Moreover, Hero House extended its support by providing oﬃce space and resources to innovative companies- Manot, Pinsight, Dowork, Knoxlabs, and CurbWaste, demonstrating its commitment to driving business success and fostering entrepreneurship in the region. More about the companies can be found in Annex 1.

These initiatives serve as a testament to SmartGateVC's commitment to developing the entrepreneurial scene at the City of Glendale and helping entrepreneurs in their journey towards success.

Hero House Glendale Building Blocks & Connections
Throughout the last 3 years of operations Hero House Glendale has accumulated strong experience, a robust network, and valuable resources in the SoCal tech and scientiﬁc community. Hero House acquired and employed the below-mentioned resources and tools to enhance and scale the local startup community and provide early-stage startups with the tools and support they need to succeed and thrive in Glendale and the Tri-City Region:
8 153 of 222

Hero House Glendale GateWay Program
Hero House Glendale GateWay Accelerator attracted, empowered and supported early-stage tech founders based in Glendale and the larger Los Angeles area in building fast-growing companies. It also served as a launchpad for international founders to relocate and build tech companies headquartered in Glendale.
9 154 of 222

SmartGateVC’s $10M and $60M private venture funding and network of VC and angel investors Hero House Glendale is well-connected and works closely with the venture capital ecosystem that actively supports the local tech and startup community, injecting crucial initial funding.

This eﬀort will serve to invigorate the startup landscape in the Tri-City region.

SmartGateVC has a constant presence as an in-house VC fund at Hero House and injects capital into the select companies going through the incubator program. SmartGateVC is currently in the process of securing additional $15M and $60M venture capital for FII and FIII respectively, which are going to be deployed in Glendale and larger California. Hero House Glendale collaborates with various top-tier VC ﬁrms and angel networks, thereby increasing the pool of professionally managed venture capital accessible to the region.

A network of mentors and collaborations with the local tech community and Silicon Valley During the last 3 years, we have established a robust network of over 100 dedicated mentors, comprised of seasoned founders, experienced entrepreneurs with $100M+ exit experience, as well as inﬂuential ﬁgures and investors from Silicon Valley and Los Angeles. This extensive network will play an integral role at Hero House Glendale right from the start.

Furthermore, prominent tech ﬁrm founders in the Glendale area, including DISQO, Dot818, Service Titan, Britive, Expper Technologies, CurbWaste, who are active community members at Hero House, have committed to act as mentors at Hero House Glendale. They will share their specialized industry insights and experiences through presentations and regular oﬃce hours, enriching the learning environment.

Hero House Glendale has forged connections and synergies with prominent tech entities in the broader Los Angeles area, such as the Nucleate, AI LA, NSF I-Corp Hub West Region, and Google for Startups. Notably, representatives from these organizations have not only been featured as speakers and mentors in past Hero House events but also maintain their ongoing engagement in diverse initiatives at Hero House.

Entrepreneurship and workforce development activities for students Hero House has built connections and relationships with some of the top educational institutions in the LA area and runs targeted activities for entrepreneurship development among students and youth. As part of Glendale Tech Week 2022, Hero House ran a pilot hackathon for students from GUSD, GCC, Caltech, USC, and UCLA, accepting over 50 participants to pitch their ideas to a panel of Entrepreneur Judges.

Further activities centered around students, guided by a proven approach and jointly arranged with colleges and universities, will cultivate students' entrepreneurial potential. They will be equipped with distinctive knowledge and skills, ensuring that talent remains in Glendale and 10 155 of 222

contributes to the prosperity of the Tri-City region. The growth of tech hubs is closely linked to the success of startups and the emergence of new companies by local employees. In this context, fostering workforce development, oﬀering ongoing educational opportunities, and facilitating career advancement in Glendale are pivotal components of this overarching process.

Qualiﬁcations and Experience of Key Personnel: Program
Team, Advisors and Strategic Partners
Hero House Glendale was established and launched in Glendale by SmartGateVC with a strategic partner HyeRise Investments through the funding and support provided by the City of Glendale.

The strategic partnership will continue to power the program and operations if the proposal is approved for future operation. Hero House will continue to be managed and operated by SmartGateVC, with HyeRise Investment serving as a pivotal strategic partner for the initiative.

About SmartGateVC
SmartGateVC, a Glendale-based venture capital ﬁrm, has a proven track record of early investments in AI companies since 2018. With 31 pre-seed investments, achieving markups of 10-28x, and a portfolio enterprise value exceeding $1 billion, the ﬁrm is now investing $100k to $500k tickets and targets to deploy $70M capital in AI companies in the next 5-7 years. The fund focuses on opportunities driven by the rapid development of AI, including BCI (brain-computer interface), the physical world link, and cybersecurity. 11 156 of 222

SmartGateVC was the ﬁrst investor in companies like SuperAnnotate, the fastest annotation platform and services for training AI (the infrastructure behind DBRX), and Deep Origin, which focuses on drug discovery with quantum accuracy. Follow-on investors for these companies include Sierra Ventures, Upfront Ventures, AI Fund, and Y Combinator.

About HyeRise Investments
HyeRise Investments is a group of seasoned entrepreneurs and executives who invest in companies with strong vision, grit, and resilience. Hye Rise is an in-house investment company and is looking to invest in companies that graduate from Hero House’s programs. HyeRise is also the real estate partner for Hero House Glendale, providing the 7,000 square feet of space currently utilized for the technology incubator.

Team
The Project team is composed of experienced professionals with diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and specialized expertise. The team brings extensive experience from pre-seed/seed investing to operating billion-dollar units and advising Fortune 500 companies, with senior leadership backgrounds at Ixia, Keysight, Box, and McKinsey.

Their extensive knowledge in various areas, including venture capital, entrepreneurship, accelerator management, investment advisory, due diligence, and scientiﬁc research, equips them with the necessary tools to fulﬁll the objectives of the proposal. Their expertise uniquely positions them to provide valuable assistance to entrepreneurs in developing deep-tech companies through the implementation of ecosystem-building initiatives.

Moreover, the team's collective experience working with entrepreneurs, universities, and scientiﬁc communities further strengthens their ability to provide tailored support and advice for creating and growing science-driven companies. With a proven track record of success in similar projects, they have established a comprehensive understanding of the key drivers and challenges of Glendale’s technology and startup ecosystem. By leveraging their extensive networks and expertise, they are well-equipped to advance the region's startup scene and generate long-term economic growth through the development of innovative and successful science-driven companies.

The resumes for the key personnel can be found in Annex 4. 12 157 of 222

Ashot Arzumanyan
Current Position: Founding Partner at SmartGateVC,
Co-founder of Hero House in Yerevan and in Glendale
Project Role: Mentor and Advisor
Qualiﬁcations and background:

Ashot Arzumanyan is co-founder and partner with SmartGateVC, a California and Armenia based pre-seed venture capital ﬁrm investing in AI. Ashot has more than 15 years of experience in venture capital and private equity investment management and facilitation, accelerator management, investment advisory, and deal structuring. Ashot is a co-initiator of several initiatives, including the Hero House tech and entrepreneurship hubs in Los Angeles and Armenia.

He has extensive experience working with scientists, advising on venture building and technology transfer, and conducting due diligence and evaluations of deep tech startups to assess their commercialization potential. Two notable examples are SmartGateVC’s portfolio companies Deep Origin and SuperAnnotate, which are spin-outs from the University of Maryland and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, respectively, where SmartGateVC was their ﬁrst investor. He has helped the founders with technology transfer and venture building, assisting them in forming and growing their companies.

Ashot holds a PhD in Economics from Yerevan State University. 13 158 of 222

Areg Alimian
Current Position: Partner at SmartGateVC
Project Role: Mentor and Advisor
Qualiﬁcations and background:

Areg Alimian is a partner with SmartGateVC, a California and Armenia based pre-seed venture capital ﬁrm investing in AI. Areg Alimian, a renowned entrepreneurial product executive, has been instrumental in generating over $1Bn in revenue from commercial enterprise products, impacting over 100,000 enterprises and millions of users worldwide. He co-founded Azimuth Systems, securing $5.8MM in Series A funding, and led the company to $50MM in annual revenues, culminating in its acquisition by Anritsu. Alimian's extensive network, including hundreds of IT executives (CxOs), board members, analysts, and investors, has been pivotal in his M&A activities, where he has successfully led over $300MM in transactions. His comprehensive approach, from initial market research to post-acquisition integration, has resulted in sustained business growth.

At Keysight Technologies, Alimian headed the Applications and Security business unit, managing geographically diverse teams and achieving a remarkable 200% growth in less than four years, leading to approximately $144MM in annual revenues. His strategic initiatives, particularly in the ﬁnancial vertical, were signiﬁcant in this success. At Box, Alimian led the development and execution of the company's petabyte-scale 1Bn+ ARR Content Cloud security strategy, enabling the next phase of growth and securing content for over 115,000 enterprises globally. His deep engagement in the startup ecosystem, including his role as a key advisor at Berkeley SkyDeck and contributions to successful early-stage venture capital investments, underscores his comprehensive understanding of startup growth and success. 14 159 of 222

Armine Galstyan
Current Position: Principal at SmartGateVC
Project Role: Managing Director
Armine Galstyan is the Managing Director of Hero
House based in Glendale, CA and a Principal at
SmartGateVC, positions she has held since July 2021.

In this role, she oversees the startup lifecycle as part of the Hero House Glendale accelerator program,
managing everything from onboarding to
graduation. In the capacity of her role as Managing
Director Armine has built strong relationships and
established credibility with tech leaders, venture
funds, accelerators, incubators, and startup
ecosystem players across California. Armine's role
involves designing and overseeing a process for
consistent advisor engagement with SmartGateVC
and its portfolio companies, supporting a diverse group of companies and entrepreneurs from diﬀerent countries. She has also hosted and organized over 100 events in 3 years in partnership with various tech companies and corporations. Armine has been featured as one of 2024 honorees in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s LA500 technology issue, recognized as one of Hive Ventures 30 Under 30 Armenians in Tech and NextGen Women of the Year for San Fernando Valley Business Journal 2022 Women’s Leadership Award for her contributions to the ﬁeld.

Prior to this, she served as the Director of Startup Programs at Catalyst Foundation, where she had general oversight of the startup programs, managed project ﬁnancials, ensured compliance with administrative policies, and led public relations eﬀorts. Armine Galstyan earned her Bachelor's degree in Business from the American University of Armenia's College of Business and Economics in 2018.
15 160 of 222

Industry Advisors and Mentors
SmartGateVC has assembled a distinguished advisory board consisting of prominent professionals from its network, which includes investors, scientists, entrepreneurs. With their diverse backgrounds and vast knowledge, coupled with their deep understanding of AI, they are well equipped to provide assistance in identifying, evaluating, and mentoring early-stage companies at the intersection of AI with biotech, healthcare, and IoT.

