[Strategic Partnership & Revenue Opportunity Development] DC/NYC Trip Debrief
date: 2025-05-21; author: Gary Sheng; classification: Internal - For Alpha Leadership; recipients: Joe Liemandt, MacKenzie Price
Executive Summary
Gary Sheng, Ron Roberts, and Samuel Armes have just completed an intensive week of high-level meetings in Washington DC and New York City. This trip, co-organized and executed by the three of us to explore government partnership viability for Alpha Schools, has successfully identified and initiated action on significant opportunities. Key outcomes include:
- Government Contract in Progress: For inmate education technology, facilitated through Club for Growth connections.
- Grant Funding Pathways: Established via strategically placed Faith Directors within cabinet agencies.
- Alpha NY Support: Identified and are addressing multiple operational challenges at Alpha NY requiring immediate attention.
- High-Level AI Policy Access: Secured incoming introductions to Michael Kratsios (author of the AI education executive order) and Sriram Krishnan (Senior White House Policy Advisor on AI), which will be instrumental in securing grants for Alpha.
Under the strategic guidance and political expertise of Samuel Armes, combined with the collaborative efforts of Ron Roberts and myself in relationship development and strategic communication, this self-funded exploratory trip has exceeded expectations, establishing multiple pathways to substantial recurring revenue. This debrief outlines the key relationships cultivated, immediate next steps, and the significant revenue opportunities these represent for Alpha Schools, potentially translating to tens of millions in annual government funding and reinforcing Alpha's position as a leader in AI-driven education.
[Strategic Partnership & Revenue Opportunity Development] DC/NYC Trip Debrief
Key Strategic Relationships Established
Government & Policy Connections
Jack Simony (The Negotiation Institute)
Bo Hines (Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisers on Digital Assets)
David McIntosh (Club for Growth)
Paula White (White House Faith Office)
Michael Kratsios (Office of Science and Technology)
Sriram Krishnan (Senior White House Policy Advisor on AI)
Alpha Schools Operational Insights / Key NYC Contacts
John Scally (UBS Private Wealth Management)
Strategic Assessment & Recommendations
Reflections on Strategic Relationship Development Role
Next Steps (May 20 - June 2nd)
Key Strategic Relationships Established
Government & Policy Connections
Christian Elam
- Policy advisor working at the intersection of defense, space technology, and government relations
- Author of the Kids Online Safety Act, which passed the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support (91-3)
- Direct opportunity: Highly enthusiastic about Alpha Schools and eager to help with connections
- Connected to NASA's 2040 Project (building the first self-sustaining human civilization on the moon)
- Maintains significant relationships with Republican lawmakers and Trump administration officials
- Expressed strong interest in helping with America's 250th anniversary celebration
- Samuel led the development of specific collaborative initiatives to leverage his extensive network and bipartisan success
Jack Simony (The Negotiation Institute)
- Non-Executive Chairman of The Negotiation Institute with decades of experience negotiating complex transactions
- Portfolio manager and Co-Head of Litigation Finance and Credit at Platinum Partners, a hedge fund specializing in markets underserved by traditional financing
- Directly committed to helping Alpha land the prison education technology government contract
- Providing strategic guidance on structuring our government contract proposals based on his extensive experience arranging complex credit facilities
- Currently opening his extensive network of financial and legal connections to fast-track the First Step Act implementation opportunities
- Certified Fraud Examiner with valuable insights on compliance and financial strategy for government partnerships
- Connection established through Samuel's strategic relationship development efforts
Bo Hines (Executive Director of the President's Council of Advisers on Digital Assets)
- Key figure in cryptocurrency policy and AI education strategy in the Trump administration
- Meeting secured and masterfully orchestrated by Samuel Armes, leveraging his deep political connections
- Discussed facilitating warm introductions to key AI policy figures including Michael Kratsios and Sriram Krishnan
- Particularly receptive to our demonstration of Alpha's technological capabilities
- Represents direct access to White House digital asset and technology policy
- Samuel's pre-existing relationship was instrumental in securing this high-value connection
David McIntosh (Club for Growth)
- Former Indiana congressman with extensive education reform experience
- Extremely well-connected in right-wing circles
