The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced its 25 semifinalists in the Fall 2013 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC), a bi-annual business plan competition that awards the most money in the country for a technology commercialization challenge.
The ACA awards $3 million annually — $1.5 million in the spring and $1.5 million in the fall — to the most qualified, innovative startups and early stage companies. Recipients receive up to $250,000 in capital to grow their businesses, advancing innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona.
In the IT Software category, 12 companies made the semifinals:
- Beckon Call, Scottsdale – a professional medical message and answering service for physicians
- CellTrust Corporation, Scottsdale – is the world’s leading provider of mobile communication security and preeminent supplier of Secure Mobile Information Management (SMIM).
- Clear Demand, Scottsdale – the first omni-channel retail pricing solution, architected on big data, to support all retail sectors.
- Contatta, Scottsdale – a digital platform that help workers simplify and streamline the influx of communication that works across any device and focuses on relationship-based messaging and contextual collaboration.
- Deliver It, Phoenix
- Metropia, Inc., Tucson – Launched, Smartrek a traffic demand management app that can predict vehicular traffic flows using real-time traffic data and predictive algorithm to provide travelers with the clearest routes and future departure times to help alleviate traffic congestion and pollution citywide.
- Park Genius, Tucson – A mobile application that allows you to pay for your parking meter through your phone using your credit card.
- PassRules US Security LLC, Scottsdale
- Photon Medical Communications, Phoenix – Through push-notification technology Photon™ allows the on-call physician to access this critical information immediately and conveniently, providing a more accurate and responsive consult—right over their mobile device.
- Pinnacle Cart, Phoenix – eCommerce software leader that helps small-to-enterprise businesses design, develop and manage their webstores and facilitate growth
- Recoleta Digital Media, Tucson – a personal grocery circular
- Stat Coordinations, Flagstaff – a NACET venture created technology to screen any hospital in the country for capacity and capability and provide access to transport companies at the time the transfer decision is made. They were a recipient of ACA Fast Grant program.
“I want to congratulate our semifinalists. Arizona’s investment in these talented entrepreneurs and high growth-potential companies contributes to a stronger and more dynamic high-tech community, one that will continue to innovate and diversify our state’s economy long term,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority.
The ACA will name its Fall 2013 Arizona Innovation Challenge finalists in early December and the winners later that same month. For the complete list click here.
Want to know who won last time? Check out the winners at AZ Tech Beat.