Alex Pepe
Atul Bhatnagar Alex Peppe is a seasoned business
leader with over two decades of
experience in senior leadership roles
and board directorships, and over three
decades in technology and engineering.

He has demonstrated leadership in
product innovation and growth
strategies for both large and small
companies, managing teams of up to
15,000 employees across diverse
geographical locations.

Jack Topdjian
Atul held President and Chief Executive
Oﬃcer roles in a number of public
companies in the last decade. He
currently serves as a CEO of
ExperienceFlow.AI which provides
industry's ﬁrst intelligent AI Agents to
augment roles in complex,
Jack Topdjian is Healthcare Venture
Partner with SmartGateVC and
Founder of Health Equity Angels.

Formerly, Jack Topdjian was a
Partner at top advisory ﬁrms –
McKinsey, Booz/PwC & Deloitte.

Also, Jack Topdjian is counselor to
the senior executives of some of the
world’s most prestigious healthcare
multi-dimensional and cross-functional
enterprise decision making.
companies.

Lucy Abgaryan
Dr. Lucy Abgaryan is a scientist and
entrepreneur with over 15 years of
experience in drug development. She
founded/co-founded 4 science-based
organizations including Proone Labs and
GrittGene Therapeutics where she is also
the CEO.

Eugene Malobrodsky
Eugene Malobrodsky is a Partner at One
Way Ventures. He is a seasoned
entrepreneur with prior company exit, a
venture capital investor and an advisor
and a board member at various fast
Vahe Kuzoyan
Vahe Kuzoyan is the President and
Co-Founder of a tech unicorn,
ServiceTitan, headquartered in
Glendale, California.
growing technology ventures.
16 161 of 222

Zarik MegerdichianDavid Tonoyan
David Tonoyan is the Founder and
President of dot818.

Drew Kutcharian
Drew Kutcharian is the Co-Founder
and CTO at DISQO, headquartered in
Glendale, California.

Zarik Megerdichian is the Founder of
4over and Loop8. He also founded
HyeRiseInv to invest in tech startups.

His companies are headquartered in
Glendale, California.

Viken Douzdjian Cynthia Tusan
Cynthia Tusan is the CEO and Chairman
of Strategic Global Advisors, LLC.

Armen Vartanian
Viken Douzdjian is the Managing
Partner at Argonautic Ventures and a
Board Observer at numerous
companies.

Armen Vartanian is the Founder of
Oceanview Capital Partners, Inc. He is
also an advisor to several technology
companies.

Christine Soussa Kenji (Ken) Funahashi Ara Aslanian
Christine Soussa is a seasoned, top
performing Sales and Strategy
Professional with over 25 years
experience. Currently, she is a Senior
Strategic Account Executive at Equinix.

Ken is a corporate law partner based in
Los Angeles. He has handled more than
$10 billion in ﬁnancings, mergers and
acquisitions, joint ventures, and IPOs.

Ken is also a Board Member at Innovate
Pasadena and an investor at Pasadena
Angels.

Ara Aslanian is the Founding Partner
and CEO of Inverselogic, Inc. and
reevert.
17 162 of 222

References
The following individuals have collaborated and worked with Hero House and the primary entity, SmartGateVC, in various capacities, participating in startup growth programs and initiatives led by SmartGateVC.

Zareh Zurabyan: Zareh is the Head of eLabNext American division. eLabNext is a digital lab platform that is a division of Eppendorf Group, a leading life science company with subsidiaries in 33 countries and revenue surpassing $1 billion. The company opened its Southern California location in Glendale at Hero House. Zareh partners with Hero House to build a biotech community in Glendale and mentors biotech and healthcare founders participating in Hero House startup growth initiatives.

Atul Bhatnagar: Atul held President and Chief Executive Oﬃcer roles in a number of public multinational companies in the last decade. He currently serves as a CEO of ExperienceFlow.AI.

Atul is an advisor at SmartGateVC and works closely with the team on various strategic initiatives.

Garegin Papoian: Garegin is the co-founder and CSO at Deep Origin. Deep Origin, a portfolio company of SmartGateVC, spun out of the University of Maryland.He is also the Monroe Martin Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of Maryland, where he holds a joint appointment at the Institute for Physical Science and Technology. SmartGateVC invested in the company in its early days, aiding the founder in transferring the technology from the university to the market. BioSim is a prime example of a successful lab-to-market transition facilitated by Hero House and SmartGateVC.

Karen Khachikyan: Karen is the Founder and CEO of Expper Technologies. He is an alumnus of the ﬁrst batch of the Glendale GateWay accelerator. After completing the accelerator program, the company moved to Glendale and established its headquarters at Hero House. Since then, the company has raised a $1.5M seed round and deployed its robotic solutions across multiple hospitals in the US, including UMass Children’s Hospital and UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital.

Davit Tonoyan: Davit is the Founder and CEO of Dot818. He is a major investor in SmartGateVC and mentors and invests in companies that go through various Hero House startup programs. 18 163 of 222

Name Title Organization Email Phone number
Garegin
Papoian
Founder and Deep Origin
CEO
[email protected] (301) 956 9597
Founder and Expper [email protected] (747) 307 0966
(408) 887 9717
(617) 916 3837
Karen
Khachikyan
CEO Technologies
CEO ExperienceFlo [email protected]
w.AI.Atul
Bhatnagar
eLabNext [email protected]
Zareh Head of
Zurabyan eLabNext
American
Founder and Dot818
CEO
[email protected] (818) 281 7456
Davit Tonoyan
WHY| COMMITMENT TO THE GLENDALE

TECH COMMUNITY
Why is the City of Glendale a Suitable Tech Destination? The City of Glendale oﬀers several key advantages that make it an attractive location for startups and entrepreneurs. Its strategic location within the greater Los Angeles area provides access to a diverse business community and world-class research institutions and universities. Moreover, Glendale has a highly educated and skilled workforce, enabling companies to easily recruit top talent.

Glendale's thriving economy includes a diverse range of industries such as healthcare, entertainment, and technology. Its technology sector includes notable companies such as ServiceTitan, Beyond Limits, DISQO, and dot818 contributing to its dynamic ecosystem. Their 19 164 of 222

presence in Glendale further solidiﬁes the City's reputation as a tech and entrepreneurship hub.

In addition to its vibrant tech industry, the City is situated near the Burbank Airport, providing convenient access to domestic and international travel. Glendale's location allows for easy connectivity to major hubs like Silicon Valley and Seattle, creating collaboration and business opportunities on a national and global scale. Glendale's accessibility is further enhanced by its central location within the Southern California region as the City is situated at the crossroads of three major freeways.

With its favorable business climate, diverse industry landscape, strong support from the local government through Economic Development 3-Year Strategic Plan adapted in 2022 , and a skilled workforce, Glendale is a prime destination for building a tech and innovation hub.

Glendale Tech Strategy
In 2022, the City of Glendale’s Economic Development Division developed an Economic Development 3-Year Strategic Plan with a strong emphasis on turning Glendale into a tech destination.

In order to support the City of Glendale’s strategic goals, SmartGateVC presents this proposal with a comprehensive framework that includes a targeted set of initiatives aligned with the city's tech strategy and designed to stimulate economic growth in the City .

Brand Identity
Several action items are outlined in the Glendale strategic plan. In order to enhance the city's brand identity, the ED Strategic Plan proposes strengthening its social media presence with active postings. The plan also calls for the development of targeted short videos that can eﬀectively convey the city's story based on its initiatives and industry strengths.

Furthermore, an eﬀort will be made to launch targeted marketing and public relations campaigns aimed at increasing the city's visibility. Exploring major ad placements in publications and other media outlets is another avenue to reinforce the city's brand identity. Additionally, the plan underscores the importance of strengthening regional marketing collaborations to enhance Glendale's image.
20 165 of 222

Business Culture & Innovation Ecosystem
The strategic plan places a signiﬁcant emphasis on cultivating a comprehensive business culture and innovation ecosystem. To achieve this, the city intends to develop a Business Attraction Plan with a focused approach on priority industry sectors that can signiﬁcantly contribute to the local economy. These sectors include tech and entrepreneurship areas such as biotech, medtech, gaming, IT, and cybersecurity.

The plan aims to advance the high-tech business community while creating niche markets for additional support and programming. Collaboration with community and business partners is another essential aspect, with the goal of attracting and retaining talent. This collaboration will align priorities and place a renewed focus on maximizing the use of existing space, reinforcing successful models, and reimagining other opportunities. Lastly, the strategic plan underscores the importance of developing and supporting programs and events that provide mentorship and partnership connections for businesses. These initiatives will collectively contribute to the growth and vitality of Glendale's business landscape.

Mission Alignment with the Glendale Tech Strategy
Proposed Hero House Glendale Initiatives represent a dynamic framework aimed at advancing innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship within the City of Glendale and creating an A2Z ecosystem for embracing tech entrepreneurs and supporting exponential growth. The Tech Hub aligns seamlessly with the City's Economic Development (ED) Strategic Plan, intending to foster a culture of innovation, attract tech entrepreneurs, and stimulate economic growth. The proposed activities aim to support and strengthen the existing initiatives in the City of Glendale, such as Glendale Tech Week or Tech on Tap meetups, and enable tech companies in the City of Glendale to further contribute to local economic growth.

The initiatives proposed in the document will provide various opportunities for communities throughout the City, particularly for scientists, entrepreneurs, tech professionals, investors, and youth. Emphasizing inclusive economic development, SmartGateVC will ensure that the initiatives also target women, immigrants, and underrepresented communities. The intent is to foster the growth of emerging technologies in Glendale while ensuring that the activities will involve and beneﬁt diverse communities.
21 166 of 222

Why should the City of Glendale continue and scale the collaboration with Hero House? We've already established our presence, possess a clear understanding of the objectives, harbor ambitious aspirations, have seamlessly become part of the community, and enjoy the trust of essential local stakeholders. With additional resources, we can collectively achieve even greater results. This proposal represents our commitment to advancing Glendale's tech ecosystem, fostering innovation, and facilitating the growth of the local business and technology community.

Hero House is Already an Integral Part of the Glendale Tech Scene
SmartGateVC has already ﬁrmly established itself as an integral part of Glendale's thriving tech scene through Hero House Glendale. With a keen focus on nurturing innovation and supporting startups, SmartGateVC has played a pivotal role in fueling the city's entrepreneurial spirit.

Hero House Glendale currently serves as a home for 10 tech startups and initiatives. 3 SmartGateVC portfolio companies - Expper Tech, Britive, Manot have a partial or full-time presence in Glendale.

Unlike other potential Hero House has already become a
crucial space for enabling tech
entrepreneurs to build companies in
Glendale while contributing to the
development of a strong local tech and
startup ecosystem, supporting young
talent with opportunities to gain
practical experience by being involved
in the tech industry.

