Tech Launch Arizona gives five student start-up teams funding for impactful proposals

start-up

Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) awarded funding to five start-up teams to develop software or mobile apps that will have a real societal impact. TLA collaborated with the University of Arizona Research, Innovation and Impact and Arizona FORGE to host the Impact Software/App Challenge.  Doug Hockstad, the assistant vice president of TLA, said the competition was … Read more

UArizona receives $2 million in support of space programs

Space

The University of Arizona has received a very generous gift from a graduate: $2 million to advance UArizona’s space exploration.  The university said $1.5 million will be used to purchase a nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometer, an instrument that those at the UArizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory will use to study samples from the solar … Read more

SoulSpark and Biometrica partner to protect at-risk youth

SoulSpark

Arizona-based SoulSpark, a virtual clinic that provides mental health services to young survivors of trauma, partnered with Biometrica Systems, a technology company based in Arizona and Nevada that tracks crime and criminals, to protect at-risk youth victims of tragic events. Biometrica created eMotive, a 24/7 criminal background checking software. SoulSpark was the first healthcare organization … Read more

Arizona Technology Council praises Arizona’s FY 2022 budget proposal

board members

The Arizona Technology Council praised Gov. Doug Ducey and the Arizona Legislature for the fiscal year 2022 budget proposal. The proposal includes many of the Council’s key priorities outlined in their Public Policy Guide. Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Council, said the budget includes funding to keep Arizona competitive in the tech … Read more

22 of Arizona’s major tech developments in May

Arizona saw some big tech developments in May, from expansion, acquisitions and life-saving partnerships to raising millions for local and regional startups. Another possible TSMC expansion in Arizona Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the world’s largest chipmaker, may expand even more in Arizona. Reuters reported in early May that sources familiar with TSMC’s expansion plans said … Read more

Invest Southwest expands Venture Madness competition to companies nationwide

Venture Madness

The 2021 Venture Madness event, Arizona’s longest-running VC conference and pitch competition, is now open for applications through June 3. The difference this year? The event is open to companies across the U.S. “Business growth in Arizona has propelled the state to become one of the best places in the country to start a company,” … Read more

How to improve company culture — and minimize drama — in your growing startup

As your company grows, you may notice a change in the air around your physical — or virtual — office. You might hear of petty drama, rumors or disgruntled employees through the grapevine. “When did this happen?” you might think. How did attitudes change so much on your watch? According to Chris Cardinal, it’s likely … Read more

Sonoran Founders Fund plans to raise $10 million to invest in local, regional startups

The Sonoran Founders Fund, led by CEO and co-founder Romi Dhillon and co-founders Dan Burns, Cathy Eckstein and Kevin Groman, plan to raise and invest $10 million into Southwest-region pre-seed and seed-stage startups in 2021. According to the fund’s website, the group looks to invest in the SaaS, marketplaces, AI, Fintech, Edtech and healthcare IT … Read more