A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth through regionally-driven competitions for innovative businesses.

1. A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

2. Job Creation Is Driven
By Entrepreneurship
“We find that on
average the positive
net growth of jobs in
the U.S. economy is
accounted for by the
substantial positive
contribution of new
business formation”
Source: University of Maryland, and NBER
(haltiwan@econ.umd.edu),
Ron.S.Jarmin@census.gov,
Javier.Miranda@census.gov Center for
Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

3. GLOBAL THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ON INNOVATION
“Innovation Is The Key • “We’re still home to innovation and technology. Some of the biggest
To Economic Recovery” ideas in history have come from our small businesses. It won’t be easy,
but there’s no reason we can’t make this another American century.”
‐‐ US President Barack Obama
• “Investing in innovation is the key to economic recovery”
‐‐ European Parliament President Hans‐Gert Pöttering
• “Science, innovation and technology will have a critical role to play in our
recovery from the current economic crisis.”
‐‐ MP Ian Gibson, House of Commons
• quot;Innovation is the soul of a nation’s advancement and the everlasting
driving power of national prosperity.“
‐‐ Zeng Peiyan, Vice‐Premier, People’s Republic of China
• “We tend to think of innovation in terms of products and patents. But it’s
also about business models and processes. Anything that allows faster or
better solutions for customers is what it’s all about.”
‐‐ Nandan Nilekani, Co‐Chair, World Economic Forum on East Asia
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

4. Communities Must Become
“Innovation Brokers”
“Economic development
must now change because
the nature of the business
development in the global
economy has fundamentally
changed.
Business development today
is based on open innovation.
Under this model, the role of
economic development is to
intervene at appropriate
times to help firms achieve
higher value and
productivity.”
Source: Collaborative Economics, “The Innovation Driven Economic Development Model”
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

5. GLOBIEs
• Growth‐focused
• Locally‐
• Owned
• Businesses run by
• Innovative
• Entrepreneurs
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

6. The California Business An entrepreneurship competition conducted by GCN
Ascent Challenge Series in participating communities and regions involving:
Early‐Stage GLOBIEs
– Coaching and advisory support
– Media visibility
– Connection to Investors, Partners, Talent
Innovation Elite
– Coaches and judges
– Peer‐to‐peer networking
– Mentoring opportunities
Civic Leaders
– Proactive support for innovation
– Business‐friendly image
– Data collection and validation
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

7. Three Stage A program of four events with companies competing
Event Program in a series of business challenges
• Market Showcases – 15 Markets, March‐August
– Entrants are screened and coached
– Present 5‐minute pitch to panel of investors and livestream
audience
– Receive feedback and ongoing support
• Regional Finals – 5 Regions, September‐October
– Companies present to investors
– Top 3 in each market go on to Statewide Finals
• California Business Ascent Finals – November 17‐18,
Catamaran Resort, San Diego
– 50+ finalists compete in 6 elimination panels
– Top Ten go on to final interview evaluation
– Winner selected and announced.
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

8. Advisor Engagement Challenge Steering Committee
• Regional Business Leadership
The Innovation Elite Chamber, Banking, Legal, Accounting, Service
Providers
• Stakeholder Focus Group
Identify regional innovation elite contacts for
engagement in program participation.
Innovation All‐Stars
• Successful Later‐Stage GLOBIE Enterprise Leadership
Experts in growing innovative companies in local
market
• Event Participation
Screening companies, serving as panelists, judges or
speakers.
• Mentoring
Creation of Advisor profiles on the regional Business
Ascent portal assist competing companies with plan
and presentation.
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

9. Regional Involvement
Statewide Visibility
Turnkey Media Campaign
• Company and expert outreach
• Press release templates
• Fact sheets and talking
Internet/New Media Exposure
• Live Streaming Video Series
• Social Network Integration
• Business Ascent News Feed
Executive Development Tools
• On‐Demand Training Content
• Innovation Asset Database
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