Hero House is fully committed to
ensuring the success of the Glendale
tech ecosystem and the Hero House
Venture Building Program. Our top
priority is the growth and advancement
of Glendale's technology sector, which
aligns with the core mission of both
Hero House and SmartGateVC.
operators who will compete
for this opportunity, our focus
is singular: the development
and prosperity of Glendale as
a tech hub.

As our exclusive operational
base in the United States,
Glendale holds a unique
position in our strategic
vision, and we are dedicated
to maintaining and expanding
our presence here.
22 167 of 222

This unwavering commitment underscores our intention to prioritize Glendale’s growth above all else, ensuring that our eﬀorts contribute signiﬁcantly to the city's technological and economic landscape.

Hero House Glendale Physical Location
Hero House Glendale was established and launched in Glendale as a strategic partnership between HyeRise Investment and SmartGateVC through the funding and support provided by the City of Glendale. HyeRise is a tech investment vehicle and is also the real estate partner for Hero House Glendale, providing the 7,000 square feet of space currently utilized for the Hero House Technology Hub. Hero house Glendale physical space will continue to be managed and operated by SmartGateVC, with HyeRise Investment serving as a pivotal strategic partner for the initiative.
23 168 of 222

HOW | STRUCTURED APPROACH TO TECH

AND STARTUP DEVELOPMENT
SmartGateVC will utilize the components of the comprehensive tech and startup ecosystem that has been built around Hero House in the last 3 years to promote and position Glendale as a center of tech innovation. The Hero House tech ecosystem consists of several pillars. While the Hero House Glendale GateWay Incubator is one of the main pillars, below proposed plans and activities are being developed for a structured approach to tech and startup development. 24 169 of 222

Hero House Glendale Venture Building Program
As part of the venture building program, Hero House Glendale will work with founders of early-stage companies, including scientists, engineers, and individuals possessing unique industry insights and technological proﬁciency. The goal of the program will be to systematically create new companies. Unlike the Hero House GateWay Program, the proposed venture building program will accept very early stage ideas, technologies, research projects and take a more hands-on approach by building startups around those ideas.

This strategic alignment with cities tech strategy, coupled with guidance from Hero House, is anticipated to give rise to multitude of promising deep tech and artiﬁcial intelligence enterprises.

With executives from multiple tech companies supporting founders as mentors, Hero House Venture Building Program aims to replicate the success model of those companies, including Britive, ServiceTitan, CurbWaste, Expper Tech, and DISQO.

Hero House has established warm connections with executives of aforementioned companies to have them share their expertise with the up-and-coming entrepreneurs who join the program.

Relocation support
After the establishment of Hero House in Glendale in 2020, 6 tech companies have either partially relocated to Glendale or established their operations there. Additional information about the companies can be found in Annex 1. SmartGateVC implemented two entrepreneurial immersion programs dedicated to supporting promising early-stage companies outside of California and the US. The programs inspired and encouraged promising early-stage technology companies to relocate and contribute to the ﬂourishing tech industry of Glendale. They introduced entrepreneurs to the thriving tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem of the region, and highlighted the beneﬁts of expanding or relocating their operations to LA County.

The programs were designed to provide a comprehensive and immersive experience that will enable founders to make meaningful connections in the US market and gain valuable insights.

Building on the experience of working with companies seeking to relocate to California, Hero House aims to support 10+ businesses in relocating to Glendale, particularly within the desired industry clusters, within 3 years.
25 170 of 222

Tech Investor Network
Enabling early-stage tech founders to raise their ﬁrst round of equity funding and providing the anchor investment is one of the key components of building and nurturing a strong tech startup ecosystem.

In-house VC ﬁrm
SmartGateVC is a founding resident of Hero House Glendale, and its investment team and partners have been actively exploring investment opportunities with Hero House’s program companies. When Hero House was launched in 2021, SmartGateVC was operating a $3.5M fund.

Currently, SmartGateVC is in the process of raising 2 funds dedicated to investing in tech companies in various development stages: $15M early stage and $60M early to mid-stage funds, which the team will seek to invest in Glendale-based companies. The fund’s team and partners will actively mentor the Hero House Venture Building program participants and hold regular meetings with the founders to support them on their fundraising journey.

In-house Hero House Angel network
Hero House has established a network of in-house angel investors with 70+ members who actively seek to invest in Hero House companies. The network has made 4 investments in Glendale and California-based companies, which can be found in Annex 1. To extend the opportunity to a wider number of companies and enable easier fundraising for Hero House companies, the Hero House team will work towards expanding the network by doubling the number of angel investors in the next 3 years.

Partner VC ﬁrms and Angel networks
In addition to forming strategic partnerships with HyeRise Investments and the City of Glendale in the last few years, SmartGateVC has built a solid network of local and wider US-based VCs and investors. These partnerships aim to involve these organizations in the initiatives and undertakings of Hero House Glendale. Among those relationships are Type One Capital, Argonautic Ventures, MarsBio, LabLaunch, One Way Ventures, Health Equity Angels, TieSoCal, and others.

Collaborations and Partnerships
As mentioned previously, Hero House Glendale has established partnerships with local tech industry leaders, such as ServiceTitan, Britive, Dot818, Proone Labs, DISQO, and others who 26 171 of 222

will actively contribute to Hero House's success. The company executives will share their expertise in SaaS and digital mentorship sessions, and participate in other Hero House initiatives.

In the realm of academic education, Hero House Glendale has been building relationships with prominent institutions like Glendale Community College (GCC), the University of Southern California (USC), the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and the University of California San Diego (UCSD). The aim is to bridge university research and on-campus startup activities with the Hero House Glendale community.

Collaborative events like Startup Boost Days involved students from these institutions. The Hero House team has been working closely with labs in these universities to explore the possibility of venture building and technology transfer by working closely with research teams to move projects from the lab to the market. Further eﬀorts will be needed to foster these relationships and formalize collaborations.

Youth Startup Engagement
Since its launch in 2021, Hero House Glendale also functioned as a hub for raising career awareness among high school and university students. It provided opportunities for students to gain practical knowledge through volunteering and internships. The Student Ambassador Program, which oﬀered internships with a focus on business and technology, matched university students with Glendale- and Californiabased tech companies, among them DISQO, ZeroBroker, and other members of the community. The program's objective was to nurture the next generation of local tech entrepreneurs, complementing the aforementioned student-centered initiatives.

In addition, local students were recruited on a volunteering or internship basis to join the Hero House Glendale team and assist in implementing numerous programs and initiatives, including Startup Boost Day hackathon and Glendale Tech Week pop-up events.

Over the next 3 years, Hero House will develop a structured initiative in collaboration with educational institutions to support and guide students towards reaching their tech career goals through practical experiences.
27 172 of 222

Co-working Space
Since its launch in 2021, Hero House has been serving as a coworking and oﬃce space for local tech startups. Together with its 10 resident companies, Hero House cultivates an environment where brilliant minds converge, exchange ideas, and push the boundaries of what is achievable.

Our shared spaces, state-of-the-art facilities, and networking events provide the perfect platform for resident companies to connect, collaborate, and create lasting partnerships. By fostering a supportive ecosystem, we are nurturing the growth and success of all our residents.

Hero House is also the ﬁrst spot for relocated companies to establish their presence in Glendale.

As companies expand and hire more people, they often move to their own oﬃce spaces within the Glendale area. The Hero House coworking will continue to serve as the base and home for the new ventures established through the Glendale Tech Incubator and relocation eﬀorts.

WHAT| PROPOSED PLAN AND AND

APPROACH
SmartGateVC presents a comprehensive three-year proposal to the City of Glendale, building upon the foundation established during our successful three-year partnership with the City.

Over the past three years, our collaboration gave rise to the Hero House Glendale Gateway Program, serving as a cornerstone of innovation within the community.

As we look to the future, our proposed partnership focuses on enhancing the city's existing tech infrastructure through three key components:
(1) Hero House Venture Building Program
(2) Active support in the seamless implementation of Glendale Tech Week; (3) Organization of quarterly Tech on Tap meetups at Hero house.

1. Hero House Venture Building Program
SmartGateVC proposes a Venture Building program which will be a premier studio located in the vibrant City of Glendale, California. Our mission is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge research and market-ready products by fostering collaborations between academic institutions and industry leaders. With a focus on laboratories in universities across Southern California, Venture Building program will be dedicated to building companies from groundbreaking technologies. The objective of the program is to build businesses and help founders to 28 173 of 222

raise pre-seed funding following the program, establish operations in Glendale and acquire their very ﬁrst paying customers. The program will have 4 main focus areas:

AI & Physical World AI & AI & Our Brains AI & LLMS
CyberSecurity
Multimodal AI
requires more
sources of
information, and
deep integration /
touch of the physical
world
Generative AI
presents multifaceted converge to boost
security, trust,
compliance, and risk
challenges, focusing
on data privacy
AI and brain will While multimodal AI
is developing at an
unprecedented pace,
it’s a game of few
with very deep
human productivity
in unprecedented
ways
pockets
protection, misuse BCI technologies will
prevention, legal and tackle major We focus on the “fat ethical compliance,
and vulnerability
management
healthcare issues like tails” of AI shaped by
dementia, fundamental scarcity
depression, and pain of data and
(~$100B in the US) interdisciplinary
talent as well as end
market ownership
through unique
product proposition
‣ Full Stack ‣ AI Trust Risk &
Security
‣ AI-Enabled Threat
Intel
‣ Supply Chain
Security
‣ IT-OT Infra Security
‣ BCI Platforms And
Devices
‣ Neurotherapeutic
‣ Computational
Hardware +
Software Solutions
‣ Control
Technologies
‣ Communication
Biology
‣ Corporate Data
‣ HealthCareSolutions
Platforms
By fostering a dynamic ecosystem of collaboration and support, Venture Building program will contribute to technological advancement, job creation, and economic growth in the region. 29 174 of 222

With its strategic location, comprehensive services, and commitment to excellence, the program is poised to become a leading force in technology commercialization and a catalyst for innovation in Southern California.

Objectives:
●
●
Build Companies: Provide advanced technical founders exposure to the business world to help generate groundbreaking business ideas.

Support Entrepreneurship: Provide resources and guidance to idea stage entrepreneurs, and researchers and help them navigate the complexities of bringing their ideas to market.
●
●
Enhance Economic Growth: Contribute to the local and regional economy by supporting the development of new technologies and businesses.

Facilitate Collaboration: Foster partnerships between university researchers and industry stakeholders to promote the seamless transfer of technology.

Key Features:
● Strategic Location: Situated in Glendale, Venture Building program will be ideally positioned to serve universities and research institutions throughout Southern California, including those in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. ● Expert Guidance: Our team of seasoned professionals will oﬀer expertise in intellectual property management, business development, regulatory compliance, and funding acquisition.
●
●
Networking Opportunities: Regular events, workshops, and networking sessions will connect researchers with industry leaders, investors, and potential partners.

Funding and Investment: Access to venture capital, grant opportunities, and investment networks to support the growth and scaling of innovative ventures.

