SEED SPOT 2013 launches 15 new startup ventures

Last night, 15 startup ventures came together to pitch their business ideas to a full house at The Duce in Phoenix for SEED SPOT 2013. Seed Spot is a nonprofit incubator focused on supporting Arizona’s most innovative social entrepreneurs; those creating high impact ventures that improve the lives of people and communities on a local, … Read more

Startups Get Saucy

The startup community is thriving in Arizona. With co-working spaces, entrepreneurial workshops and educational outlets popping up all around the state, why not drink the Kool-Aid and pursue your dream. AZ Tech Beat talked with a few local founders whose products are in the early stages and concepts are aimed to help families overcome potential … Read more

AZ Startups Need Muscle and Money

  Is there money in Arizona to fund startups? Well where is it? This was the main question posed at the Phoenix Business Journal’s Tech Titans event Thursday evening to leaders in the sector. According to the Journal’s article “Show Me the Money” Francine Hardaway, co-founder and partner at tech accelerator Stealthmode Partners in Chandler, … Read more

20 Arizona Startups Get $200,000 in Grants from ASU's Edson Student Entrepreneur Initiative

If you want to be an entrepreneur, ASU is probably one of the best places you could be right now. A few years back, ASU president Michael Crow started an initiative to help make all of ASU’s colleges more entrepreneurial. Every college at ASU started offering business classes, so students wanting to start their own … Read more

AZ Tech Beat is Downsizing

I started AZ Tech Beat four years ago with the goal of exposing the tech activity and growth that was occurring in Arizona. Since then, the team at AZ Tech Beat has written over 1,600 articles about tech startups, funding announcements, event coverage, significant milestones, co-working openings, expansions, and more. Our coverage has gained recognition … Read more

Crowd Mics closes $1M seed round led by Sand Hill Angels

Drop the mic, not the smartphone. Crowd Mics, the startup that turns your smartphone into a wireless microphone, announced today they closed a $1 million dollar seed round led by top angel investment group, Sand Hill Angels. Other participants in the round include Keiretsu Capital, Arizona Technology Investors, Desert Angels, and other private investors. Tim … Read more

Entrepreneurship is not just about making money – Jeff Hoffman co-founder Priceline

Jeff Hoffman traveled the world for three years mentoring startups; he also started a music company, produced and authored an independent film, built airline boarding pass kiosks, won a Grammy, and co-founded Priceline. While he has walked down many yellow brick roads to success, he attributed his achievement to a simple approach, “entrepreneurship is not about making … Read more

Top 25 semifinalists for Fall 2015 ACA Innovation Challenge announced

Over 131 applicants were considered before the judges narrowed it down to the top 25 semifinalists in the Fall 2015 Arizona Innovation Challenge. Led by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), the Challenge is a bi-annual business plan competition for promising early-stage companies in high-growth industries where early-stage startups vie for a slice of the $1.5 … Read more

State legislators pass extension of angel investor tax credit

state legislators

Last week, Arizona state legislators passed SB 1124, which includes an extension of the Small Business Capital Investment Incentive. The incentive, more commonly known as the angel investor tax credit, encourages investment in early-stage companies and tech startups in Arizona. The tax credit has made a $1.38 billion economic impact over the last six years. … Read more

Social Leverage raises $99 million for fourth venture fund

social leverage

Social Leverage, a Scottsdale-based venture capital firm, raised $99 million for its fourth venture fund.  The VC group, made up of managing partners Howard Lindzon, Gary Benitt and Tom Peterson, are looking to invest in early-stage SaaS, fintech and consumer startups.  Peterson told the Phoenix Business Journal that the partners look for companies on the … Read more