Nitro aims to address problems facing entrepreneurs in Greater Los Angeles such as a lack of management support and venture capital funding. Its goals are to build a supportive ecosystem for emerging companies, increase the number of startups from local universities, improve resources for entrepreneurs, and help more startups receive funding and succeed. Nitro operates a mentoring program that matches entrepreneurs with successful mentors and experts over 3-5 months to help companies launch and grow.

1. Igniting LA’s Breakthrough Businesses
www.nitro.la
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2. Here’s the problem in Greater LA
• Early entrepreneurs struggle to find help
• Shortage of management talent
• Brain drain from LA to Northern California
• Region is under-served with fewer venture capital funds
• LA’s size & traffic discourages collaboration
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3. Nitro’s Mission
Get more companies funded in Greater Los Angeles
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4. Nitro’s Goals
• Build a supportive eco-system for the region’s
emerging companies and technologies
– Increase the number of startups including companies spun-
out from Caltech, UCLA and USC
– Improve the development eco-system for successful
entrepreneurs
– Get more startups funded and ultimately successful
• Retain successful companies in Greater Los Angeles
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5. What is Nitro?
• Nitro is part of Entretech, a nonprofit organization
• Manages an elite Mentoring/EIR network across
greater Los Angeles
• Model is based on San Diego Connect’s successful
Springboard program and MIT’s Venture Mentoring
Service
• Supported by a network of strategic sponsors
including Caltech, UCLA and USC
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6. Mentor/EIR Program
• Roster includes successful entrepreneurs, executives
and experts
• Serve as either Mentors or Entrepreneurs-in-
Residence (EIRs)
• Entrepreneurs apply for a 3-5 month mentoring
process and are matched with an appropriate and
interested Mentor or EIR
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7. Present Board Affiliations
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8. Entretech Board of Directors
• Chairs
– Chairman, Michael Giardello, founder and CEO, Materia, Caltech technology spin-
out
– Vice Chairman, John Morris, managing director, GKM Ventures; chairman emeritus,
Tech Coast Angels
• Directors
– Kathryn A. Atchison, Vice Provost, UCLA Intellectual Property and Industry
Relations
– Zareh Baghdasarian, President and CEO, Tahoe Associates
– Randy Churchill, Director, Business Development, PricewaterhouseCoopers
– Bassil Dahiyat, Founder and CEO, Xencor, Caltech Life Science Spin-out
– Fred Farina, Asst. Vice President, Office Of Technology Transfer, Caltech
– Krisztina Holly, Vice Provost For Innovation, University Of Southern California;
Executive Director, USC Stevens Institute For Innovation
– Richard Jones, Partner, Emerging Company Practice, Nixon & Peabody
– Albert Schneider, Co-founder and Vice Chairman, Pasadena Angels; President, Tech
Coast Angels, Los Angeles Network
– Louise J. Wannier, Founder and CEO, myShape
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9. Value to Sponsors
• First look at proprietary, unique deal flow
• Brand awareness in elite community
• Access to network of companies, entrepreneurs and Mentors/EIRs
• Member of Nitro’s advisory board
• Produce business education programs supporting mission
• Catalyze regional growth, ensure future opportunities
• Participate with a two year funding commitment: $10,000 + $15,000
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10. Access to Unique Resources
• Combines commercialization efforts of Caltech,
UCLA and USC
• $1.7 billion in annual research grants
• Access to world-class technical talent pool and
technology commercialization
• Facilities of Strategic Sponsors provide virtual
footprint
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11. To participate, contact:
Aaron Ross
Program Director, Entretech Nitro
aaron@pebblestorm.com
Cell 310-751-0656
John Morris, Entretech Vice Chairman
Managing Director, GKM Ventures
jmorris@gkmventures.com
Cell 310-720-5643
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