15 Great Resources for Phoenix Startups

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It is often called the Silicon Desert. Phoenix is ripe with entrepreneurial activity and resources to support it. With an innovation ecosystem, Arizona attracts forward-thinking start ups. Here is a compilation of supportive sites for your bourgeoning business.

EVENTS & SUPPORT:

Arizona Commerce Authority—The Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC) awards the most money in the country for a technology challenge, $3 million, to the world’s most promising technology ventures.

Invest Southwest Improving Investibility Workshops—Workshops that help entrepreneurs connect with mentors, investors and more all while sharpening their skills.

Startup Grind Phoenix—Arizona chapter of a global community educating, inspiring and connecting #entrepreneurs. 150 local Chapters in 50 countries. Powered by Google For Entrepreneurs.

Startup Tucson—Developing a startup ecosystem of companies, entrepreneurs, and talent in Tucson. Helping to spur economic growth by organizing educational events and networking events.

Startup Weekend Phoenix (November 20-22, 2015)—A grassroots movement of entrepreneurs learning the basics of founding startups.

Venture Madness—Annual bracket style competition where startups complete for funding and mentorship. Applications for 2016 are being accepted NOW!

INCUBATORS & ACCELERATORS:

Local Incubators and Accelerators: Phoenix area entrepreneurs have several options to help their business get off the ground. Business incubators support startup companies by providing mentorship and resources to help them survive and thrive. Here are some of the possibilities in Arizona:

Arizona Furnace Technology Transfer Accelerator—Apply for and Attend the Arizona Furnace competition to pitch your business plan for the right to license and commercialize your technology

ASU Startup Accelerator—This ASU Startup Accelerator (ASA) is designed to assist local entrepreneurs with launching their startups and commercializing technology.

AZ Techcelerator—The AZ TechCelerator is a business incubator with a focus on new innovation, technology and entrepreneurship.

Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation—The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) is an incubator dedicated to supporting technology-based businesses through validation, product development, commercialization and growth, for the purpose of facilitating quality job creation for the greater Phoenix region.

Game CoLab—The Game CoLab Incubator Program is a hands-on, action-based learning program helping game development company founders and teams with innovative and disruptive ideas turn concepts into market ready products.

High Tide—A program for early-stage startups that provides intensive systems around Design, Product, Branding, and Customer Acquisition—the necessary components to turn an idea into a business.

MAC6 Incubation & Leadership Academy—Entrepreneurial investors provide financial and intellectual capital through a team-focused leadership development program for people determined to make a difference in the world.

Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET)—Helping grow businesses from ideas to sustainable revenue, from business plans to ribbon cuttings, with a culture of innovation and team of experts that support startups to the next step, and the next after that.

Seed-Spot—A network, creative space, curriculum and mentorship to educate, accelerate, and invest in entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to social problems.

Tech Launch Arizona, UofA—TLA helps move inventions, technologies and intellectual property from the laboratory out into the marketplace. Bringing together the faculty and researchers of the UA with the business community to maximize research and innovation efforts.

The list is ever-evolving, and surely there are many more resources to explore. Bring your business to life in Phoenix and enjoy the nurturing entrepreneurial ecosystem. Invest Southwest is the connective tissue between investors and startups in the region, serving the entrepreneurial ecosystem through workshops and seminars and networking opportunities for investors and entrepreneurs.