The project implementation will cover a number of action areas included in the City of Glendale's ED strategy, primarily the attraction of new businesses and support of existing businesses in the Glendale area through mentorship and partnership connections. The program aims to support the company-building eﬀorts of promising tech professionals and scientists in Glendale, and inspire and encourage promising early-stage technology companies to relocate and contribute to the tech industry of Glendale. It will introduce entrepreneurs to the thriving tech and entrepreneurial ecosystem of the region and highlight the beneﬁts of expanding or relocating their operations to the City.
30 175 of 222

Target Participants
● Engineers and technology executives: Strong tech professionals who are developing technology in the abovementioned 4 domains or have ideas they plan to work on. ● University Researchers: Faculty and students engaged in innovative research seeking to bring their discoveries to market.
●
●
Entrepreneurs: Individuals and startups looking to bring existing technologies to market.

Investors: Venture capitalists, angel investors, and funding organizations seeking investment opportunities in promising technologies.
● International companies: Early-stage technical founders based outside of the US seeking to relocate the company to the Glendale area.

Recruitment and Selection Process
The Hero House Venture Building Program will aim to bring innovative ideas and technologies to market. Our recruitment and selection process ensures that we attract and select companies that align with our mission and have a high potential for success.

The solicitation of companies will start with an open call for applications, which will be disseminated throughout the Los Angeles tech community and internationally, utilizing the connections and partnerships we have established so far.

The sourcing of the companies will be done through the following channels:

1. Unique Access to New Entrepreneurs in Glendale via Hero House Tech Hub Utilize the strong brand recognition and established network of Hero House Tech Hub to gain unparalleled access to early-stage entrepreneurs in Glendale. Hero House serves as a nexus for innovation, where tech executives and entrepreneurs seek guidance and support before they launch tech companies. This will allow the venture program team to source promising Glendale based ventures very early and guide them to success.

2. Partnerships with Leading University Labs and Startup Programs Hero House has already established partnerships with the entrepreneurial and research ecosystems of top-tier universities including UCSD, USC, UCLA, Caltech, and UC Riverside. These 31 176 of 222

collaborations will provide access to cutting-edge research, innovative ideas, and talented individuals and will allow the program team to attract them to the program.

3. Engagement with Leading Venture Capital (VC) and Corporate Venture Capital (CVC) Funds
Hero House has strategic alliances and very warm access to funds such as Intel Capital, Longevity Vision Fund, Type One Ventures that specialize in program focus industries speciﬁed above. These funds often encounter promising ventures that are too early for their investment criteria but could beneﬁt from a structured venture building program. Those ventures will also be referred to Hero House.

4. Hackathons and Innovation Challenges
The teams and SmartGateVC and Hero House often participate in hackathons and innovation challenges to get early access to very early stage startups. These events serve as a breeding ground for new ideas and entrepreneurial talent and promising teams will be recruited for the program.

5. Participation in Industry-Speciﬁc Conferences
The program team will actively participate in and sponsor industry-speciﬁc conferences to network with thought leaders, investors, and potential partners. These conferences provide a platform to showcase the venture building program and attract high-caliber startups.

6. Leveraging Referrals from Existing Network
The team will utilize the existing network of mentors, advisors, and alumni to generate referrals for the venture building program. Personal recommendations can be a powerful tool for attracting high-quality startups.

The call for applications will remain open year-round.

The program will oﬀer a rolling acceptance for companies and ideas throughout the year.

This rolling acceptance is a dynamic tool designed to nurture the growth of innovative tech projects over a year-long period. Unlike traditional incubators with rigid admission cycles, our approach allows entrepreneurs to join the program at any time during the year, provided they qualify, oﬀering ﬂexibility and inclusivity. This approach allows the incubator to recruit the companies throughout the year and not miss out on opportunities due to a lack of an open call for applications. Tech incubator will support 10 early-stage startups and projects throughout the 32 177 of 222

year and will host an annual pitching event to showcase the progress and achievements of the companies.

1. Application Submission
Online Application: Interested companies will complete an online application form available on the Hero House website on rolling bases. The form will require detailed information about the company, including its mission, technology, business model, target market, team composition, and development stage.

Supporting Documents: Applicants will also submit supporting documents such as pitch decks, business plans, and any intellectual property documentation if available.

2. Initial Screening
Eligibility Check: The Venture Building Program team will review applications to ensure they meet the basic eligibility criteria, including a focus on 4 main industries, alignment with the Venture Building Program’s mission.

Preliminary Assessment: Applications that meet the eligibility criteria will undergo a preliminary assessment based on factors such as innovation potential, market viability, team strength, and scalability.

3. Interview and Presentation
Initial Interviews: Selected companies will be invited for an initial interview with the program selection committee. This interview will focus on understanding the company’s vision, technology, and business model in more detail.

Pitch Presentation: Companies that pass the initial interview stage will be invited to present their pitch to the selection committee. The presentation will include an overview of the technology, market opportunity, competitive landscape, go-to-market strategy, and team qualiﬁcations.

4. Due Diligence
In-Depth Analysis: The program team will conduct an in-depth analysis of the shortlisted companies. This will include a thorough review of the technology, market potential, intellectual property status, and ﬁnancial health.
33 178 of 222

Reference Checks: The team will also conduct reference checks with advisors, customers, partners, and other stakeholders to verify the information provided and assess the company’s credibility.

5. Final Selection
Selection Committee Review: The selection committee, comprised of program leadership, industry experts, and advisors, will review the ﬁndings from the due diligence process and make the ﬁnal selection of companies.

Decision Notiﬁcation: Selected companies will be notiﬁed of their acceptance into the program.

Those not selected will receive constructive feedback and may be encouraged to reapply in the future.

6. Onboarding
Orientation Session: Accepted companies will participate in an orientation session to familiarize themselves with program resources, facilities, and support services.

Planning: Each company will work with the program team to develop a customized support plan, outlining speciﬁc goals, milestones, and the resources needed to achieve them.

Mentorship Assignment: Companies will be matched with experienced mentors who will provide ongoing guidance and support throughout their journey.

Selection Criteria

1.Innovation and Technology
Novelty: The technology must be novel or oﬀer a signiﬁcant advancement over existing solutions.

Industry Relevance: It should ﬁt into one of the 4 categories/industries speciﬁed in the project description.

Technical Feasibility: The technology should be technically feasible.

2. Market Potential
Market Size: The target market should be substantial and growing.

Market Need: The technology or idea should address a signiﬁcant market need or problem. 34 179 of 222

Competitive Advantage: The startup should have a clear competitive advantage or unique selling proposition.

3. Team and Execution
Team Expertise: The team should have the necessary technical expertise.

Track Record: Evidence of working together previously and achieving past successes or as a team
Curriculum modules and program components
Over the course of a year, companies in the program receive comprehensive support, resources, and mentorship to help them achieve their goals, creating a dynamic and diverse tech ecosystem.

1. Growth hacking - Help entrepreneurs identify and implement unconventional, data-driven tactics to accelerate user acquisition, retention, and overall growth.

2. Sales - helping entrepreneurs with market expansion and sales strategy, including ﬁnding customers and establishing a product/service presence in the Los Angeles area;

3. Fundraising - connecting with investors from the LA area and wider California, including introductions to venture capital ﬁrms and angel investor networks in the area;

4. Demo Day - at the end of the program, participants pitch their business ideas/plans to an audience of investors and the California tech community.

The Hero House Tech Transfer Studio's curriculum is structured over 11 months, divided into three main phases: Preparation, Main Program sessions and events, and Post-program activities.

Here’s a detailed breakdown of the program and its components:

Services and building blocks of the incubator:
● Mentor hours: Engaging with some of the most renowned high-proﬁle tech professionals from the U.S. to Australia, with varying backgrounds.
●
●
VC Hours: Meeting with potential venture capital and angel investors.

Sessions: Participating in panel discussions and talks featuring experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts.
●
●
●
Immersion Visits: Visiting incubators, accelerators, and innovation hubs to learn about emerging technologies and trends in the region.

Perks and Beneﬁts: Utilizing $300K of free products and services such as cloud credits, CRMs, design and branding tools, etc.

Demo Day: Pitching their companies to an audience of potential investors. 35 180 of 222

181 of 222

Months 1-6: Preparation
Weeks 1-8: Application Process Set Up
Preparation of program materials and visuals for dissemination: Create and ﬁnalize all materials needed for promoting and explaining the program.

Multiple info sessions and webinars: Conduct various information sessions and webinars to inform potential applicants.

Introduce program goals, application process, and engage potential applicants: Clearly outline the objectives of the program, the application steps, and actively engage with potential applicants.

Weeks 8-16: Application Solicitation (Refer to the section above) Application portal launch and workshops: Open the application portal and hold workshops to assist applicants.

Encourage and assist startups to apply; conduct outreach and workshops Actively reach out to startups, encouraging them to apply, and provide necessary workshops for guidance.

Weeks 16-24: Selection of Participants (Refer to the section above) Interviews and ﬁnal selection: Conduct interviews and select the most promising startups based on potential and viability.

Screen and select startups based on potential and viability: Evaluate startups and choose participants.

Give a notice to accepted companies: Inform the selected startups about their acceptance into the program.

Months 7-10: Tech Transfer Studio Sessions and Events
Orientation (Weeks 1-2)
Week 1: Program Introduction and Assessment
● Introduction to Program Structure, Mentors, and Resources: Startups will be introduced to the overall structure of the program, including key milestones, expected 37 182 of 222

outcomes, and the resources available to them. This includes meeting the mentors who will guide them throughout the program.
● Expectations Interviews and 1-1 Assessment Meetings: Each team will participate in one-on-one interviews to set personalized goals, assess their current status, and identify speciﬁc needs. This helps tailor the program to maximize their growth potential.

Week 2: Initial Networking
● Networking Among Participants: Organized networking activities will help participants get to know each other, share their experiences, and start building a supportive community. This is crucial for fostering collaboration and peer learning throughout the program.

Sales Development (Weeks 3-6)
Week 3: "Sales Strategy Kickoﬀ"
● Introduction to Fundamental Sales Strategies: This session will cover the basics of sales strategies, including how to identify and segment potential customers, develop value propositions, and create eﬀective sales plans. Participants will learn the foundational principles necessary for building a successful sales strategy.

Week 4: "Mastering Sales Conversations"
● Role-Playing Sales Scenarios: Participants will engage in role-playing exercises to practice sales conversations in a controlled environment. This includes handling objections, closing deals, and building rapport with customers. ● Expert Talk on Negotiation: An expert in sales and negotiation will provide insights and techniques for eﬀective negotiation, helping participants to improve their skills in securing better deals and fostering long-term customer relationships.

Week 5: "Sales Practice and Feedback"
● Conducting Live Sales Calls: Startups will have the opportunity to conduct real sales calls with potential clients. This hands-on experience is designed to apply the strategies and techniques learned in previous sessions.
● Feedback Sessions: After the sales calls, participants will receive constructive feedback from mentors and peers, focusing on areas of improvement and reinforcing eﬀective practices.

