Bring On The Brackets

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The Venture Madness judges have deliberated and the verdict is in. It was no easy decision to select 64 finalists from the field of 119, as the quality of all applications was impressive. This is a true testament to the vibrant startup scene…

Madness, indeed.

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Venture Madness is already living up to its name, with nearly 120 startups from five states across 26 different industries applying to compete in the inaugural event. Only 64 ventures will make the cut to be seeded in the first bracket, which…

Will the JOBS Act Ease Access to Capital?

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The year 2014 could be The Year of the Startup. The SEC is poised to enact Title III of the JOBS Act, which would ease equity-based crowdfunding and loosen restrictions on the way businesses may solicit funds from investors. Arizona attorneys…

Tools for Creating and Editing Video Pitches

Your startup pitch video for Venture Madness 2014 does not have to be a professionally filmed production. In fact, the more genuine it is, the better chance voters will recognize you as the fledgling startup that you are. Skip the fancy stuff.…

Tips For Creating A Video Pitch

The elevator speech is the basis for the 90-second videos that Venture Madness judges and the voting public will use to advance startup companies through the brackets starting in February. The application videos are the most important part of…

The ‘Unfolding Flower’ of Crowdfunding

The concept of pooling resources to launch businesses, build buildings and support causes is nothing new. It’s been around for centuries, and in the last three years “crowdfunding” has become part of American pop culture thanks to sites…

What Title III of the JOBS Act Means For Startups

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In October, the SEC released a 585-page document that proposes rules for crowdfunding under Title III of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act (JOBS Act). To be fair, about 20 pages refer to letters of comment from various legislators and…

A Quick Look at Five Types of Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding became part of the pop culture lexicon in 2013 after a few projects gained fame, thanks to platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo. Five basic types of crowdfunding have emerged: equity, reward, gift, debt and revenue. First a…

Competition Supports, Promotes Arizona As A Top State for Startups

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Arizona has ranked among the top states for entrepreneurial activity since 2000, according to the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. In 2011, it hit No. 1 with 520 startups for every 100,000 people. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also…