Twice a year the Arizona Commerce Authority awards up to $1.5 million in grant funding capital to a group of startups to help them grow their business and fuel innovation. Today the ACA announced the winners of the Spring 2014 Arizona Innovation Challenge, and each one will take home $250,000.
Sandra Watson, President and CEO, ACA said, “This round of the Arizona Innovation Challenge demonstrates why Arizona continues to be recognized as a hub of innovation and technology.”
Picmonic, – Tempe – an online interactive audiovisual learning system that helps kids to med students learn science through their funky, goofy and colorful art and storytelling. Currently, Picmonic is being used in over 70 countries, 500 institutions, and by over 40,000 students. This Fall, Picmonic will be launching the Nursing platform.
Picmonic was recently noted as one of the hottest startups in Arizona in USA Today. Ron Robertson, co-founder Picmonic, shares his thoughts with me after receiving the news, “The entire Picmonic team is ecstatic to win the Arizona Innovation Challenge! Who would have thought silly, colorful pictures could change the way the world learns science? With this grant we look forward to taking Picmonic to the next level and making our visual learning platform available to everyone, everywhere. Our whole team is inspired, and it’s an incredible honor to be considered among all of the great companies in this challenge.”
Amber Alert GPS – Scottsdale – their product is a child-friendly design that enables parents to stay connected with their children through GPS location awareness and two-way mobile voice communications. Parents can track their little ones online through their smartphone. Check our our review of the product at AZTB.
EndoVantage – Paradise Valley – We saw this startup at Venture Madness and made it to the top eight. Their product provides clinicians with powerful computational tools that can accurately simulate medical device deployment (e.g. stents) into blood vessels and predict hemodynamic outcomes.
LawLytics – Tuscon – designed by lawyers for lawyers, this software suite that empowers lawyers to maximize online marketing dollars.
Triton Microtechnologies – Oro Valley – designs and manufactures Through Glass Via (TGV) Technology that enables customers to integrate electronic circuits into glass.
World View Enterprises – Tucson –This company, a developer of high-altitude balloon technology, is sky-high after they completed a success test flight with a capsule that could lift tourists up 20 miles above the Earth-but it’ll cost $75,000. According to the AP, “CEO Jane Poynter said the system broke the world record for highest parafoil flight, lifting a payload to 120,000 feet.”
These startups were whittled down from 135 applicants. To date the ACA has awarded 38 AIC grants to AZ entrepreneurs to help accelerate their business. If you want to apply for the Fall AZ Innovation Challenge, click here.
Read our coverage on past winners of the AIC.
Contributions from Associated Press