Week 6: "Sales Strategy Review"
38 183 of 222

● Panel Review of Sales Approaches: A panel of sales experts will review each startup's sales strategy, providing detailed feedback and suggestions for reﬁnement. This helps ensure that the strategies are robust, eﬀective, and tailored to their target markets.

Growth Hacking (Weeks 7-10)
Week 7: "Introduction to Growth Hacking"
● Workshop on Growth Hacking Essentials: This session will introduce participants to the concepts and tools of growth hacking, emphasizing low-cost and innovative methods to achieve rapid growth. Topics include product-market ﬁt, customer acquisition channels, and viral loops.

Week 8: "Implementing Growth Techniques"
● Launching and Monitoring Growth Campaigns: Participants will implement their ﬁrst growth hacking campaigns, applying the techniques learned in the previous week. This hands-on session focuses on executing strategies and tracking their eﬀectiveness in real-time.

Week 9: "Optimizing Growth Outcomes"
● Advanced A/B Testing and Feedback Collection Techniques: This session will delve into advanced methods for optimizing growth outcomes, including A/B testing diﬀerent versions of campaigns and collecting detailed feedback from users. Participants will learn how to use data to reﬁne their strategies and improve performance.

Week 10: "Scaling Successful Growth Hacks"
● Discussing Scaling Tactics: Participants will discuss strategies for scaling successful growth hacks to larger audiences and markets. This includes reviewing peer strategies, sharing best practices, and developing plans for sustainable growth.

Fundraising (Weeks 11-15)
Week 11: "Fundraising Essentials"
● Creating Pitch Decks and Understanding the Fundraising Landscape: This workshop will cover the key elements of a compelling pitch deck and provide an overview of the fundraising landscape. Participants will learn how to eﬀectively communicate their value proposition to investors.

Week 12: "Understanding the Legalities"
39 184 of 222

● Legal Aspects of Fundraising: Focus on the legal considerations involved in fundraising, including valuation, term sheets, and the rights and obligations of diﬀerent types of investors. This session aims to prepare startups for the legal complexities of securing funding.

Weeks 13-14: "Pitch Practice"
● Practice Pitching Sessions: Participants will engage in practice pitching sessions, presenting their pitch decks to mentors and industry experts. These sessions provide critical feedback and help reﬁne their pitches for actual investor meetings. ● Feedback from Experts and Investors: Direct feedback from experienced investors and experts will help participants improve their pitches and address potential weaknesses.

Week 15: "Investor Engagements"
● Meeting with Potential Investors: Startups will have the opportunity to meet with potential investors, presenting their reﬁned pitches and discussing their business plans.

This session aims to connect participants with funding opportunities and build relationships with investors.

Weekly Activities
Weekly 1 to 1 Meetings with In-House Mentors: Throughout months 7-10, participants will have regular one-on-one meetings with their assigned mentors. These sessions provide ongoing guidance, support, and accountability, helping startups stay on track with their goals.

Open Hours with External Industry Experts and Immersion Visits: Additional opportunities for participants to engage with external industry experts through open hours and visits. These sessions provide valuable insights, networking opportunities, and exposure to diﬀerent aspects of the startup ecosystem.

Month 11: Post-Program Activities
Week 1: Feedback and Planning
Conduct exit interviews and gather feedback for program improvement: Collect feedback to reﬁne and enhance the program for future iterations.

Week 2: Alumni Integration and Networking Event
Alumni integration and networking event: Facilitate ongoing support and networking opportunities for program graduates.
40 185 of 222

Quantiﬁable metrics
To ensure the eﬀectiveness and continuous improvement of the Hero House Venture Building program a comprehensive set of quantiﬁable metrics will be tracked. The metrics are designed to measure the success of the program from the application stage through the growth and post-completion phases of the startups involved.

Applicant Pool Metrics:
●
●
Number of Applications: Total applications received each cycle.

Diversity of Applicants: Breakdown by industry, founder demographics (e.g., gender, ethnicity), and geographic location.
● Expected Target Metrics: Aim to receive 50 applicants per year Participation Metrics:
●
●
●
Number of Startups Admitted and Participating: Total number of startups accepted into each program cycle.

Diversity of Participants: Statistics on the diversity of participating startups, including industry sectors, founder background, and company stage.

Expected Target Metrics: 10 startups per year will join the program.

Post-Program Funding Metrics
●
●
Percentage Raising Additional Funding: Proportion of graduates securing further investment within two years post-completion.

Target Funding Amounts Within 2 Years: Aim for a combined total of over $1 million raised by companies that participated in the program within a single year.

Growth Metrics in Customer Base and Revenue | Customer attraction:
●
●
●
Average Number of Customers: Number of customers attracted by participating startups within two years post-program.

Revenue Generation: Average revenue generated by participants within two years post-program.

Target Growth Objectives Within 5 Years:
○ Revenue: Aim to achieve $10 million in total revenue generated by participants that went through the program in a single year.

Survival Rate Metrics:
41 186 of 222

●
●
Proportion Active: Percentage of startups still in operation two years after completing the program.

Target Survival Rate: Aim for at least 80% of companies to survive 2 years following the program.

The following performance metrics will evaluate how eﬀectively the Hero House Accelerator contributes to the improvement of the tech sector as per the Glendale Tech Strategy and supports the broader economic development of the region. Key metrics include:
●
●
●
Growth in Tech Sector Employment: Monitoring the increase in jobs within the tech sector.

Number of Tech-Based Businesses: Tracking the establishment and growth of tech-focused companies.

Square Footage for Tech-Based Businesses: Assessing the area allocated or converted for tech-related activities.
●
●
Media Placements: Counting the number of media mentions per quarter.

Startup Relocation or Expansion: Monitoring the relocation or market expansion of high-growth startups to Glendale or the Tri-city region. ●
●
Number of Mentors: Measuring the availability of mentors for local entrepreneurs, both on-site and remote.

Program Connectivity: Assessing the connections between the program and the broader Glendale innovation ecosystem through perception surveys.

Measurement Methods
These metrics will be assessed through:
● Annual Surveys: Distributed to Hero House Glendale participants and the wider tech community to gauge ecosystem strength.
●
●
In-Depth Interviews: Conducted with direct stakeholders of Hero House Glendale.

Data Analysis: Utilizing both internal and external data sources for comprehensive analysis.
42 187 of 222

Marketing and Branding Plan to Advance Glendale as a Leading Tech Hub Overview:

The Hero House venture building program, situated in Glendale, is poised to advance the city as a recognized center of technological innovation and entrepreneurship. Through strategic marketing and branding eﬀorts, the program will leverage the resources to highlight Glendale as an emerging tech hub within the greater Los Angeles area and beyond.

Events Marketing:
●
●
Monthly Friday Evening Networking: Organize and host networking events that will be spread around the Glendale community and will kick oﬀ in the late afternoon and extend into the evening, structured to maximize interaction among attendees while also incorporating structured elements that add value to the experience.

Demo Days: Organize open to the public high-proﬁle events attended by notable ﬁgures from the LA and Silicon Valley tech communities and international guests, showcasing the innovations developed at Hero House.

Educational and Professional Development Open to Public:
● Ad hoc Hackathons and Tech Conferences: Collaborate with key partners and local tech ecosystem players to host impactful tech events that foster innovation and skills development.
● Expert-Led Sessions: Regular sessions and mentorship opportunities featuring high-proﬁle professionals from the LA area, Silicon Valley, and international tech scenes.

Local Businesses and Co-working and Networking Hub:
●
●
Partnerships with Local Companies: Partner with established local enterprises to host open oﬃce hours to share expertise with budding entrepreneurs .

Uniﬁed Ecosystem Space: Connect ecosystem players under one roof in a co-working space designed to foster collaboration, mentoring, and fundraising.

Media and Public Relations:
● Tech Conferences and Media Engagement: Actively work with media outlets to feature Glendale as a thriving tech hub and host signiﬁcant tech conferences, elevating the city’s proﬁle within the tech community.
43 188 of 222

●
●
Press Releases: Announce key milestones, new cohorts, and success stories through media outlets.

Community Involvement: Participate in community and tech fairs to increase local visibility.

Digital Marketing
●
●
●
●
Website and SEO: Develop an SEO-optimized web page that serves as a central hub for information, applications, and news.

Content Marketing: Regular blog posts, and success stories that demonstrate thought leadership and program beneﬁts.

Social Media: Active presence on platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook to engage with diﬀerent audience segments through targeted content.

Email Marketing: Drip campaigns to nurture leads and keep potential applicants informed about deadlines and program updates.

Partnerships
●
●
●
Corporate Sponsorships: Engage with large corporations for funding, mentorship resources, and technology access.

Academic Partnerships: Collaborate with universities and colleges to tap into research, talent, and tech transfer opportunities.

Government and NGOs: Leverage grants and support programs focused on innovation and economic development.

Advertising
●
●
Online Advertising: Utilize Google Ads and social media ads to target speciﬁc demographics, focusing on geographic and interest-based segments.

Print and Outdoor: Strategic placements in tech hubs, university campuses, and startup ecosystems to increase program visibility.

2. Support activities in Glendale Tech Week Implementation Glendale Tech Week was launched by the City of Glendale back in 2016 with the mission to foster connectivity among tech individuals, resources, and opportunities in the city. Hero House has supported the organization and the implementation of the Glendale Tech Week from 2021 to 2023.
44 189 of 222

The proposed support activities will be twofold:
●
●
Facilitate and host pop-up events at Hero House Glendale in collaboration with tech players in the City of Glendale and the larger LA area.

Facilitate and host a Demo Day for Glendale Tech Week with the participation of 7-10 companies and a panel of VC judges.

The project implementation will position the City of Glendale as a tech, innovation, and venture creation hub in the region. It will greatly enhance the City’s brand image as a tech destination. The various social media campaigns and promotional activities will greatly increase the City's visibility in the SoCal area.

Objectives
The proposed event will facilitate an open exchange of ideas and insights to drive progress in the dynamic and rapidly-evolving ﬁeld of technology and startups in Glendale. The event aims to:
● Provide opportunities for promising Glendale based or aﬃliated early-stage startups to present their companies and make strategic connections, enhancing their growth prospects.
●
●
●
●
Hold discussions featuring venture capitalists and angel investors, who will share their experiences and lessons learned, and inspire entrepreneurs and investors alike.

Introduce experienced engineers and researchers to the world of entrepreneurship and help them start their ventures, promoting innovation and economic development.

Showcase innovative research conducted by regional research teams that has commercialization potential through science-to-business poster sessions.

Foster a dialogue among key stakeholders to encourage discussions on technology transfer and commercialization, thereby creating opportunities for collaboration and innovation.

