Armine is a tech ecosystem builder and VC investor with eight years of experience in driving operational strategy and tech community development. Armine’s expertise lies in cultivating high-impact partnerships, building a community of tech executives, founders and investors and supporting companies from ideation to growth. Armine joined SmartGateVC in 2017 and since then she supported and led a variety of firm-wide strategic initiatives. As a Principal at SmartGateVC, she oversees North American operations for the firm, currently holding a portfolio of 32 pre-seed investments with a combined enterprise value of over $1 billion. Armine led the launch of SmartGateVC’s tech hub in Los Angeles - Hero House, where she hosted and organized 300+ industry events that attracted top tech investors, founders, and C-suite leaders creating meaningful collaborations and resources for early-stage founders and AI startups. These collaborations drive a pipeline of investment and community engagement for the fund and fostering an environment that supports deep tech founders and tech professionals in Los Angeles. Armine has been featured as one of 2024 honorees in the Los Angeles Business Journal’s LA500 issue, recognized as one of Hive Ventures 30 Under 30 Armenians in Tech and NextGen Women of the Year for San Fernando Valley Business Journal 2022 Women’s Leadership Award for her contributions to the field.