Pinnacle Transplant Technologies, a Phoenix-based biotech company, and client company at the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI), was named the Venture Madness champion and took home the grand prize of $30K. The competition began with 64 startups and drilled down to one winner.
“It’s been a fun experience,” said Gabriel Hyams, Pinnacle Transplant CEO. “This opens my eyes to a whole new world.”
After the two finalists, Contatta and Pinnacle Transplant were announced Friday afternoon, they had to not only face questions from the panel of judges, but from the audience as well.
Contatta took second place and won $10,000. Clear Demand and Reply Buy both took home $5,000.
Placing second and taking home some prize money will not change how Contatta works, said Pat Sullivan, Contatta CEO. He said it just adds to the hard work already being done by the company.
“There is no magic bullet,” Sullivan said. “There is no one thing, there are always multiple things to make you successful.”
Both Contatta and Pinnacle Transplant said they were dedicated to keeping and growing their businesses in Arizona.
“Being a success in Arizona is very important to me,” Sullivan said.
Hyams said there is an orchestrated effort to bring bioscience and biotech industries and jobs into Arizona.
“Why would I go anywhere else?” Hymas asked.
Read the rest of our Venture Madness coverage here.