The participants and featured speakers will represent a wide-range of sectors and come from diverse backgrounds, ensuring an inclusive and enriching experience for attendees. The event will bring together:

1. Leading scientists and researchers from top regional and national universities, including Harvard, Stanford, Caltech, UCSD, USC, UCLA and others; 45 190 of 222

2. Seasoned entrepreneurs and executives from large tech corporations, including Google, Meta, Walmart, Amazon, Microsoft, Amgen, Johnson and Johnson, Eppendorf and others;

3. Industry-relevant venture capital and angel investors among them top-tier funds such as Index Ventures, Upfront Ventures, Y Combinator, 500 Startups, and more;

4. Early-stage startup founders, technology professionals, and;

5. Representatives from relevant local organizations such as BioscienceLA, Biocom California, Biotech Connection LA, AI LA, Innovate Passadena, BuiltinLA, Dot.LA, Alliance for SoCal Innovation, California Life Sciences (CLS), and more.

Glendale Tech Week 2025-2027
The Glendale Tech Week pop-up events and Demo Day will be planned and organized in collaboration with the City of Glendale ED.. The 4-day events will include individual presentations by keynote speakers, themed panel discussions, and poster sessions where tech companies and university representatives will come together to discuss the latest technological advancements and innovations.

The agenda for the pop-up events will be developed as a result of the discussions and brainstorming sessions with Glendale’s tech ecosystem representatives. They will focus on 2 or 3 of these areas:
46 191 of 222

Recommended Timeline for Glendale Tech Week
After the implementation of the events, a follow-up process will kick oﬀ with a focus on nurturing connections between companies, investors, partners, speakers and attendees. The process will involve:
●
●
●
feedback collection from participants, partners, guests and speakers, lessons learned discussions,
meetings with representatives of deep tech, scientiﬁc and entrepreneurial environments to discuss the critical challenges that they encounter and potential solutions, development of the focus of the Glendale Tech Week 2025, taking into account the changing environment while staying true to its core value of helping strengthen Glendale’s tech and entrepreneurial environment.
●
Scope of Activities
●
●
●
5+ pop-up events at Hero House,
7-10 startup pitches,
30+ investor introductions to pitching startups.
47 192 of 222

3. Quarterly Tech on Tap meetups hosted by Hero House
One of the main objectives of organizing events and workshops on tech entrepreneurship is to bring together the tech community of the City of Glendale and the greater LA area to facilitate discussions between engineers, business professionals, scientists, researchers, and investors that will lead to new business creation and other collaborations.

Event Overview
The quarterly tech meetups will be held at various locations within the city. The events will focus on the essentials of launching, managing, and scaling technology startups. The presentations and discussions will cover a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:
●
●
●
●
●
Funding and Investment Trends: The VC perspective;
AI Startups: From Idea to Execution;
Technology Transfer and Research to Commercialization in the AI Space; Startups and Corporate Partnerships;
Leadership and Team Management.

Marketing and Promotion
To ensure the success of these meetups, SmartGateVC will employ a comprehensive marketing and promotion strategy. This will include leveraging our collective networks in LA and wider SoCal, social media campaigns, email newsletters, and partnerships with relevant industry publications. We are committed to driving attendance and creating a buzz around these events.

Objectives
Publicity: The quarterly meetups will be hosted in collaboration with various partners in SoCal and will generate publicity for Hero House Glendale and the City of Glendale as a tech hub. The meetups will help increase the visibility of startups in the tech community, potentially leading to media coverage and increased public interest.

Community Building: TechVenture Talks will involve the local tech companies and contribute to building a supportive community for startups, fostering a sense of belonging and shared purpose among entrepreneurs and the bigger Glendale Tech Community. 48 193 of 222

Ecosystem Growth: By hosting regular tech meetups, Hero House and the City of Glendale can contribute to the growth and development of the local or regional tech ecosystem. This can attract more startups, investors, and resources to the area.

Marketing and Branding: Hero House Glendale and The City of Glendale can promote their own brand by hosting these meetups. They can position themselves as thought leaders and present Glendale as the go-to destination for startups. 49 194 of 222

Timeline of Implementation for Proposed Initiatives
50 195 of 222

Financial Capacity
Overview
SmartGateVC is presenting a three-year budget for project implementation, amounting to approximately $2.6 million, for review by the selection committee. SmartGateVC plans to contribute around $1,600,000 to the operations through cash and in-kind contributions. The detailed line-item budget is provided below.

Proof of Funds and Financial Stability
SmartGateVC is a venture capital ﬁrm with a solid ﬁnancial foundation and a proven track record of prudent ﬁnancial management. Our ﬁrm’s ﬁnancial stability is evidenced by the following:
● Strong Portfolio: Our investment portfolio includes successful projects with valuation increases of 10-28x following our investment across various sectors, minimizing risk and enhancing ﬁnancial security.
● Consistent Revenue Streams: Our ﬁrm generates a consistent income stream through a 2% annual management fee on committed capital at the funds under management, including special purpose vehicles, along with additional carried interest upon the occurrence of portfolio liquidation events providing a reliable income stream that underpins our ﬁnancial strength.

Readiness to Proceed and Ability to Meet Contract Terms Our readiness to proceed is underscored by our comprehensive and thought out proposal and dedicated resources. Key aspects of our preparedness include:
●
●
Previous Experience and Compliance: We are fully prepared to comply with all regulatory and City requirements, drawing on our previous experience working with the City of Glendale. Having successfully navigated the contracting process before, we can ensure a smooth and compliant engagement.

Experienced Team: Our team comprises seasoned professionals with extensive experience in managing large-scale projects. Their expertise ensures that all project phases will be handled with proﬁciency and precision.
51 196 of 222

●
●
Resource Allocation: We have already allocated the necessary ﬁnancial, human, and technological resources to this project. This allocation guarantees that we can commence and sustain project activities without delay.

Project Plan: A detailed project plan, including timelines, milestones, and contingency strategies, has been developed. This plan ensures that we can execute the project eﬃciently and eﬀectively, meeting all speciﬁed deadlines.

Conﬁdentiality and Competitive Considerations
Given the potential for this proposal to become public and the competitive nature of the venture capital industry, proof of leverage funding is not included in this document. However, SmartGateVC is willing to present proof of funding during private interviews for the selection committee's review.
52 197 of 222

Detailed Line - Item Budget
53 198 of 222

Key Budget Considerations

1. Participation Fee & Equity Requirement:
○ For the ﬁrst three years, the startup program will not charge any participation fees. Additionally, the program does not intend to take equity. However, if this decision changes, the City of Glendale team will be notiﬁed via an oﬃcial email.

This strategy is intended to build a track record of success and encourage companies to join the program without facing ﬁnancial barriers.

2. Boosting Glendale's Tech and Startup Scene:
○ Oﬀering a free program will signiﬁcantly enhance Glendale's tech and startup ecosystem, attracting a larger number of companies to establish operations in the city.

3. Focus on Events and Marketing:
○
○
A substantial portion of the budget is allocated to events and marketing expenses.

This allocation aims to achieve signiﬁcant visibility for the project's successes within the initial three years. Eﬀective utilization of these funds will enable the project team to establish partnerships and collaborations with potential sponsors, ensuring the continuation of operations.

Positioning Glendale as a tech transfer and entrepreneurship hub for emerging tech startups will further enhance the city's reputation and attract more businesses.

Funding Allocation and Impact
● Full Funding Scenario:

If the City of Glendale decides to award the full $1 million to SmartGateVC LLC, all○ three project components outlined in the proposal section “WHAT| Proposed Plan and and Approach” will be implemented. This full allocation will maximize the project's return on investment, leveraging the compounding impact of each dollar spent.
● Partial Funding Scenario:

If the decision is made to split the budget between two operators, and○ SmartGateVC LLC is awarded $500,000, only the 1st component of the proposal will be implemented outlined in the proposal section “WHAT| Proposed Plan and and Approach” and an alternative budget will be utilized, as presented in Annex 3.
54 199 of 222

SmartGateVC strongly believes that allocating the full $1M to the project components listed in this proposal will yield signiﬁcantly higher returns on investment. This approach leverages our successful collaboration with the City of Glendale to achieve project sustainability. Overhead and administrative costs of the program are ﬁxed, so additional funds allocated beyond these costs will have a compounding impact. Without duplicating expenses, this will enable us to achieve a larger scale.

For further details, please refer to the line-item budget above and the alternative budget scenario in Annex 3.
55 200 of 222

Annex 1 | Residents to Hero House
Glendale Physical Location
The table below presents the companies that have either fully or partially relocated to Hero House with SmartGateVC’s support:

Fully Relocated to Glendale
Knoxlabs is the biggest AR/VR software and
hardware marketplace. It carries highly curated
virtual reality and motion capture hardware
and software for consumers and businesses.

Robin the Robot, by Expper Technologies Inc.
is a research-based child-friendly emotional
support robot. The company has raised $2M+
funding from investors and is deployed in 15+
medical facilities in the US.

Partially Relocated Companies
eLabNext, part of Eppendorf group, is the leading Dowork Technologies, Inc. oﬀers AI-driven solutions Digital Lab Platform (DLP) in the industry, for automating contact center operations. Their AI delivering Lab Digitization and Automation Voice Agent handles up to 80% of customer solutions. interactions both online and over the phone, enhancing service quality and eﬃciency while
maintaining customer satisfaction.
56 201 of 222

Pinsight develops open-source large language Manot helps build better LLMs by leveraging models (LLMs) and vision language models (VLMs) feedback to align products with end-user designed for data analytics and document expectations.
understanding.

CloudChipr (YC W2023) is a comprehensive cloud
CurbWaste revolutionizes the waste management management platform designed to optimize cloud ecosystem through its cloud-based and costs, enhance security, and improve operational data-driven cleantech platform. eﬃciency for businesses Buildern is the complete residential construction
project management software with budgeting,
communication, project management and
reporting tools that mesh seamlessly with your
current workﬂows and processes.
57 202 of 222

Annex 2 | Hero House Angels Portfolio
Modicus Prime is doing quality control and Mythrill is a serialized reading app for Science contamination detection in pharma R&D and Fiction and Fantasy that specializes in manufacturing with a proprietary computer vision worldbuilding and interactive reading software. experience.

Manot helps build better LLMs by leveraging
feedback to align products with end-user
expectations.

Britive is a cloud-native security solution built for
the most demanding cloud-forward enterprises.

