Month: September 2020

The European Union and Viva-MTS supported the implementation of
Armenia Startup Academy Traction Programme Batch 1

On September 30 at 8PM EVN time, Armenia Startup Academy is going to hold a Demo Day 

 The European Union and Viva-MTS supported the implementation of Armenia Startup Academy Traction Programme Batch 1. As Viva-MTS reported, this 10-week mentorship-based programmewas launched earlier this year to help companies at a post-prototype stage with early traction accelerate their growth and raise their first or follow-on rounds. The programmeis implemented by Catalyst Foundationand supported by the European Union’sEU4Business “Technology Development for Armenia” project implemented by GIZ. Viva-MTS, Armenia’s leading telecommunications operator joins the initiative as a corporate partner and supporter.

This Demo Day provides a different format compared to the previous ones. The novel additions are the following:

 ● After each startup’s pitch, the founders will answer the questions of a specially-invitedInvestor Panel – representatives from global VC firms. This new format promises to make the Demo Day more engaging as well as provide a platform for relationship building with interested investors.

 ● Those investors, who want to learn more about the startups, can register for “Investor Access” (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScpOqF2soWK4Nz-TR6Zc5AGbXbO8LV-4DrzRvQ_suV-QLH81w/viewform). The registered investors will not only receive more information about the startups they are interested in but also have an opportunity to hold one-on-one meetings with the founders after the Demo Day.

 The pilot batch of the Traction programme includes 9startups, which offer innovative solutions in such diverse fields as EduTech, logistics, HR, marketing, and more. These 9 teams have gone through 10 weeks of intensive learning and mentorship programme working closely with Startup Academy’s in-house mentors, sales and growth-hacking coaches, as well as receiving ad hoc consultations from industry experts.

 For the safety concerns over the Covid-19 pandemic, the Demo Day will be held virtually. Everyone interested can join the livestream via the Armenian Startup Academy Facebook page and Hero House  . 

Two resolutions in the U.S. House of Representatives, H.Res.452 and H.Res.190 regarding U.S.-Armenia and U.S.-Artsakh relations, continue to garner support, reported the Armenian Assembly of America (Assembly). Both resolutions were introduced by Representative Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Congressional Caucus on Armenian Issues Co-Chair, along with fellow leaders of the Armenian Caucus.

H.Res.452 has bipartisan support with 47 cosponsors with three additional cosponsors joining in recent weeks: Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Scott Peters (D-CA), and Dina Titus (D-NV). H.Res.452 celebrates a century of United States-Armenia relations, the enduring friendship of the American and Armenian peoples, the strong bonds between the two governments, and the wide array of contributions that Americans of Armenian heritage continue to make in the United States.

H.Res.190 enjoys the support of 31 Members of Congress, with its most recent cosponsors, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Lori Trahan (D-MA), joining in the last two months. H.Res.190 encourages: 1) visits and communication between officials from the United States and Artsakh at all levels; 2) open communication, meetings, and other direct contacts between officials of Artsakh and the executive and legislative branches of the United States Government, representatives of state and local governments, and representatives of American civil society; and 3) calls for the full and direct participation of the democratically-elected Government of the Republic of Artsakh in all OSCE and other negotiations regarding its future.

“We thank the Members of Congress for their support as we continue to advance U.S.-Armenia, U.S.-Artsakh relations,” stated Congressional Relations Director Mariam Khaloyan. “We call upon our grassroots activists to contact their respective Members of Congress to cosponsor these resolutions, and urge the House of Representatives to adopt them,” added Khaloyan.

H.Res.452 is cosponsored by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Armenian Caucus Vice-Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), along with Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA), Rep. Julia Brownley, (D-CA), Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. Gil Cisneros Jr. (D-CA), Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL), Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. James Langevin (D-RI), Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ), Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Chris Pappas (D-NH), Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Scott Peters, (D-CA), Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Rep. Bobby Rush (D-IL), Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD) Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Norma Torres (D-CA), Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA), Rep. David Trone (D-MD), and Rep. Ron Wright (R-TX).

H.Res.190 is cosponsored by Armenian Caucus Co-Chairs Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Armenian Caucus Vice-Chairs Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Rep. Peter King (R-NY), along with Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA), Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI), Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA), Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA), Rep. TJ Cox (D-CA) Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Rep. Andy Levin (D-MI), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA), Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Rep. James McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Grace Napolitano (D-CA), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-CA), Rep. Janice Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA), Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA), and Rep. Peter Visclosky (D-IN).