July roundup: Arizona tech stayed hot in the heat of the summer

July

July proved to be another big month for Arizona tech, with local companies raising millions, out-of-towners relocating to the Valley, and plenty of events and cohorts popping up to support startups. This month, we put a spotlight on diversity and talked to leaders from around Phoenix to give founders tips on how to diversify your … Read more

Thinkzilla Founder Velma Trayham is new to Phoenix and wants to help companies diversify workplaces, not portfolios

Thinkzilla

“What the hell am I going to do there?” That’s what Thinkzilla CEO Velma Trayham said to herself when she started thinking about moving to Phoenix. Trayham had heard from a friend that the Phoenix startup ecosystem was really starting to emphasize the importance of diversity in business. And, well, diversity and inclusion is Trayham’s … Read more

So you want more diversity in your startup. Here’s how you can get it

tech

Conversations about diversity, equity and inclusion are happening everywhere — on social media, in our communities and in our businesses. These are important discussions to have, especially in Arizona, where there’s a clear lack of diversity in the tech ecosystem here. Thankfully, companies and people around the Valley are working to prioritize diversity, equity and … Read more

Arizona Technology Council’s Technology Industry Impact Report details job growth, lack of diversity

board members

The Arizona Technology Council released its Q1 2021 Arizona Technology Industry Impact Report, which shows an increase in tech companies, wages and jobs — a continuation from 2020. The report shows tech jobs increased by 3.6%, to 204,161 jobs. Job postings in technology for Q1 have nearly reached the high-water mark set in July 2019. … Read more

Women in tech initiatives reach international heights

Bust out the capes and computers! Women in tech campaigns and initiatives have emerged and built awareness on the national stage. Only 26 percent of professional computing occupations in the 2014 U.S. workforce was held by women, according to the National Center for Women and Information Technology. The sheer shortage of women in the tech … Read more

CODE, a quest for an inclusive society – interview director Robin Hauser Reynolds & CEO GoDaddy Blake Irving

One could feel the pulsating energy and sense of empowerment fill the room during the prescreening of the documentary CODE: Debugging the Gender Gap at the GoDaddy campus. CEO GoDaddy and executive producer of CODE, Blake Irving, hosted the film for his employees followed by a panel discussion with director Robin Hauser Reynolds. Inspired by … Read more

POTUS Demo Day promotes diversity, AZ companies recognized

Co-written with Tishin Donkersley Only 1% of America’s venture capital-backed startups are led by African Americans, and only 3% are led by women. This has to change. Today, President Obama is hosting the first White House Demo Day, promoting diversity across all industries for women and minorities. The event is giving 30 entrepreneurs and startups … Read more

TechCrunch announces Include, a Diversity Partner Program for Social Enterprises

Does your company thrive for diversity and inclusiveness? On Tuesday, TechCrunch announced its Include program that is designed to help social enterprises (nonprofit and for profit) working to make tech a more inclusive place. The Include program offers a year’s worth of access to TechCrunch resources – financial, media and events. TechCrunch’s mission “is to … Read more