TheraB Medical is a medical device company that
promotes holistic jaundice treatment by keeping
babies in the arms of their mother during treatment.
f
58 203 of 222

Annex 3 | Alternative Budget
59 204 of 222

Annex 4 | Resumes for Key Personnel
ASHOT ARZUMANYAN, PhD
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashotarzumanyan/
[email protected] | +1 650 433 9038

SUMMARY
Ashot Arzumanyan is co-founder and partner at SmartGateVC – pre-seed/seed VC ﬁrm investing in Artiﬁcial Intelligence (AI) infrastructure, AI-enabled SaaS, IoT, and Biotech. Ashot has extensive experience in mentorship, investment advisory and deal structuring for high-tech companies, as well as consulting on ﬁnance, strategy, performance management, business valuation and sectorial research in the US, Eastern Europe and Middle East.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS
●
●
●
●
VC & PE investment management (due diligence, deal structuring, portfolio monitoring) VC/angel investment facilitation (fundraising, co-ﬁnance attraction, mentorship) Strategic advisory for hi-tech companies
Macroeconomic research and strategy review
WORK

EXPERIENCE
Co-Founder & PartnerApr 2017 –
present SmartGateVC, California / Armenia
SmartGateVC is a Los Angeles and Armenia based venture capital ﬁrm that focuses on early-stage investments in artiﬁcial intelligence, AI infrastructure, AI-enabled SaaS, IoT, and biotech. Since its founding in 2017 by Ashot Arzumanyan and his partners, SmartGateVC has made 31 pre-seed investments with portfolio companies achieving markups of 10-28x and a total portfolio value of approximately $1 billion. Arzumanyan has played an instrumental role in leading investments in pioneering AI companies such as SuperAnnotate, the fastest annotation platform for training AI, and Deep Origin, which is revolutionizing drug discovery. Under his leadership, SmartGateVC has established itself as a premier ﬁrm supporting initiatives like the Hero House Technology Hubs in Glendale and Armenia, and Armenia Startup Academy.
60 205 of 222

Co-Founder, Executive DirectorJune 2017 –
present CATALYST Hi-Tech and Entrepreneurship Development Foundation, Armenia
Catalyst Foundation is the implementing arm of SmartGateVC aimed at running the ecosystem development activities in Armenia. The Foundation has a traction of partnership with EU, UNDP, European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE), various government institutions and other partners.

Investment AdviserMar 2016 – Jun
2017 Gulf Equity Partners, UAE
Advising on deal origination, portfolio and partner network management of the UAE based family oﬃce. Activities included ﬁnancial management of agricultural business in the UAE (Eco Fresh LLC), due diligence of 5 investment deals in the sector of food production and distribution, transaction and deal structuring support for an investment in greenﬁeld agricultural project.

Associate & Compliance OﬃcerNov 2013 – Sep
2016 Granatus Ventures, Armenia
Analysis and due diligence of investment deals, extensive participation in deal structuring and negotiations, coordination of the Fund’s activities with external counsels and stakeholders. Involved in start-up coaching and mentorship.

Business Consultant/ManagerMar 2010 – Sep
2016 EV Consulting, Armenia
Extensive experience in investment advisory (capital attraction, deal structuring, IP development and investment teaser preparation, business valuation), strategy execution (the Balanced Scorecard, KPI systems, strategy-aligned compensation systems), ﬁnancial advisory (interim CFO function, ﬁnance management), commercial due diligence (buy-side advisory and review of market opportunities and ﬁnancials) for high-tech, food processing, construction materials and pharmaceutical companies in Armenia, UAE and Russia. Public policy advisory (sectoral strategies and policy recommendations) for the Government of Armenia, the World Bank, EBRD, ADB, EABR and other institutions.
61 206 of 222

Chief Financial OﬃcerJan 2013 – Nov
2013 Ashtarak Kat, Armenia
Supervision of accounting, ﬁnance and logistics (procurement and export) departments. Negotiation of terms and conditions for working capital ﬁnancing, responsible for negotiation with key suppliers.

Full mandate of accounts payable management and negotiation of terms (more than 150 suppliers).

Supervision of timely collection of accounts receivable (3000+ customers), segmentation of customer groups and development of revenue collection procedures for each target group.

Reported to the Board on the ﬁnancial issues and supply provisions.

Head of the Financial DepartmentFeb – Dec 2012
Ashtarak Kat, Armenia
Assistance in design and monitoring of the company’s KPIs. Cash ﬂow management on daily and long-run basis. Setup of eﬀective cost control systems to ensure timely response to signiﬁcant discrepancies in the business processes. Revision of daily and monthly management reporting systems. Overseeing the preparation of monthly ﬁnancial statements and cash ﬂow projections for use by CEO and the Board. Overseeing Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable. Negotiating credit terms with key suppliers. Managing banking activities of the company. Assisting in the design, implementation, and timely calculations of wage incentives, commissions, and salaries for the staﬀ.

Research AssociateAug 2010 –
April 2012 Economy and Values Research Center, Armenia
Project participation:

National Competitiveness Report of Armenia 2011-2012
● Methodology development and administration of management practices survey (in accordance with World Management Survey guidelines).

National Competitiveness Report of Armenia 2010
● Detailed analysis of Armenia’s productivity including the identiﬁcation of its key drivers.

Executive Director, Co-FounderNov 2006 – Mar
2012 Psalm Tours, Armenia
62 207 of 222

Developed strategic and operational plan, established partnerships with foreign companies, managed staﬀ of four permanent employees and contractors, supervised company operations, was part of the processes aimed at the development of religious tourism in Armenia.

Director, FounderMar 2006 – Feb
2007 New Age Travel, Armenia
Established partnerships with foreign companies, managed company operations.

TEACHING /

COACHING

EXPERIENCE
2018 – 2019 Instructor – Venture Capital Management (BUS 377) American University of Armenia, Armenia
Adjunct lecturer on the topics of venture investing, venture deals, due diligence, VC fund structure and functioning, startup valuation, business development, pitching.

H1 2017 Mentor (EiR)
Entrepreneurship and Product Innovation Center (EPIC) of the American University of Armenia, Armenia
Entrepreneur in residence providing the acceleration program participants with guidance, access to relevant networks and people.

H1 2015 / H1
2016
Teaching assistant – Entrepreneurship (CIS355)
American University of Armenia, Armenia
Visiting lecturer on the topics of disciplined entrepreneurship, investment attraction, startup valuation, and pitching.
2010 Teaching assistant – Microeconomics
Yerevan State University, Entrepreneurship

EDUCATION
June 2017 CFA Level II Candidate
63 208 of 222

Dec 2010 – Dec
2011
Diploma in Management Accounting (December, 2012)
CIMA – the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, United Kingdom Jul 2007 – Jun
2010
Ph.D. in Economics
Department of Economics Theory, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
Sep 2005 – Jul
2007
MS, Management
Department of Management, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia Sep 2001 – Jul
2005
BS, Economics (Diploma with Honor)
Department of Economics, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia 64 209 of 222

AREG ALIMIAN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/arega/
[email protected] | +1 818 268 2199

SUMMARY
Areg Alimian is a Partner at SmartGateVC and a product executive who has delivered over $1 billion of commercial enterprise products used by more than 100,000 enterprises and millions of users. He has deep-rooted expertise in cybersecurity, B2B SaaS, ﬁnancial services, cloud content management, and network analytics. Areg has intimate experience in driving multiple growth products from ideation through market launch, achieving $50 million+ ARR business growth. He is a successful startup founder with extensive experience in venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic partnerships, adept at navigating both small and large environments.

Areg has engaged with and presented to 100s of IT executives, including CxOs, board of directors, analysts, investors, and C-suite executives.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS
●
●
Product management and development (from ideation to market launch) Expertise in cybersecurity, B2B SaaS, ﬁnancial services, cloud content management, and network analytics
●
●
Startup founding and growth (VC, M&A, strategic partnerships Extensive experience with product requirements, product launch, and strategic direction WORK

EXPERIENCE
Feb 2024 –
present
Partner
SmartGateVC, CA
●
●
SmartGateVC is a Los Angeles and Armenia based venture capital ﬁrm that focuses on early-stage investments in artiﬁcial intelligence, AI infrastructure, AI-enabled SaaS, IoT, and biotech.

SmartGateVC has made 31 pre-seed investments with portfolio companies achieving markups of 10-28x and a total portfolio value of approximately $1 billion.
65 210 of 222

Aug 2023 –
present
Advisor
Berkeley SkyDeck, CA
●
●
●
Advising Manot.ai, AVM, RockRabbit, BitScout, Mon5 & others on B2B SaaS, cybersecurity, GenAI, AI security & governance.

Providing counsel on product-market ﬁt, go-to-market tactics, early customer engagement, and revenue growth.

Interviewed over 150 companies, advised on selection of SkyDeck cohort startups throughout the entire deal ﬂow.

Feb 2022 – Jul
2023
Sr. Director of Product Management – Security Products
Box, CA
● Led product teams, R&D initiatives, and launches in IAM, endpoint security, Gen AI driven content classiﬁcation (Box AI), forensic watermarking, data leakage prevention, key management, AI-based threat & suspicious user activity detection, malware deep scan, ML-based ransomware detection and content recovery, resulting in 20% YoY ARR growth.
●
●
●
●
Led PDLC-product vision & requirements, UX/SW design, GTM, strategic partnerships, and organic/inorganic growth.

Led M&A activities for cybersecurity acquisitions, overseeing due diligence, and aligning with strategic business goals.

Enabled $35M+ of new pipeline and helped win multiple $1M+ deals through close collaboration with GTM teams.

Presented Box Content Cloud strategy and product roadmap to over 150 CIOs and CISOs of major corporations via executive customer brieﬁngs, advisory board sessions, and product roadshows.
● Developed company-wide security hardening initiatives, resulting in major improvements in zero trust for admins (Admin 2.0), platform and API security, identity and access management. Admin 2.0 was announced on Box’s earnings call.
●
●
Positioned Box as the world's most secure cloud content provider, endorsed by over 30 customer CISOs I met with.

Established strategic alliances with major cybersecurity technology partners to design defense-in-depth solutions to protect joint customers’ sensitive data through distributed threat intelligence and proactive response measures.
66 211 of 222

●
●
Attracted, motivated, and grew global product and engineering teams, driving Box's security portfolio to deliver high-impact, market-ﬁt solutions for 115K enterprises worldwide.

Originated the content protection framework for structuring and conveying the value of security and compliance throughout the Content Cloud, and worked with marketing and sales to train Boxers worldwide on delivery methods.
●
●
Partnered with CISO, SIRT, and product leaders to analyze major attack vectors and implemented detailed plans to mitigate.

Served as a trusted advisor to key leaders across vital departments including product and engineering, global security, and GTM teams, facilitating alignment on platform architecture, business processes, and strategic planning to sustain growth.
● Collaborated with product leaders to enhance reliability, stability, and release predictability of the entire security product portfolio through behavioral driven development practices, adopted across all product lines.

Sept 2010 –
Mar 2022
Senior Director - Product Management
Keysight Technologies, CA
●
●
●
●
●
Spearheaded the company’s global enterprise growth with a focus on the ﬁnancial vertical, deﬁning business and product strategies to accelerate market expansion, sales enablement, and solution development, while managing P&L.

Actively led substantial mergers and acquisitions, including BreakingPoint Systems for $171M, which catapulted the company to a world-leading provider of network applications and security test solutions.

Oversaw 19 direct reports while growing the Applications and Security business 200% in under four years, making it the most successful high-growth business unit at the company with ~$144M annual revenues.

