Video contribution by Jesse Millard and photo contribution by Thomas Hawthorne
Wasabi Ventures, a bi-coastal venture capital firm and incubator for early stage startups, plan to open offices by the end of 2015 where they intend to fund and found 20 startups within two years, said TK Kuegler, founder and partner at Wasabi Ventures.
Kuegler specifically came out to talk at Phoenix Startup Week and get to know many of the local startup founders and executives.
Watch our exclusive interview with TK Kuegler from Phoenix Startup Weekend
[youtube]http://youtu.be/Yuv1ykN3G_s[/youtube]
Startups they plan to fund will be put through their 13-week incubator program, Wasabi Ventures Academy, and give founders a first-hand experience in the startup and venture world.
“We think (Phoenix) is a great emerging market,” Kuegler said. “It really has a lot of advantages making it a better destination for startups.”
Wasabi Ventures looks at startups from all walks of life, except for biotechnology, Kuegler said. His company has built, financed, and advised over 200 start-ups Right Now Technologies, PBworks, Ustream, and Etherpad, TrackR, Ustream, InVino and Gizmo.
Though there isn’t an exact location where the offices will be yet, Kuegler said, Wasabi will be looking at the greater metro Phoenix area as a whole for a new location.
RELATED: what other companies expanded to Arizona?