12 companies join Startup Tucson Accelerator program

Startup Tucson announced 12 new Tucson companies joining the Small Business Association (SBA) funded Accelerator Program. The second group of Thryve Next growth accelerator program startups will begin their 8-week intensive training Monday. “We’re working with them to revisit the underlying fundamentals of their business models,” Startup Tucson CEO Justin Williams said. “We are looking … Read more

NACET Opens Flagstaff Accelerator Facility

Flagstaff-based small businesses will now have a new space to call home. The City of Flagstaff and Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET) incubator held its grand opening for their 28,000 square foot facility this week. The building will house small businesses working through the NACET incubator or accelerator program. “For us, the … Read more

Phoenix-founded Pivot Freight receives $2.8 million in seed funding

Pivot Freight, a Phoenix-founded but Austin, Texas-based company that helps businesses compare and reduce shipping costs, announced Monday that it received $2.8 million in seed round funding led by Silverton Partners. The company moved to Austin this year to participate in the Techstars accelerator program, a highly rigorous and competitive three-month exercise. Pivot Freight graduated … Read more

Tallwave has a new CFO and promotes three to VP

Tallwave, a Scottsdale-based early growth stage venture services company, announced Tuesday that Vickie Wittie has been appointed to be their new Chief Financial Officer. Wittie has served as CFO at a number of other tech companies and has experience leading financial teams from a startup phase through the initial public offering. Read: Tallwave Capital raises … Read more

Startup Tucson awarded $1.44M to launch Thryve Next accelerator

Startup Tucson was awarded a $1.44 million, five-year contract from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s ScaleUp America program to launch their Thryve NEXT accelerator for second stage companies. Startup Tucson was one of only seven successful applicants nationwide out of over 60 proposals and was the only applicant west of the Mississippi River to receive ScaleUp … Read more

And You Call Yourself An Angel Investor?

GUEST BLOG BY FRED VON GRAF, PMP, SENIOR VENTURE MANAGER AT ASU VENTURE CATALYST So you have an amazing startup that you’ve put your blood, sweat and tears into, and now you’re finally starting to see some traction. Maybe you got some investment, or have revenues that put you in the black. You might even … Read more

Arizona Furnace Accelerator Unveils First Ten Startups

On Friday, at the Arizona Commerce Authority’s offices, the Furnace Accelerator unveiled its first batch of ten startups. With the level of startup activities and tech company launch events in recent months, I am starting to wonder if we are finally on the verge of a mini silicon valley  taking off in the Phoenix area. … Read more