Expanded addressable market by $200M+ and projected ARR subscription software revenues by $20M+/year by securing OEM agreements with channel and technology partners, and closing key F500 customer deals driving digital transformation.

Successfully launched cloud visibility (CloudLens) and breach and attack simulation (ThreatSim) B2B SaaS products, leading new customer engagements across major ﬁnance, healthcare, retail, and federal verticals.
67 212 of 222

● Headed the strategy, development, and launch of the world’s leading trade analytics product portfolio, frequently meeting and presenting to global exchanges, hedge funds, and investment banks to drive 22% YoY revenue growth in FinServ.
●
●
Delivered keynote speeches at large-scale industry forums and conferences, including product keynote addresses at multiple annual sales and partner summits.

Oversaw the global solutions marketing team which launched successful GTM campaigns, ultimately increasing awareness and demand generation for network test, security, and cloud visibility solutions.
● Interfaced with technology partners during product and solution integrations aimed at accelerating market penetration and fulﬁlling customer needs in cloud visibility, cybersecurity, and ﬁnancial network/application performance analytics.

Dec 2008 –
Dec 2009
Director, Product Management
Radialpoint, CA
● Business owner of in-network and web security products; responsible for all key aspects of the business inclusive of P&L, product deﬁnition, go-to-market strategy, strategic direction, growth, and ﬁnancial success of the business.
●
●
Introduced several new consumer security services via a strategic partnership with Websense, yielding COGS savings of over $1.5M over 24 months.

Created the vision, strategy, and execution plan for Radialpoint’s overall Internet Security Suite for 2010.

Jul 2005 – Nov
2008
Senior Technologist/Product Management, CA

IXIA, CA
● Responsible for development and execution of the company’s worldwide product solutions, technology strategy, and partnerships in security and Green IT domains.
●
●
Deﬁned all IxVPN and IxGreen product roadmaps, release cycles, and overall product lifecycle.

Established executive-level alliances with Juniper, Cisco, Verizon, and US EPA.
68 213 of 222

Sep 2002 –
Nov 2003
Technologist/Co-founder
Azimuth Systems, CA
● Responsible for raising ﬁrst round venture capital funding, recruiting seasoned executive and engineering teams, leading strategic partnerships, and company representation at industry consortiums.
● Led product innovation and development of the company's ﬁrst W-series WiFi test platform.
2001 – 2003 Sr. Software Engineer
3Com, CA
● Responsible for deﬁning the vision and architecture for next generation embedded wireless and security products.

Led a team of 4 engineers to design and implement Wireless LAN next generation object-oriented, platform independent Enterprise Access Point security software.
●
Feb 1998 – Jan
2001
Sr. Software Enginee
Datum, Inc, CA
●
●
Responsible for the deﬁnition, design, and development of Trusted Time security solutions and highly scalable and automated test systems.

Designed and implemented SSL certiﬁcate server to provision all Trusted Time Products (TTP).

EDUCATION
● ITT Technical Institute
BS, Electronics Engineering
(1994 – 1997)
● State Engineering University of Armenia
Information Systems
(1994 – 1995)
69 214 of 222

PUBLICATIONS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

1. Patent invention “Deﬁning a security perimeter using knowledge of user behavior within a content management system”

2. Patent invention “Delivering augmented threat assessment values to a security threat management facility” – June 2023

3. How Enterprises Are Migrating to AWS with Conﬁdence with Cloud-Native Visibility – AWS Partner Blog

4. Cloud wars deﬁne next revolution in cloud computing – panelist at NetEvents Conference 2016

5. Understanding Latency and Its Impact to Trading Proﬁtability – Global STAC Live, 2020

6. How to eﬀectively test network performance and resilience – published on continuitycentral.com

7. Best Practices to Optimize and Secure Your Trading Infrastructure – ﬁnancial customer webinar

8. Lost your edge? Getting real visibility for monitoring virtual environments – Information Age publication

9. Choosing the Right Strategy for Secure, Reliable Wireless Healthcare – Asia Paciﬁc Security Magazine

10. IEEE 802.11r-2008: Amendment 2: Fast Basic Service Set (BSS) Transition – IEEE Standards

11. Network and Telecom Equipment - Energy and Performance Assessment – ECR Initiative

12. Analysis of Roaming Techniques – IEEE 802 Plenary Conference

13. Roaming Intervals Measurement – IEEE 802 Conference

14. Thinking About the Site Report – IEEE 802 Conference

15. IEEE 802.11i-2004: Medium Access Control (MAC) Security Enhancements – IEEE Standards

16. IEEE 802.11h-2003: Spectrum and Transmit Power Mgmt Extensions in 5GHz in EU – IEEE Standards

17. Higher Density, Converged Data Centers - GREEN is the New Black – Interop Las Vegas 70 215 of 222

ARMINE GALSTYAN
https://www.linkedin.com/in/armine-galstyan/
[email protected] | +1 818 660 9269

SUMMARY
Armine Galstyan is a principal at SmartGateVC and the Managing Director at Hero House Glendale, a tech and entrepreneurship hub in Southern California. Armine's experience spans from accelerator management to startup advisory, partnerships, and community management.

She played a key role in establishing SmartGateVC's deep tech incubation and pre-acceleration programs, where she worked with over 100 early-stage startups and helped entrepreneurs raise pre-seed and seed funding. As part of her role as Managing Director of Hero House Armine organized and hosted 100+ tech and startup events building a community of entrepreneurs, scientists and executives in Glendale, CA.

KEY QUALIFICATIONS
●
●
Strategic development and execution of accelerator and pre-acceleration programs Comprehensive startup advisory and mentorship, specializing in early-stage company growth
●
●
Expertise in sourcing investment opportunities and conducting thorough due diligence Eﬀective in managing relationships with limited partners (LPs) and stakeholders

WORK EXPERIENCE
July 2021 –
present
Managing Director at Hero House
SmartGateVC, CA
●
●
●
●
Oversees the startup lifecycle in the Hero House Glendale startup programs, managing everything from onboarding to graduation.

Builds strong relationships and establishes credibility with tech leaders, venture funds, accelerators, incubators, and startup ecosystem players across California.

Leads strategic planning and execution for the accelerator program with 10 startups per cohort, ensuring alignment with the overall mission and vision of Hero House.

Secures funding and resources for the accelerator program by forging partnerships with investors, sponsors, and corporate partners.
71 216 of 222

●
●
Develops and implements growth strategies to expand the reach and impact of Hero House within the startup ecosystem.

Manages a network of startup advisors and mentors from
leading corporations in California, recruiting and engaging a roster of expert volunteer mentors.
●
●
●
●
Provides personalized coaching and support to startups, helping them reﬁne their business models, develop go-to-market
strategies, and achieve key milestones.

Cultivates relationships with top educational institutions in Southern California (UCLA, USC, CalTech) to scout cutting-edge technology research for commercialization.

Hosts and organizes 50+ high-impact events per year in
partnership with various tech companies and corporations to foster collaboration and innovation.

Monitors and evaluates program performance, using
data-driven insights to continuously improve the accelerator’s eﬀectiveness and outcomes.

May 2020 –
June 2021
Director of Startup Programs
Catalyst Foundation, Yerevan, Armenia
●
●
●
●
●
●
General oversight of the startup programs and communication with stakeholders and vendors
Managing ﬁnancials of the projects, including reporting and communication with donors and sponsors
Implementing and ensuring compliance with administrative policies and procedures of partner organizations
Hiring and retaining staﬀ, career coaching and the performance of employees
Evaluating project budgets and processes for operational and/or ﬁnancial eﬀectiveness
Leading public relations for company’s activities, developing and executing media and community strategies, managing general social media management.

AssociateFeb 2018 –
Nov 2020 SmartGateVC, Yerevan, Armenia
● Played a key role in establishing several initiatives that transformed the startup scene in Armenia, including Armenia Startup Academy, Hero House AI Incubator, Entrepreneurial Assistant School, and Startup Boost Weekends.
72 217 of 222

● Worked with over 100 idea-stage Armenian startups and helped many entrepreneurs raise pre-seed funding.

AnalystAug 2017 –
Feb 2018 SmartgateVC, Yerevan, Armenia
● Prepared and conducted presentations, lectures, workshops, and games for startups on topics such as customer discovery and validation, pricing strategy, tracking maps, business intelligence, and GTM/launch strategy. Provided one-on-one meetings and consultations with startup founders.
● Created pricing and Go-To-Market strategies, developed customer development tracking maps, and conducted business intelligence analysis, including competitive analysis, market assessment, and investment/accelerators landscape research.

EDUCATION
Bachelor’s degree in College of Business and Economics, Business Administration
2014 –2018
American University of Armenia (AUA), Yerevan
AWARDS
2024 Honoree in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s LA500 issue 2022
2018
NextGen Women of the Year for San Fernando Valley Business Journal 2022 Women’s Leadership Award
Hive Ventures 30 Under 30 Armenians in Tech
73 218 of 222

FORM A

ADDENDA ACKNOWLEDGMENT

CITY OF GLENDALE
Glendale Tech Startup Growth Programs RFP
SmartGateVC LLC
PROPOSER NAME: ______________________________________
PROPOSER hereby acknowledges that it has received and read the following Addenda:

Addendum # _1_ Signature _ _____________________________ _____________________________2Addendum # __ Signature __ Addendum # __ Signature ________________________________________________ Addendum # __ Signature ________________________________________________ Addendum # __ Signature ________________________________________________ 219 of 222

City of Glendale
Disclosure - Campaign Finance Ordinance
Applicants Seeking Entitlement
Submit to Permit Services Center, 633 E. Broadway, Rm. 101.

For more information, call 818-548-3200.
(To be Completed Prior to Preparation of Staff Reports for Consideration of Entitlement Matter by Council, Agency, or Authority, or at Time of Appeal to the City Council if the Applicant is also the Appellant) In August 2011, the Glendale City Council adopted Ordinance No. 5744, which becomes effective on September 9, 2011 (“Ordinance”). The Ordinance prohibits campaign contributions from “applicants seeking entitlement,” their contractors and subcontractors (including their architects, engineers, and design professionals) while the application is “pending” and for 12 months thereafter. The Ordinance also prohibits Council Members from voting on any matter pertaining to an entitlement if the Council member has received a campaign contribution from the applicant seeking the entitlement, or certain contractors or subcontractors of the applicant, within the 12-month period preceding the vote.

The Applicant and the Owner/Lessor hereby discloses as follows. (If printing, please print legibly. Use additional sheets as necessary.) I. Name of Applicant and Name of Owner/Lessor on whose behalf application is filed:

Full Name Title Business Address City State Zip
Ashot Arzumanyan Managing Member 326 Mira Loma ave. Glendale, CA, 91204 Glendale CA 91204

Page 1 of 3 ends

Glendale City CouncilOctober 8, 2024

Glendale City Council
October 8, 2024