- Shared excitement about Alpha's model and AI integration
- Connected through Samuel and David's background in policy
Paula White (White House Faith Office)
- Senior Advisor and head of the White House Faith Office in the Trump administration
- Personal spiritual advisor to President Trump for over two decades
- Leads office situated in the West Wing, highlighting its significance
- The Faith Office has representatives embedded in every cabinet agency
- Responsibilities include:
- Addressing anti-Christian bias within federal agencies
- Promoting religious freedom nationwide
- Ensuring faith-based organizations can access federal funding
- Advising the president on issues critical to evangelical voters
- Pivotal in rallying evangelical support for Trump's presidency
- First woman clergy to deliver the invocation at Trump's 2017 inauguration
- Key figure in connecting Trump to charismatic and Pentecostal segments of evangelical Christianity
- Represents significant opportunity for Alpha to access faith-based funding initiatives
Faith Office Directors in Cabinet Agencies
- Hannah Earl (Education Department Faith Director)
- Michael Rea (Commerce Department Faith Representative)
- Direct revenue opportunity: Each agency has grant allocation authority
- Trump administration has embedded faith directors in every cabinet agency
- We're developing targeted relationships with all cabinet faith directors to position Alpha for grant funding
Michael Kratsios (Office of Science and Technology)
- Lead Author of the executive order on AI in education
- Bo Hines has confirmed he will facilitate introductions soon
- Direct opportunity: Influencing grant regime design will secure tens of millions in recurring federal funding
- We're preparing materials for this imminent connection
Sriram Krishnan (Senior White House Policy Advisor on AI)
- Recently appointed Senior White House Policy Advisor on Artificial Intelligence
- Previously worked at Andreessen Horowitz, Twitter, Microsoft, Facebook, and Snap
- Responsible for shaping the administration's approach to AI and federal AI adoption
- Direct opportunity: Will position Alpha as model for AI-driven education nationally
- Bo Hines has committed to facilitating an introduction immediately
- We're developing presentation materials to be ready for this confirmed meeting
Jim McCarroll
- Strategic attorney with extensive government connections
- Provided guidance on First Step Act implementation opportunities
- Direct revenue opportunities:
- Jim is the main connection for prison education technology contract
- Helping structure government contracts to meet compliance requirements
- Advised positioning Alpha as the leading AI bootcamp provider with measurable result
Jessica Jackson
- National advocate for criminal justice reform
- Key architect behind the First Step Act, widely recognized for securing its bipartisan passage
- Worked closely with President Trump on multiple high-profile pardons
- Expressed strong support of Alpha's mission and collaborations
Erin Haney (REFORM Alliance)
- Chief Policy Officer at REFORM Alliance
- Expert in criminal justice reform and implementation
- Direct revenue opportunity: Connecting Alpha to prison education initiatives
- Provided insights on structuring proposals for justice reform contracts
Alpha Schools Operational Insights / Key NYC Contacts
Ben Gordon-Sniffen (Alpha NY)
- Principal launching Alpha NY in the Financial District
- Explicitly requested support with recruitment challenges
- Flagged significant issues with marketing support from Alpha central team
- Specifically mentioned Jason Applebaum (Marketing) as providing limited assistance
- For your information: We're providing immediate support to Alpha NY to ensure successful launch
John Scally (UBS Private Wealth Management)
- Top-ranked wealth advisor at UBS Private Wealth Management in Florham Park, New Jersey
- Committed to recruiting wealthy families from his extensive client network to fill Alpha NYC's inaugural class
- Enrolling his own first-grade child in Alpha NYC, demonstrating personal investment in our model
- Currently developing a targeted outreach strategy for high-net-worth families throughout the Northeast
- Providing valuable insights into messaging that resonates with financial sector professionals and executives
- Establishing Alpha NYC as the premier educational choice for Manhattan's most influential families
Revenue Streams Identified
- First Step Act education tech - tens of millions per year for Alpha Schools
- Grants for AI x education from cabinet agencies especially if we shape the grant regimes in collaboration with Michael Kratsios - tens of millions per year
Strategic Assessment & Recommendations
Key Strengths Leveraged
- Political Strategy & Government Relations: Samuel Armes' exceptional political acumen and strategic connections formed the foundation of our success, providing access to key decision-makers that would have been impossible otherwise.
