AlligatorZone - Rinconada Library, Palo Alto CALIFORNIA

Sponsor Message: AlligatorZone Academy's premium programs support AlligatorZone's free public event-program. AlligatorZone, is where kids meet cool startups. This is a program for all ages, 7 and above. Children and youth, as well as their accompanying families can meet and talk to startup founders in a community-gathering that celebrates entrepreneurship. Guide the entrepreneurs so they can avoid the metaphorical alligators that can hurt their enterprise. Steer them successfully across the AlligatorZone and participate in local innovation in a unique and exciting way. Bring your entire family along to learn about the local startups' offerings, and exchange perspectives with the founders in a live interactive exchange. At AlligatorZone, it's about inspiring and empowering the kids. FEATURED STARTUP(S) AND FOUNDER(S): Ian Tien, CEO and Co-founder, Mattermost, Inc., which lets people in companies share messages, images, and videos with each other using their phones and computers in a way that no one outside the company can see what's been shared.   Harish Ramchandani, Founder and CEO, Fashmates, Inc.   ENCOURAGE YOUR KIDS TO VOLUNTEER AS AN AMBASSADOR: AlligatorZone has added a special initiative to provide leadership development opportunities to kids, called 'AlligatorZone Ambassador'. Request a role for your child using the form at http://goo.gl/forms/pXSjYQpvEZ after you reserve your seats (first-come first-served basis). PARENTAL ROLE: Do inform your kids beforehand that this is Not Shark Tank. Encourage them to have a conversation with the founders to seek knowledge about the entrepreneur's work, learn about their offerings, voice opinions respectfully, and make helpful suggestions that the entrepreneur may not have thought of. It's a way to support the local entrepreneur who has shown up to share her or his work with the families. Grown-ups may participate in the discussions to gently nudge conversations where stalled, trying to avoid dominating the limited air time, avoid jargon, and yield to the kids with raised hands. Grown-ups and kids usually have ample time to chat with the founders after the session as well. IMPORTANT: PARENT/GUARDIAN RELEASE: For everyone’s safety and well-being, we require that all children be monitored by their parent, legal guardian, or an adult appointed by a legal guardian (“guardian”). We expect guardians to watch over their children and to accompany them to and from the venue that hosts the AlligatorZone Product Show-and-Tell event. Although formal background checks have not been conducted, we respect our entrepreneurs and are confident that the event will be a rewarding experience for the entire family when parents and guardians actively participate. Please be aware that photographs and videos may be... click here to read the release form in its entirety. By registering for this event, you agree to this release. SPREAD THE WORD: For AlligatorZone®, we rely solely on word of mouth. Tell your friends so that more families can take advantage of this unique opportunity that we bring with significant effort for the kids in our community. Find us on twitter.com/alligatorzone, facebook.com/alligatorzone.org, Instagram.com/AlligatorZone, https://www.snapchat.com/add/alligatorzone and on the web at AlligatorZone.org. ALLIGATORZONE WELCOMES SPONSORS: We can do a lot more for the next generation, with sponsorships. If you know potential sponsors, please have them contact us. AlligatorZone is a social-impact program designed and co-sponsored by (a) SiliconGlades, a design and innovation firm currently focused on creating unique learning experiences, (b) AlligatorZone® Academy, which has been offering premium programs (including a summer camp), for purchase by parents and educators, proceeds from which make the AlligatorZone event program available for free to the community, with (c) the City of Palo Alto, California, providing the community with a venue for these gatherings.