Venture Madness incentivizes voters with brackets, apples and cash

While the odds of writing the 2014 NCAA perfect bracket were at 9.2 quintillion-to-1 odds and it only took two days for an obliteration of millions of ESPN brackets, the public gets another chance to put their luck to the test with a new game of Bracketology that involves early-stage companies, and one of them has a … Read more

64 startups chosen for Venture Madness

Startups from around the Southwest have been chosen to compete for $50,000. Invest Southwest, in partnership with Arizona Commerce Authority, is geared up for Venture Madness and have chosen their 64 startups to compete. Venture Madness is a competition that pits 64 startups in a head-to-head bracket for the chance to win a share a pot … Read more

$50K on the line, Venture Madness now open for applications

As the University of Arizona and Arizona State University prepare for this weekend’s territorial match, startups across the southwest are gearing up for their own battle with $50,000 on the line. [youtube]http://youtu.be/XjdVM26O_PQ[/youtube] Presented by Invest Southwest in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, Venture Madness is a competition that pits 64 startups in a head-to-head bracket … Read more

Mouthguards, Mining and Medical win at TiE AZ Fast Pitch Event

Two minutes, 15 companies, three winners. Last night 15 Arizona startups competed and pitched to a room full of investors and entrepreneurs at the TiE AZ Fast Pitch Event to win a slot in the upcoming Venture Madness competition, where startups have the opportunity to win a piece of the $50,000 prize, and TiE AZ Venture Capital pitch event, … Read more

Contatta completes $1.5M convertible round to take product to market

Contatta, the world’s first collaborative email, has completed a $1.5 million convertible round led by Kickstart Seed Fund II and Grayhawk Capital. In addition, all of Contatta’s current board members, including CEO and co-founder Pat Sullivan, and outside investors Desert Angels and Arizona Technology Investors Forum (ATIF) participated in this latest round of investment. “Desert … Read more

Pinnacle Transplant wins Venture Madness, $30K

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 … Read more

Top 4 startups battle for $50K at Venture Madness

Eight startups pitched their ideas this morning at Venture Madness, only four will will move on to the final rounds this afternoon. The advancing companies are Contatta, Pinnacle Transplant Tech, ReplyBuy and Clear Demand. The final four in the Venture Madness competition will compete for a portion of that $50,000 prize this afternoon at Talking … Read more

Only 8 startups left in Venture Madness

After head-to-head live pitches Thursday morning, the eight companies that moved to the next round of Venture Madness, were announced Thursday afternoon at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training game. Venture Madness is a competition presented by Invest Southwest and the Arizona Commerce Authority that started with 64 startups pitching their ideas against each other. After … Read more

Final 16 startups to battle it out at Venture Madness

Venture Madness, presented by Invest Southwest in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, introduces the final 16 competing startups that will pitch live for a chunk of the $50,000 prize. Additionally, Venture Madness announces today that Geoffrey Moore; a best-selling author, Venture Partner, Mohr Davidow Ventures, Chairman Emeritus, TCG Advisors, The Chasm Institute and The Chasm … Read more

32 startups advance to round 2 in Venture Madness

Venture Madness, presented by Invest Southwest, in partnership with Arizona Commerce Authority announced the next round of 32 startups, from the original 64, to advance to round two in the head-to-head competition. Round two is critical as the public vote will directly help their favorite startup advance to the live pitch portion of Venture Madness … Read more