Glendale City Council
October 8, 2024

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
WHO
|

EXPERIENCE,

QUALIFICATIONS
&

REFERENCES
5 What
is
Hero
House?
5 Primary
Entity
Details
5 Startup
Growth
Initiatives
Developed,
Implemented,
and
Operated
by
SmartGateVC
6 Hero
House
Glendale
GateWay
accelerator
program
6 Hero
House
Angel
Network
7 Regional
events
7 Business
relocation
support
8 Hero
House
Glendale
Building
Blocks
&
Connections
8 Qualifications
and
Experience
of
Key
Personnel:

Program
Team,
Advisors
and
Strategic
Partners
11 About
SmartGateVC
11 About
HyeRise
Investments
12 Team
12 Industry
Advisors
and
Mentors
17 References
19 WHY|

COMMITMENT
TO
THE

GLENDALE
TECH

COMMUNITY
20 Why
is
the
City
of
Glendale
a
Suitable
Tech
Destination?
20 Glendale
Tech
Strategy
21 Brand
Identity
21 Business
Culture
&
Innovation
Ecosystem
22 Mission
Alignment
with
the
Glendale
Tech
Strategy
22 Hero
House
is
Already
an
Integral
Part
of
the
Glendale
Tech
Scene
23 Hero
House
Glendale
Physical
Location
24 HOW
|

STRUCTURED

APPROACH
TO
TECH
AND

STARTUP

DEVELOPMENT
25 Hero
House
Glendale
Venture
Building
Program
26 Relocation
support
26 Tech
Investor
Network
27 In-house
VC
firm
27 In-house
Hero
House
Angel
network
27 Partner
VC
firms
and
Angel
networks
27 Collaborations
and
Partnerships
27 Youth
Startup
Engagement
28 Co-working
Space
29 WHAT|

PROPOSED
PLAN
AND
AND

APPROACH
29 1.

Hero
House
Venture
Building
Program
29 Target
Participants
32 Recruitment
and
Selection
Process
32 Curriculum
modules
and
program
components
36 2
Quantifiable
metrics
42 Post-Program
Funding
Metrics
42 Growth
Metrics
in
Customer
Base
and
Revenue
|
Customer
attraction:
42 Survival
Rate
Metrics:
42 Measurement
Methods
43 Marketing
and
Branding
Plan
to
Advance
Glendale
as
a
Leading
Tech
Hub
44 2.

Support
activities
in
Glendale
Tech
Week
Implementation
45 Objectives
46 Glendale
Tech
Week
2025-2027
47 Recommended
Timeline
for
Glendale
Tech
Week
48 Scope
of
Activities
48 3.

Quarterly
Tech
on
Tap
meetups
hosted
by
Hero
House
49 Event
Overview
49 Marketing
and
Promotion
49 Timeline
of
Implementation
for
Proposed
Initiatives
51 Financial
Capacity
52 Proof
of
Funds
and
Financial
Stability
52 Readiness
to
Proceed
and
Ability
to
Meet
Contract
Terms
52 Confidentiality
and
Competitive
Considerations
53 Detailed
Line
-
Item
Budget
54 Annex
1 |
Residents
to
Hero
House
Glendale
Physical
Location
57 Annex
2 |
Hero
House
Angels
Portfolio
59 Annex
3 |
Alternative
Budget
60 Annex
4 |
Resumes
for
Key
Personnel
61 3
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.

Jack
Topdjian
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
companies.

Atul
Bhatnagar
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,
multi-dimensional
and
cross-functional
enterprise
decision
making.

Alex
Pepe
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.

Vahe
Kuzoyan
Vahe
Kuzoyan
is
the
President
and
Co-Founder
of
a
tech
unicorn,
ServiceTitan,
headquartered
in
Glendale,
California.

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
growing
technology
ventures.
16 David
Tonoyan
David
Tonoyan
is
the
Founder
and
President
of
dot818.

Zarik
Megerdichian
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.

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

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

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

Armen
Vartanian
Armen
Vartanian
is
the
Founder
of
Oceanview
Capital
Partners,
Inc.

He
is
also
an
advisor
to
several
technology
companies.

Christine
Soussa
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.

Kenji
(Ken)
Funahashi
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
Ara
Aslanian
is
the
Founding
Partner
and
CEO
of
Inverselogic,
Inc.
and
reevert.
17 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 Name
Title
Organization
Email
Phone
number
Garegin
Papoian
Founder
and
CEO
Deep
Origin
[email protected]
(301)
956
9597
Karen
Khachikyan
Founder
and
CEO
Expper
Technologies
[email protected]
(747)
307
0966
Atul
Bhatnagar
CEO
ExperienceFlo
w.AI.
[email protected]
(408)
887
9717
Zareh
Zurabyan
Head
of
eLabNext
American
eLabNext
[email protected]
(617)
916
3837
Davit
Tonoyan
Founder
and
CEO
Dot818
[email protected]
(818)
281
7456
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 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 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 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.
22 Unlike
other
potential
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.

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.

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 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 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.

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 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.

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 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 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 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
&
CyberSecurity
AI
&
Our
Brains
AI
&
LLMS
Multimodal
AI
requires
more
sources
of
information,
and
deep
integration
/
touch
of
the
physical
world
Generative
AI
presents
multifaceted
security,
trust,
compliance,
and
risk
challenges,
focusing
on
data
privacy
protection,
misuse
prevention,
legal
and
ethical
compliance,
and
vulnerability
management
AI
and
brain
will
converge
to
boost
human
productivity
in
unprecedented
ways
BCI
technologies
will
tackle
major
healthcare
issues
like
dementia,
depression,
and
pain
(~$100B
in
the
US)
While
multimodal
AI
is
developing
at
an
unprecedented
pace,
it’s
a
game
of
few
with
very
deep
pockets
We
focus
on
the
“fat
tails”
of
AI
shaped
by
fundamental
scarcity
of
data
and
interdisciplinary
talent
as
well
as
end
market
ownership
through
unique
product
proposition
‣
Full
Stack
Hardware
+
Software
Solutions
‣
Control
Technologies
‣
Communication
Platforms
‣
AI
Trust
Risk
&
Security
‣
AI-Enabled
Threat
Intel
‣
Supply
Chain
Security
‣
IT-OT
Infra
Security
‣
BCI
Platforms
And
Devices
‣
Neurotherapeutic
Solutions
‣
Computational
Biology
‣
Corporate
Data
‣
HealthCare
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 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 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 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 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.