The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced the six winning companies in its Fall 2013 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC). These grant recipients represent innovative Arizona entrepreneurs who are creating technological solutions with the potential for global impact: 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. The winners were selected from a pool of 180 applicants…drum roll please….
- Clear Demand, Scottsdale – the first omni-channel retail pricing solution, architected on big data, to support all retail sectors. Their retail pricing solution that synchronizes and optimizes prices, promotions and markdowns of products online and in-store.
- Contatta, Scottsdale – is the developer of a cloud-based software solution that brings together all the ways you make contact into a single, intuitive email application you can use anywhere, on any device.
- Deliver It, Phoenix
- 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.
- Recoleta Digital Media, Tucson – a personal grocery circular designed to help grocers showcase their product offers to loyalty card members.
- Yolia Health, the creator of a non-invasive, five-day eye treatment that corrects presbyopia, an age-related condition affecting people older than 40 from reading or doing close-up work without corrective lenses.
“Our state’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem continues to produce and attract companies that are developing technologies in Arizona that are adding value to businesses and providing innovative solutions to address real-world problems,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority. “The Arizona Innovation Challenge has established a platform for entrepreneurs to amplify their success and gain commercial traction in the marketplace, which is positioning Arizona as a best place for business and capital investment – it continues to be a magnet for promising technology and biotech startups that are transforming Arizona into a hub of innovation and growth.”
Congrats to all of the winners!
Read more AZTB coverage of the ACA Challenge here.