10. Live Streaming Video Real‐time visibility to entire
Webcast Program
GCN Investor Network
• 90‐minute presentation segment
webcast
• Company presentations, including
slide deck
• Investor panel discussion
• Question and Answer session
• Recorded and archived for on‐
demand viewing
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

11. Competing Company
Qualification Criteria
Innovative
1. Address new markets
2. New solutions for existing markets
3. New solutions to existing
customers
Scalable
1. Large, unmet market needs
2. National or global market potential
3. Realistic growth business model
Early Stage
1. Annual revenues under $1M
2. Developed beyond concept stage
3. Stand‐alone company, not spinoff
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

12. More Regional Prosperity Economic Development Outcomes
A Competitive California
• More 21st century knowledge worker jobs
• More retail and service sector job creation
• Increased sales and property tax revenues
• Increased investment in public services and
infrastructure
• Improved quality of life across the board
• Community reputation as “business‐friendly”
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

13. Program Support Innovation Leadership Endorsements
Agency Partners Civic Leadership
Brian P. McGowan, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Commerce, State of California
Jennifer Grutzius, Assistant Secretary for Economic Development, State of California
Eloise Klementich, Assistant Deputy Secretary, California Business Transportation and Housing Agency
Marty Keller, California's Small Business Advocate
Wayne Schell, California Association for Local Economic Development
Gurbax Sahota, California Association for Local Economic Development
Bob Linscheid, CEO, Chico Economic Planning Corporation
Yolo Venture Community Partnership
San Joaquin Venture Community Partnership
Northstate Venture Community Partnership
Sacramento Venture Community Partnership Professional Services Providers
John Millar, Millar & Associates
Venture Fund Partners
Erik Pages, EntreWorks Consulting
Roger Akers, Managing Director, Akers Capital
Randall Kempner, Aspen Institute
Jack Crawford Jr., Partner, Velocity Ventures
Audrey Taylor, Chabin Concepts
Larry Kubal, Partner, Labrador Ventures
Chris Soderquist, Soderquist Group
Steve Mills, Partner, DCA Capital
Josh Morgan, Morgan Dorado Public Relations
Bill Reichert, Managing Director, Garage Technology Ventures
Steve Rubin, Business Executive
Angel Investors Rick Thau, Business Executive
Damon Danielsen, Angel Investor James Beckwith, CEO, Five Star Bank
John Garcia, Angel Strategies Mike Rizzo, Vice President, Five Star Bank
Bob Goff, Founder and President, Sierra Angels Tony O'Donnell, Moss Adams
Brian Frenzel, Member, Band of Angels Craig Buda, OpSource, Inc.
Max Shapiro, Member, Keiretsu Forum Dave Sanders, WorldBridge Partners
Steve Weiss, co‐founder North Bay Angels, Coachella Valley Angels Ian Westberg, DLA Piper
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

14. About Golden Capital Network
Golden Capital Network identifies innovative entrepreneurs
and connects them to capital, expertise, and resources for
building world‐class companies.
Contact: Golden Capital Network provides communities with the
capabilities to integrate their own social capital networks for
Jon Gregory, CEO accelerating their homegrown entrepreneurs.
Golden Capital Network Since 1999, Golden Capital Network's 1000+ alumni companies
have raised more than $1.3 billion in funding.
101 Salem Street, Suite 200
Alumni companies include:
Chico, CA 95928 • NovaBay Pharma (IPO)
• InterVideo (IPO)
Phone: 530‐893‐8828 • StubHub (acquired by Ebay)
• Security Focus (acquired by Symantec)
Fax: 530‐893‐8927 • PowerSchool (acquired by Apple)
• MaxPreps (acquired by CBS)
http://businessascent.com • Meridian Systems (acquired by Trimble)
• Hanson Information Technology (acquired by Information
entrepreneur@goldencapital.net Global Systems).
A statewide campaign to spur entrepreneurship and economic growth
through regionally‐driven competitions for innovative businesses.

15. The Innovation Economy
Starts Here.