On-Demand Driver App Uber Soft Launches in Phoenix

We were recently tipped off that San Francisco-based startup Uber has started “secretly” offering its on-demand driver services in the Phoenix metro area. Founded in 2010, Uber is a service that connects passengers with drivers, predominantly through its mobile application (available on iPhone and Android). The app displays a real-time map of Uber cars nearby … Read more

Event Recap: AZEC12 – The End Of Business As Usual

With the reality of “business as usual” being gone by the wayside, AZEC12 gathered a talented lineup of speakers to challenge today’s entrepreneurs, investors, and organizational leaders to begin seeing things differently. They brought a new perspective, and good insights into how we can operate, profit, and flourish in today’s technology-driven, fast-paced “social sharing economy”. … Read more

ASU Introduces the New 2012/2013 Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative Cohort

The Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative was started in 2005 with a $5.5 million endowment with the mission of helping entrepreneurs and ultimately creating jobs in Arizona. Students who are enrolled at ASU can apply for the Edson competition in March by submitting a business plan and the finalists present their idea in front of a … Read more

Pearson Is The World's Leading Learning Company

We started AZTechBeat for one reason–we want to bring more attention to the local tech scene and the diverse group of companies that operate here. It baffles us that the scene is largely ignored by local and national press. After all, there are some highly successful companies in Arizona–and a whole bunch of startups doing … Read more

Deployd Provides HTML5 Developers With Instant Backends

Deployd was founded by Jeff Cross and Ritchie Martori to solve a problem that they had noticed during years of building applications for clients–the redundancy of building backends. The apps they were building always needed the same basic features–user authentication, validated/secured data, and a “front end” for users to interact with. Each time they built … Read more

Audio Excursions Set to Create Website & Mobile Application for Self Guided Tours Worldwide

Heading off to a major tourist destination this summer? Wanting to know what you are looking at when wandering around in a museum? Or already hit the most famous tourist spots in NYC, and looking for more? Audio Excursions is looking to be the answer to all of these questions by giving you an interactive … Read more

Join AZ Entrepreneurial Rock Stars at Techiepalooza: Thursday, June 7

While you [probably] won’t see Perry Farrell or the Red Hot Chili Peppers there, this week’s Techiepalooza is definitely still worth a visit. Join ASU Venture Catalyst and a sizable group of partners/sponsors (see below) for a networking event that brings the Phoenix entrepreneurial and tech community together. The event will showcase some of the hottest … Read more

TabHere to reward regulars of local spots

Earn rewards by showing your face. That’s right, your face. TabHere, a startup launching in Phoenix this summer, plans to make it easier for loyal customers to earn and redeem rewards at local businesses. Like other similar companies, TabHere uses a virtual rewards system, but founder Paul Kenjora identified an important difference in his model. Unlike … Read more

Scottsdale based Parchment simplifies transcript exchange, college admissions

A local data company aims to make the college admissions process easier for students, and the management of education credentials simpler and safer for institutions and individuals. Venture-backed and headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., Parchment Inc.’s mission is to “unleash education credentials by unlocking the critical data they embody.” Through the Parchment.com website, students can request, … Read more