- Relationship Development: Together, Samuel, Ron and I excelled at building rapport with even the most powerful contacts, demonstrating exceptional judgment and strategic communication skills.
- Technical Credibility: Our ability to articulate Alpha's AI-driven educational model resonated strongly with technical leaders in government.
- Cross-partisan Appeal: The Alpha model succeeded in attracting interest from both traditional conservatives (educational choice) and innovation-focused leaders (AI integration) and left-leaning justice-focused Democrats.
Strategic Actions Underway
- Samuel Armes as Political Director: His masterful leadership throughout the trip planning and execution proved his exceptional value. Onboarding him immediately is our highest priority to maintain momentum on the opportunities he's created.
- Dr. Denise Mitchem Honorarium: She provided access to the White House Faith Summit and we are interested in providing a $20K honorarium for opening these significant doors to the White House and Faith Office.
- Marketing Overhaul: Samuel is spearheading the development of professional-grade materials specifically designed for government and high-level partnership pitches. We are also building custom funnels including sites and ad systems not dependent on the current marketing team.
- New York Campus Support: Alpha NY requires immediate operational assistance with recruitment and marketing. The principal is explicitly asking for help, and we're committed to providing this support to ensure the campus succeeds.
Reflections on Strategic Relationship Development Role
This trip reinforced my ability to organize complex initiatives, build high-level relationships, and execute at the highest level. I found particular value in identifying and coordinating talented individuals like Ron and Samuel into a cohesive team that could quickly build trust, identify opportunities, and act decisively.
The White House Faith Office has officially asked me to join a team setting up an innovation sub-council within their organization, further validating my ability to secure high-level partnerships and be in the right rooms. This appointment provides Alpha with direct influence at the highest levels of government and demonstrates the administration's recognition of our leadership in educational innovation.
Looking forward, I see my greatest near and medium term contribution to Alpha coming through a dedicated focus on high-level relationship development and opportunity creation. I've received multiple high-profile invitations recently, including a DC July 4th event with NASA leadership and Christian Elam, a meeting with Conor McGregor (June 24), meetings with innovative school leaders (May 20-29), and a speaking engagement in Europe with high-net-worth individuals.
These opportunities reflect what I believe should be my core focus: serving as Alpha's behind-the-scenes representative and partnerships generator. I am committed to dedicating approximately 50% of my time to strategic travel, building relationships nationwide and globally with billionaires, executives, and superconnectors who can accelerate Alpha's growth.
Closing Thoughts
This trip, a collaborative effort planned and executed by Gary Sheng, Ron Roberts, and Samuel Armes, has firmly established Alpha Schools' position to secure significant government support and establish itself as the premier partner for AI-driven education innovation at the highest levels. Samuel Armes' political strategy and connections were pivotal in accessing key figures, complemented by Ron Roberts' strategic communications expertise and my own efforts in coordinating the initiative and building rapport. The relationships cultivated are poised to translate directly into tens of millions in annual revenue through grants and contracts, while simultaneously cementing Alpha's reputation as the leader in this emerging field, directly supporting your vision for Alpha's growth and impact.
Everyone we spoke with is now bullish on Alpha. With the combined strategic guidance of our team, we engaged with key figures including those at the White House, and will activate these relationships immediately. The opportunities presented by the AI x Education executive order and other policies like the First Step Act are substantial and align perfectly with Alpha's mission. Continuing to leverage Samuel's leadership in government relations, supported by Ron and myself, is crucial to drive these initiatives forward.
I want to commend Samuel Armes for his exceptional political strategy and the foundational connections he brought to this endeavor, and Ron Roberts, who was instrumental throughout this process, providing strategic communications expertise and building rapport with key contacts. Our collective effort made this trip a resounding success.
Overall, with our team approach to government relations and strategic partnerships, we're moving forward immediately with these revenue-generating opportunities, developing concrete proposals and establishing Alpha Schools as the administration's go-to partner for next-generation education initiatives, thereby accelerating the global vision for Alpha Schools.