“One of the most important things for startups to know is how precious their equity is; the ownership in their company is,” says Peter Wand, a partner with the law firm Lewis Roca Rothgerber, noting that in some incubators and almost all accelerators there is an aspect of investment in exchange for a share in the company. All incubators and accelerators operate differently, … [More]
P3s: Partnering for the Future
A $600-million convention center expansion. Scientific, medical, research and educational collaborations in the heart of the city. A state-of-the-art automated Sky Train … Indeed, today’s downtown Phoenix is markedly different from what it was even a decade earlier. So how did this transformation take place in such a short span of time? It was due, in part, to public-private … [More]
Trish McCarty: Innovating Education
As founder and CEO of StarShine Academy, a K-12 charter school in Phoenix, Trish McCarty feels strongly that her most important customers are the students, some of whom are just 5 years old. “Our main customers are our children, and the second-most important customers are our teachers,” she says. McCarty was inspired to open StarShine Academy in 2002 because she was deeply … [More]
Walmart Tests Grocery Pickup
Walmart is testing a new initiative in three East Valley locations that allows customers to order groceries online and pick up their order for free at the store. The Valley locations (in Mesa and Chandler) are the first in the Southwest to offer the new service and Metro Phoenix is only the fourth market nationally in which the retail giant is testing its Walmart Grocery Pickup … [More]
Innovation for Travel Gifting
Valley resident Marianne Kunkin built TravelHugg as a gift card specifically for travel and travel-related expenses so that the giver could know its recipient would use the gift card for travel rather than general use. An avid gift-card user, she saw this as a void that personal need inspired her to fill. When she relocated to Phoenix, she says it was with the expectation that … [More]
Chicagoans Launch Beer Distribution in Phoenix
Tapping Phoenix as an up-and-coming beer market, brothers Jason and Jim Ebel — founders of Two Brothers Brewing Co. and Windy City Distributing in Chicago — recently launched Arizona Beer & Cider Company. “We see Arizona like Chicago was five or seven years ago, in terms of being a burgeoning beer market that is poised to do really well,” Jason says. He shares that personal … [More]
2015 Audi S3
Sporty and agile, this smallest of the Audi sedans is powerful and accomplishes the Euro-centric needs that many Americans admire in an Audi. As the sporty version, the Audi S3 is the Audi A3 supercharged. This little car is worth every dollar spent and will engage drivers, meet the latest economic needs in this class, and intrigue those who may be looking at larger sedans from … [More]
DIY Taxes
Small-Business Tax Software may be the way to go. Through technology, there are some great programs that small-business owners can purchase to do-it-yourself if you dare. Here are our pics for the top trusted software programs. H&R Block Deluxe Improved user interface over last year’s version. There is support for major forms and schedules, and solid assistance and help … [More]
In the Barrio Queen Scottsdale
With restaurants popping up everywhere, it is easy to forget about some of the local classics. Barrio Queen in Scottsdale (and soon in Gilbert) is one of those great local legends that cannot be missed for lunch. Although no longer under the direction of Chef Silvana Salcido Esparza, who founded the original concept, Barrio Café, its menu still reflects the creativity of the … [More]
St. Paddy’s Month
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day and includes some very serious lore — although most Americans know St. Patrick’s Day as the day of the year to drink at an Irish Pub. Here are our picks for eats, drinks and a St. Paddy’s Day celebration. Rosie McCaffrey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant The local classic, hands down. Rosie’s is the place to go for anything authentically Irish … [More]
Changing Your Company from the Inside Out
You’re ambitious. You’re not afraid to take risks. You want to bring about positive social change. And while your peers have left a trail of failed startups in their wake, you want to initiate change from within an established company, where you can have a more far-reaching, even global impact. Welcome to the club — you’re a social intrapreneur. But how do you get started and … [More]
Data-ism
New York Times reporter Steve Lohr explores revolutionary changes being ushered in by big-data technology as vast Internet-scale data sets are used for discovery and prediction in virtually every field. Focusing on young entrepreneurs at the forefront of data science as well as on giant companies such as IBM that are making big bets on data science for the future of their … [More]
Feedback: March 2015
Question: How does your co-working space fit in the ecosystem for economic development of startup businesses and what was the attraction of the Greater Phoenix area? Francisco Aguirre Founder The Office Pile Sector: Economic Development The Office Pile is the first culturally diverse co-working space in the nation. Along with its not-for-profit arm, The TOP … [More]
We’re not in charge of the weather, but we do impact the climate
While we’ll all enjoy the “Chamber of Commerce Weather” during Spring Training this month, we can’t take any credit for it. What we will take some credit for is having a community that people want to visit, a welcoming place for living and working, and a healthy economic climate for starting and growing a business. For more than a century, the Tempe Chamber has worked to … [More]
Kickstarting Your Business
The Tempe Chamber has implemented a program for new members known as the Chamber Kickstart. Understanding why a member joined the Chamber and what their expectations are is key to helping them utilize all the benefits the Chamber has to offer. Sitting down with new members and fully understanding their business model and their vision helps our team steer them in the right … [More]
Government Relations
The mission of the Government Relations and Transportation Committee is to make a bottom-line impact for members by advocating for a favorable business climate through interactive public policy engagement, and providing ongoing representation at, and information about, government at the city, county, state and federal levels. The greatest value that the Government Relations … [More]
March 2015 President’s Message
As president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, I often am asked to help shape public policy affecting the state’s tech industry. (If you want to know more about two measures that are part of our focus in this legislative session, see Page 3 in this section.) But it’s my work as chairman of Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) that takes me to Capitol Hill to … [More]
Common Ground
Arizona universities have experienced an increase in the number of degrees granted in high-demand fields, including those requiring emphases in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). According to the Arizona Board of Regents, credentials in the fields grew from 4 percent in the 2009-2010 academic year to 47 percent in 2013-2014 school year. An interest in STEM … [More]
