i.am Angel Foundation

This grant will support the i.am Angel Robotics program. It aims to expand STEAM education by establishing and expanding robotics clubs in over 400 high schools, reaching 12,000 students. This initiative provides hands-on learning opportunities in robotics, promoting teamwork, and equipping students with essential STEAM skills that prepare them for future academic and career success​

Our i.am Makerspace will empower the next generation of creators and innovators in underserved communities.

We want to build a startup incubator program in East LA to foster entrepreneurship in underserved communities that have low access to technology and startup resources. ****** Los Angeles has been ranked the #3 startup city in the world, behind San Francisco and Tel Aviv! However, the LA tech ecosystem is concentrated in more affluent areas such as Santa Monica, Venice and West Hollywood. Meanwhile, East LA is an area with a rich history of makers and creators, and with just as much entrepreneurial spirit. Yet it lacks the resources needed to tap into the local tech startup scene. ****** By bringing this startup incubator program to East LA, we are fostering local talent and providing top-notch education and mentorship from successful entrepreneurs. This will bring valuable jobs and job skills to underserved communities. Not only does this help to uplift a struggling neighborhood, but it creates a better overall startup ecosystem for the entire city of Los Angeles – by creating a larger pool of talent coming from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. ****** Our startup incubator program will provide the following to East LA communities: ****** EDUCATION: Provide classes in entrepreneurship (such as how to formulate a business plan, how to pitch a VC, how to use social media, legal and accounting seminars etc) and relevant tech skills such as coding, web development, UX design, graphic design and more. ****** MENTORSHIP: Provide a forum for mentorship between local aspiring entrepreneurs and experienced business experts. Our team is well-connected to the LA tech, entertainment, and investment communities, which will provide an endless source of mentorship. ****** PROFESSIONAL NETWORKING: We hope to create a network of skilled professionals who are capable of joining or creating jobs in tech and startups. We will provide a platform for networking with each other, and with tech companies and startups from all over LA. ****** WORK SPACE: Provide coworking/office space at low cost to locally-focused startups. Our facility will be the historic Casa Del Mexicano building in Boyle Heights, East LA. The i.am.angel Foundation is currently renovating the building to turn it into a state-of-the-art community center, which will also house other programs in STEM and Arts education. It will be a perfect space for the cross-pollination of ideas that leads to innovation! ****** CAPITAL: Provide seed funding for startups that fit certain criteria, such as startups that are focused locally on the East LA community, or startups that promote social good. By the end of 2013, we hope to identify and support 5 local startups in East LA with $10,000 each in seed funding.