Startups from Across Arizona Pitch Business Ideas
For Immediate Release
May 8, 2013
Media inquiries
Office of University Research Parks: Jessa B. Turner ● (520) 382-2485 ●
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Startups from Across Arizona Pitch Business Ideas
4thAnnual PitchDay at Arizona Center for Innovation
(Tucson, Arizona) Twenty-two startup companies from all over the state of Arizona presented their business concepts to potential investors, business mentors and partners during the 4th annual PitchDay at the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) on May 9, 2013. This event provided the community with an opportunity to get a firsthand look at promising new companies emerging from the region. More than 100 people participated in PitchDay, which included a networking reception that followed the company presentations.
AzCI is a business incubator, focused on helping entrepreneurs and inventors turn their innovative ideas into successful ventures. The foundation of AzCI is Mentored Launch, a comprehensive 12-month program that includes mentoring, customized programs and training, interactive workshops, an immediate network of mentors and subject matter experts, and access to full-service office and laboratory facilities and equipment at the UA Tech Park.
AzCI is a founding member of the Arizona Business Incubation Association, a statewide organization focused on sharing best practices among incubators, accelerators and allied organizations, to support new venture development and growth across Arizona. This year, AzCI opened the event to members and participants of the statewide network, to showcase new innovation in our community and to help promote business incubation across the state. Companies presented from the following organizations: Tallwave, ASU SkySong, Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology (NACET), Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) at Gateway, AzTera, UA McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship, GangPlank Tucson, and the Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI).
The companies that pitched are:
Acomni, LLC (AzTera)
Arbsource (CEI)
Colloidal Gen (AzCI)
Convrrt (Tallwave)
Creative Allies (Tallwave)
Crowd Audio (McGuire)
DNA on a Shirt (CEI)
Exchange Meds (Tallwave)
Grafted Growers (McGuire)
Howdy (McGuire)
Local Work (Tallwave)
Metropia (AzCI)
Nest Energy (NACET)
Obelus Media (Tallwave)
Property Management EZ (AzCI)
Quantified Resistance (Gang Plank Pirate Mansion)
RallyUp (AzCI)
Rarus Innovations (ASU SkySong)
Save on Couriers (Tallwave)
Ufree (AzCI)
Vive (McGuire)
YourLabs (AzCI)
"We see great benefits for AzCI companies to participate in PitchDay, this is an excellent opportunity for them to showcase their new ventures and meet with potential partners and investors. The teams today did an exceptional job; representing the talent and spirit that exists here in Southern Arizona," said Corey Smith, AzCI Entrepreneur in Residence.
AzCI Director Joann MacMaster, added, "Our goal is to help these companies bring new products and ideas to market. But more importantly, our focus is to help the founders build companies that are successful, financially viable, and sustainable well after the startup years. This success adds to the growth of our entrepreneurial ecosystem, as these companies create new jobs, generate wealth, and attract larger companies to our region. Today was a great example of how we can come together as a community and a state to support these startups."
The Arizona Center for Innovation (AzCI) is a business incubator and innovation center that promotes and accelerates technology commercialization, helping entrepreneurs transform their ideas into successful companies. AzCI has served over 75 companies since inception in 2003. AzCI is a component of the Office of University Research Park which is part of the initiative Tech Launch Arizona – a new approach to managing the commercialization of technologies at the University of Arizona.
The Arizona Business Incubation Association was created in 2011 as a way to share information with business incubators and allied organizations across Arizona. The purpose of the Arizona Business Incubation Association is to provide a professional statewide Association, which provides a means for its members to educate, communicate and obtain mutual support in order to develop and promote effective business incubation in the State of Arizona.
