Venture Madness, presented by Invest Southwest in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, introduces the final 16 competing start-ups. Additionally, Venture Madness announces that Geoffrey Moore, best-selling author of Crossing the Chasm, will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural event.
“Venture Madness is that coalescence of entrepreneurs, start-ups, venture capitalists, angel investors, incubators, along with Arizona’s many supporting organizations, which work together to form a vibrant business environment that helps early-stage companies advance in the global marketplace.”
After two online elimination rounds, only 16 of the original 64 start-ups remain. These final contenders will live pitch their way through the brackets of this unique, head-to-head business pitch competition that culminates March 5-7 at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz. Only one start-up will be named Venture Madness Champion and walk away from the event with their share of $50,000 in cash prizes, along with the prestige that comes with the title.
“Our state provides a platform for innovators to showcase their ideas to the world, creating opportunities for the next generation of Fortune 500 companies and breakthrough start-ups to rise from Arizona,” said Sandra Watson, president and CEO of Arizona Commerce Authority. “Venture Madness is that coalescence of entrepreneurs, start-ups, venture capitalists, angel investors, incubators, along with Arizona’s many supporting organizations, which work together to form a vibrant business environment that helps early-stage companies advance in the global marketplace.”
The Venture Madness Final 16
The advancing start-ups, their industry and hometown, plus their head-to-head matchups for the live pitching rounds are:
- Strongwatch (Tucson | Instrumentation) v. Picmonic (Tempe | Education)
- Brettapproved (Phoenix | Travel) v. Pinnacle Transplant Technologies (Phoenix | Biotech)
- Universal Bio Mining (Tucson | Biotech) v. Outski (Tucson | Travel)
- Phocus (Phoenix | Products/Services) v. ReplyBuy (Scottsdale | Mobile)
- Contatta (Scottsdale | Software) v. Park Genius (Tucson | Software)
- Recoleta (Tucson | Advertising/Marketing) v. Endovantage (Tempe | Healthcare)
- SiO2 Nanotech (Phoenix | Nanotechnology) v. Delivery IT (Phoenix | Software)
- Notebowl (Tucson | Internet/Web Services) v. Clear Demand (Scottsdale | Software)
Keynote Speaker
Geoffrey Moore, best-selling author, leading business consultant and managing director at Geoffrey Moore Consulting, will deliver the keynote address at the inaugural Venture Madness event. Moore brings an in-depth knowledge of the start-up ecosystem to the Venture Madness event agenda.
“Our goal with Venture Madness was to create the go-to event in the region for investors and the start-up ecosystem,” said Jonathan Ariano, chair of Invest Southwest. “Between the exciting, live-pitch format of the competition and now Geoffrey delivering the keynote speech, the inaugural Venture Madness is set to exceed our goal.”
Tickets to Venture Madness, to be held March 5-7 at Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Ariz., include all access to live pitching, an opening and closing cocktail reception, plus tickets to a Spring Training baseball game. Click here to learn more, view the details agenda and purchase tickets.
