25 startup semifinalists in Spring 2015 ACA Innovation Challenge

The list is in! Here are the 25 semifinalists for the Spring 2015 Arizona Commerce Authority Arizona Innovation Challenge vying for $250,000 to help build their business. All but one startup (Matrix Medical) is Arizona-based. Since 2011, the AIC has received over 1,400 applications. This Challenge is a semi-annual business plan competition awarding $1.5M in the Spring … Read more

The Startup Journal – Pitching with Confidence

For the third entry of the AZ Tech Beat Startup Journal, we spoke to Gregg Scoresby, CEO of CampusLogic, an education technology company delivering transformative software solutions across the student life cycle and the winners of the recent Venture Madness competition, about pitching with confidence. The AZ Tech Beat Startup Journal features a variety of founders … Read more

Brackets, startups and a champion – Venture Madness 2015 wrap up- video

In a room filled with investors, startups, educators and more, two software founders stood center stage under the spotlight and pitched their company for a chance to win $30,000 and become the 2015 Venture Madness champion. CampusLogic, a software company aiming to reduce the arduous process of applying for college financial aid, and EndoVantage, a med tech … Read more

Final 4 startups advance in Venture Madness 2015

Day two of Venture Madness began with the Top 8 going head-to-head in the hopes of advancing onto the Final 4 and ultimately win a share of the $50,000 prize. Afterward, the participants and startups headed over to Salt River Fields to watch Diamondbacks versus the Rockies, and patiently wait for the Final 4 announcement. … Read more

Top 8 startups advance in Venture Madness

The madness came earlier than expected this March as 16 startups tipped off in the 3-day Venture Madness competition all vying to win cash to build their business- first place winners take home $30,000, 2nd place receives $10,000, and $5,000 each for 3rd and 4th place. Day 1 ended with the announcement of the Top … Read more

Venture Madness announces its sweet 16 – updated

The next round of Venture Madness brackets leaves only 16 startups who will move on to the final, live-demo portion of the competition for a chance to win their share of $50,000. Jonathan Ariano, chairman of Invest Southwest comments on the startups, “[They] are shining examples of the entrepreneurship and innovation happening in the Southwest … Read more

32 startups advance in Venture Madness

This round of brackets have closed leaving 32 of the original 64 startups from around the Southwest to compete head-to-head to win their share of $50,000 in 2015 Venture Madness. From here, it’s down to the final 16 companies who will compete in a live-demo event held between March 4-6, 2015. Jonathan Ariano, chairman of … Read more

Top 10 finalists named in ACA Innovation Challenge

It’s come down to ten companies all vying for a chance to win up to $250,000 in the Fall 2014 Arizona Commerce Authority Innovation Challenge. The Challenge is a bi-annual competition where startups and early-stage companies compete for capital to grow their business and advance innovation and technology opportunities in Arizona. READ: Who won the … Read more

ACA announces 25 semifinalists in the race for $250K

Today the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) announced the 25 AZ-based semifinalists in the Arizona Innovation Challenge all vying for a shot at the big prize money. The AZ Innovation Challenge is a semi-annual business plan competition awarding $1.5M in the Spring and $1.5M in the Fall, giving startups a shot at winning up to $250,000. … Read more