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in partnership with

Arizona Commerce Authority - Invest Southwest Premier Partner

Venture Madness Annual Conference Conference & Expo

Our signature event draws active investors and pits the most promising startups against each other live on stage in a ‘Shark Tank’ style, action-packed event. See innovative, early-stage companies all in one place.

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ANNUAL PROGRAMS & EVENTS

Join us for our fast pitch events where startups compete live to an investor audience.

STARTUP TRAINING EVENTS

Learn how to apply for and compete in Venture Madness with expert tips from seasoned investors.

Check out our highlight reel to see what all the madness is about

Venture Madness 2023 Agenda

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ACA

About

Venture Madness by Invest Southwest brings together investors with the region’s most promising ventures.  Venture Madness offers year-long memberships, partnerships, programs and events.  Want to be a part of the madness?  Visit our Get Involved page to learn more and join.

Check Out Our Featured Past Winner Story

Campus Logic - Venture Madness Winner

Watch More Past Winner Stories on Competing in Venture Madness

Watch Venture Madness Winner Stories

How it Works

The annual Venture Madness Conference brings together investors with the region’s most promising companies. Companies selected to present at the event are chosen by an expert selection panel, and pitch to an audience of nearly 300 attendees on stage at the live event.

Selected companies receive invaluable company exposure and mentorship from investors, business leaders, seasoned executives and other successful entrepreneurs. In addition, the conference provides a platform for networking between investors, presenting companies, Venture Madness partners and other attendees. During the event, companies pitch for a chance to win cash and build a network with accredited investors from across the country.

Please Note: If your company is selected to present, your CEO will be required to attend our Presenting Company Orientation and Mentor Sessions held in in the two months prior to the conference.

PRESENTING COMPANY CATEGORY SAMPLES
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Revenue Categories

  • $0 – $100K in Annual Revenue
  • $100K to $1 Million in Annual Revenue
  • $1 Million to $5 Million in Annual Revenue
  • $5 Million+ in Annual Revenue

Industry Categories

  • Software/SaaS – All software and software as a service companies.
  • Hardware Technologies – Non-medical hardware devices companies.
  • Medical (non-software) – Medical device companies.
  • Manufacturing – Manufacturing companies who make their own physical products.
  • EV and Battery – Electric Vehicle related companies and Battery tech companies.
  • Agriculture – Food and agriculture companies.
  • Other – If none of the above describes you, choose this category.

Where to Stay

Sheraton Downtown Phoenix (Venture Madness Main Event Venue)

Book Now with Venture Madness Group Rate
$315/night + taxes
Based on room availability

Additional Nearby Hotel Options

Kimpton Hotel Palomar

Courtyard by Marriott Phoenix Downtown

Hyatt Regency Phoenix

Marriott Renaissance Phoenix Downtown

FAQs

The Venture Madness Conference, by Invest Southwest in partnership with Arizona Commerce Authority, connects investors with early-stage and growth companies in the U.S. The 2023 conference is scheduled for April 12-13. With an audience of nearly 300 attendees including accredited venture capital and angel investors, seasoned entrepreneurs and business leaders, approximately 16-24 presenting companies showcase their innovative solutions and business plans in various tracks to compete for investor attention, media attention, future investment potential and cash prizes.

A Venture Madness representative will contact each company to notify them if they have been selected. The companies selected to present at the conference are required to attend the following sessions (times and locations TBA):

  1. Presenting Company Orientation + Kick-Off Reception (February 15, 2023)
  2. Mentor Team Sessions (February 24 & March 10, 2023)
  3. Venture Madness Conference (April 12-13, 2023)

It is FREE to apply for the Venture Madness Conference. If your company is selected to present at the conference, you will be responsible for your travel and accommodations to participate in the live event.

Go to our online application platform, StartupWind, provided by our premier partner, Arizona Commerce Authority. Note that after you create your application profile, you will receive a confirmation email that comes from Arizona Commerce Authority from email “info@startupwind.com.”  That email will have your temporary password so you can log into the system to complete your application. Then just follow the instructions. GOOD LUCK!

Companies that present at the conference will not only meet other founders and seasoned entrepreneurs who’ve walked in your shoes (which is invaluable in a startup’s journey), you’ll meet mentors and industry influencers who can help mentor your team and accelerate your growth. You’ll also have the opportunity to network and spend quality time connecting with some of our region’s most active angel and venture capital investors, get mentorship from successful entrepreneurs and past contestants, and connect with the other competing companies.

You’ll also network with and learn from a 30+ member selection panel that includes expert investors, investment bankers and seasoned service professionals, in addition to the other entrepreneurial minds and guest speakers who attend the event. Your startup will get national and international exposure through the Venture Madness website leading up to, and throughout the competition, as we promote the event and competing companies online through search and social media, as well as PR exposure through the local and national media. All participating companies will be mentioned in the conference notebook and the press releases that are distributed to local press and nationally throughout the competition, on Venture Madness’s, ACA’s and some partner social media channels, as well as to more than 300 attendees at the live event. You’ll also receive ongoing promotions and PR following the event via the website, social media and PR.

Venture Madness will review initial applications, and based on weighted scores, the top finalists will be invited to participate in the Venture Madness Conference. Read the How It Works section for more information.

Applications are reviewed and evaluated by an expert selection panel and evaluation criteria is based on your solution uniqueness, competitive differentiation, market traction, potential market opportunity, business model, team strength and presentation quality. Please check back for the competition Terms and Conditions for more details on evaluation timelines.

Once you have successfully submitted your application, you should receive a confirmation email from the application platform, specifically from our Premier Partner, Arizona Commerce Authority via email from info@startupwind.com. Please add this email to your address book along with karen.katzorke@venturemadness.com to ensure receipt of future communications regarding your application and participation status. Please note that you cannot amend your application once submitted, however, you can save your partial application and revise it *before it is submitted* at any time up to the deadline.

A Venture Madness representative will be in touch with you approximately two months prior to the conference if your company is selected to present. At that point, you’ll receive all necessary instructions on your participation and preparation for the event. Then the rest is up to you!

If you have a technical difficulty submitting your application through our new application platform, called StartupWind, please submit a help request through the platform HELP link. If your response is not resolved through StartupWind support, please contact Karen Katzorke, Executive Director of Invest Southwest, as soon as possible. Due to tight timelines, we ask that you follow up quickly with any issues or questions.

Please note that Invest Southwest receives a high volume of calls and emails in the (3) weeks prior to the application deadline, and we’ll do our best to respond to your request in the order it was received. Due to this volume, we strongly suggest you start and submit your application process as early as possible during the application window.

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Venture Madness’s primary focus is the health and safety of our attendees and partners. As in 2022, we are closely monitoring conditions, including following the recommendations from the CDC and the State of Arizona Governor’s office and health agencies. We will err on the side of caution and ensure the safety of all attendees.

OUR COVID POLICY

The primary focus of Venture Madness is the health and safety of our attendees and partners. We are closely monitoring national and local conditions, including following the recommendations from the CDC and the State of Arizona Governor’s office and health agencies. We will err on the side of caution and notify attendees of any updates as event dates approach. We will make masks and sanitizer available at all in-person events.

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