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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 10/04/2016 - RESOLUTION 2016-079 SUPPORTING AND APPROVING THE SAgenda Item 10 Item # 10 Page 1 AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY October 4, 2016 City Council STAFF Josh Birks, Economic Health Director SUBJECT Resolution 2016-079 Supporting and Approving the Statement of Collaboration Between the City of Fort Collins and Future Venture Capital Co. Ltd. (FVC). EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is for the City Council to acknowledge and support a Statement of Collaboration between the City of Fort Collins and Future Venture Capital Co. Ltd. (FVC). The City and FVC recognize the mutual business, educational and other interests related to the City's 2015 Economic Health Strategic Plan (EHS Plan) and FVC's mission. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution. BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION On September 1, 2016, representatives from the City of Fort Collins met with representatives of Future Venture Capital Co. Ltd. (FVC) based in Kyoto, Japan. FVC was introduced to the Fort Collins startup ecosystem through Denny Otsuga, who has worked with CSU Ventures and the Rockies Venture Club. FVC focuses on education for entrepreneurs, investment, and incubation, through a variety of different activities. Most notably, these activities include the creation of investment funds targeting start-ups. Prior to the September 1, 2016 discussion, Economic Health Office (EHO) staff discussed a number of opportunities to collaborate. At that time, FVC asked the City to consider executing a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Fort Collins, demonstrating mutual interests in expanding venture capital in our region. EHO staff recommends a ‘Statement of Collaboration’ (the “Statement”) as a more appropriate approach to document the partnership between the City and FVC (individually “Party” and jointly the “Parties”). The statement does not include any direct commitments or transfer of funds/resources between the parties. The Statement has been reviewed and approved by the Communications and Public Involvement Office and the City Attorney’s Office. EHO staff supports documenting this partnership with the Statement, which is Exhibit A to the Resolution. The 2015 Economic Health Strategic Plan (the EHS Plan) clearly identifies “Growing Our Own” as a theme of the City’s economic health approach. In addition, the EHS Plan calls for leveraging partnerships, including with private entities, to achieve the goals of the plan. The Statement recognizes:  Both Parties have a mutual interest in contributing to local economic development through the execution of agreements that facilitate knowledge transfer, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and, investment in Fort Collins, Colorado.  The City’s EHS Plan encourages the development of new and enhanced capital access tools for entrepreneurs and cutting-edge companies to retain, develop, and recruit innovative startups and small businesses.  The scope of the document includes: Agenda Item 10 Item # 10 Page 2 o To the extent agreed by the Parties, they will seek opportunities for collaborative activities. o To the extent requested by the City and accepted by FVC, FVC will seek opportunities to assist the City’s entrepreneurial, commercialization and other related activities such as those expressed in the City’s EHS Plan. o To the extent requested by FVC and accepted by the City, the City will seek opportunities to assist FVC in its operations. o Neither Party is obligated to expend any funds or other resources in implementation of projects or activities in connection with this collaboration. CITY FINANCIAL IMPACTS No financial impact. -1- RESOLUTION 2016-079 OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS SUPPORTING AND APPROVING THE STATEMENT OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS AND FUTURE VENTURE CAPITAL CO. LTD. (FVC) WHEREAS, on June 2, 2015, the City Council adopted Resolution 2015-059, approving and adopting the City’s Economic Health Strategic Plan (the “2015 EHS Plan”); and WHEREAS, the 2015 EHS Plan identifies support for the innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems that build new and creative industries, along with collaboration with economic health partners, as strategic priorities; and WHEREAS, the 2015 EHS Plan encourages the development of new and enhanced capital access tools for entrepreneurs and cutting-edge companies to retain, develop, and recruit innovative startups and businesses; and WHEREAS, the City and Future Venture Capital Co. Ltd. (“FVC”) recognize the mutual business, educational and other interests they have related to the City’s 2015 EHS Plan and FVC’s mission; and WHEREAS, the City and FVC have expressed an interest to voluntarily interact and cooperate for their mutual benefit and the entities they represent; and WHEREAS, the City and FVC have mutual interests in supporting this opportunity to promote and educate students, faculty, researchers, investors, and entrepreneurs in Colorado, Japan, and beyond; and WHEREAS, the City and FVC also have mutual interest in contributing to economic development through the execution of a statement of collaboration to facilitate knowledge transfer, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, and, investment in Fort Collins, Colorado, Japan, and other places. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS as follows: Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and adopts the determinations and findings contained in the recitals set forth above. Section 2. That the City Council hereby supports and approves the Statement of Collaboration between the City and Future Venture Capital (FVC) attached hereto as Exhibit “A”, and the Mayor is authorized to sign it on behalf of the City. -2- Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins this 4th day of October, A.D. 2016. _________________________________ Mayor ATTEST: _____________________________ City Clerk EXHIBIT A