HYETECH Showcase 2016

Description

Armenia is creating and marketing world class intellectual property and building IT products and services to meet the needs of the global economy. Recent Armenian start ups include: PicsArt, Viki, Joomag and Service Titan. We need to create opportunities to connect Armenia’s high tech community with Silicon Valley’s entrepreneurs and investors. Armenia start up companies must continue to enhance their business development expertise, sources of financing and professional networks to effectively compete on the world stage. This will help strengthen the overall ecosystem and help grow and sustain a successful IT sector of the Armenian economy.

HyeTech Showcase 2016, co-hosted by Nerses Ohanyan and Roger Strauch, will bring together hundreds of startups, entrepreneurs and investors from the US, Armenia and across the globe. The Showcase will be accompanied by the Entrepreneurship Immersion Program (“Program”) – an ambitious, one-of-a-kind 10-day event for Armenia’s and California’s entrepreneur communities. The Program will host 15-20 select entrepreneurs from Armenia.

The Immersion Program will commence in Southern California with participation in Innovate Armenia organized by the Institute of Armenian Studies at USC, and continue in the Bay Area with visits to Silicon Valley’s top companies, incubators and venture firms. The program will include daily In-depth workshops on competitive analysis, business strategy, fundraising and successful pitching, company tours, mentoring sessions with local entrepreneurs and introductions to investors.

The Immersion program will culminate at the HyeTech Showcase at the Bechtel Engineering Center, UC Berkeley. The Showcase will feature HyeTech’s most exciting startups and success stories. Members will demonstrate their products and network with a dynamic group of entrepreneurs, technologists, investors and thought leaders in high technology. There will be featured speakers from founders of companies including: Viki, Service Titan, Kanjoya, Joomag and CodeFights. A pitching competition will be held for the Immersion Program participants.

Funding is needed for workshop materials, meals during event, accommodations and domestic transportation, for 15-20 participants from Armenia. The selection committee consisting of HyeTech members will review applications and select the 15-20 participants.

Link: http://showcase.hyetech.org/#overview

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Start Date Immediately

End Date April 9, 2016

$31,058 raised of $30,000 goal

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The Need

$30,000 is needed to support the participation of 20 high tech professional’s at HyeTech Showcase 2016. This event will provide these participants the opportunity to feature their idea, business or product to Silicon Valley’s high tech community including potential investors.

Short Term Impact

In the short term, 20 high tech professionals from Armenia will have the opportunity to feature their product, idea or business to leaders from Silicon Valley.

Long Term Impact

In the long run, connections made at HyeTech Showcase 2016 could result in significant business development, investment and advancement for Armenia as a viable high tech player on the world stage. Lessons learned and the experiences by the visitors can then propagate within the local Armenian entrepreneurship ecosystem and this would positively impact Armenia’s economy and further development.