Last Chance to Submit Entries for Invest Southwest’s 2016 Venture Madness Competition

Submissions will be accepted until December 17, 1015

PHOENIX (December 10, 2015) – Entrepreneurs looking to submit for the 2016 Venture Madness competition will have until 3:00pm MST on December 17, 2015 to enter their company for a chance at the $100,000 shared prize. In partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, Invest Southwest will select 64 early-stage companies to compete in the bracket-style, head-to-head competition. The top 64 are announced in early January, then narrowed to the final 16 firms that participate in the live event held March 2 – 4, 2016 in Scottsdale, AZ.

“Every year we are more and more impressed with the caliber of companies that submit,” said Karen Katzorke, Invest Southwest’s executive director. “We are particularly excited about doubling the cash prize this year, as well as the support our sponsors are pouring into applicants through programming and mentorship. The Southwest is home to a lot of amazing startups, and Arizona is a big part of the innovation happening across multiple industries. We are proud to host the event in Arizona and shine the spotlight on our thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

At the live event in early March, the final 16 firms compete over three days in a “March Madness” bracket-style competition. Finalists deliver quick pitches in head-to-head match-ups in front of expert judging panels and conference attendees until a final winner is determined. The top four startups will take home part of the $100,000 cash prize, and a ‘People’s Choice’ award of $5,000 is given to the firm that garners the most online votes from the public.

To download the application or for more information visit http://venturemadness.venturemadness.com.

About Invest Southwest

Invest Southwest is the premier organization for connecting investors with the best and brightest ventures in the region. In addition to providing valuable information on topics important to the investment community, Invest Southwest offers year-round opportunities for investors to connect with emerging growth companies. Its signature event, Venture Madness, is a unique competition presented in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority. Venture Madness pits 64 thoroughly evaluated emerging companies against one another in a bracket-style, head-to-head competition to crown the champion of champions. Visit https://venturemadness.com for more information.