ReplyBuy, instant mobile ticket with a text, raises $2M to enhance fan engagement

Need an extra ticket for the UA game? No problem, send a text, get a mobile ticket. ReplyBuy, a mobile commerce platform that allows customers to purchase items through a text message, announced today a $2 million raise with participation from Enspire Capital, Sand Hill Angels, MRTNZ Ventures, Kosinski Ventures, SEAG Ventures, Arizona Tech Investors, Desert … Read more

ReplyBuy Secures $690,000 in Angel Funding

ReplyBuy, a Scottsdale-based company that developed a new form of mobile commerce through text messaging, announced today they secured $690,000 in angel investment funds. CEO & Founder of ReplyBuy, Josh Manley, comments on the funding, “Securing this funding will help us step on the gas to accelerate growth and adoption of ReplyBuy’s platform. We’ve been fortunate enough … Read more

Arizona makes workhorses—not unicorns—and that’s a good thing

Guest Blog by Hamid Shojaee, founder Axosoft, Pure Chat & AZTB The Bay Area is overrun with horses—unicorns to be exact. And while I wish I was referring to the horned, majestic creatures of lore, I’m actually talking about privately-held startups that have $1 billion or higher valuations. Venture investor Aileen Lee coined the term … Read more

Buy your gameday tickets on-demand with a text

Football fans around the country will now have the ability to purchase game tickets through a text  using ReplyBuy. ReplyBuy is a mobile commerce platform that allows customers to purchase items through a text message. In October 2014, the company launched their sports and entertainment platform focused on ticket sales for professional and collegiate sports teams and have … Read more

Venture Madness announces its sweet 16 – updated

The next round of Venture Madness brackets leaves only 16 startups who will move on to the final, live-demo portion of the competition for a chance to win their share of $50,000. Jonathan Ariano, chairman of Invest Southwest comments on the startups, “[They] are shining examples of the entrepreneurship and innovation happening in the Southwest … Read more

32 startups advance in Venture Madness

This round of brackets have closed leaving 32 of the original 64 startups from around the Southwest to compete head-to-head to win their share of $50,000 in 2015 Venture Madness. From here, it’s down to the final 16 companies who will compete in a live-demo event held between March 4-6, 2015. Jonathan Ariano, chairman of … Read more

Top 4 startups battle for $50K at Venture Madness

Eight startups pitched their ideas this morning at Venture Madness, only four will will move on to the final rounds this afternoon. The advancing companies are Contatta, Pinnacle Transplant Tech, ReplyBuy and Clear Demand. The final four in the Venture Madness competition will compete for a portion of that $50,000 prize this afternoon at Talking … Read more

Only 8 startups left in Venture Madness

After head-to-head live pitches Thursday morning, the eight companies that moved to the next round of Venture Madness, were announced Thursday afternoon at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training game. Venture Madness is a competition presented by Invest Southwest and the Arizona Commerce Authority that started with 64 startups pitching their ideas against each other. After … Read more

Final 16 startups to battle it out at Venture Madness

Venture Madness, presented by Invest Southwest in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, introduces the final 16 competing startups that will pitch live for a chunk of the $50,000 prize. Additionally, Venture Madness announces today that Geoffrey Moore; a best-selling author, Venture Partner, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Chairman Emeritus, TCG Advisors, The Chasm Institute and The Chasm … Read more

32 startups advance to round 2 in Venture Madness

Venture Madness, presented by Invest Southwest, in partnership with Arizona Commerce Authority announced the next round of 32 startups, from the original 64, to advance to round two in the head-to-head competition. Round two is critical as the public vote will directly help their favorite startup advance to the live pitch portion of Venture Madness … Read more