Many of us think we have a “great idea,” but getting that idea to a point someone will write a check for is far more complex than many may think. To get funded, it’s important to look for three key elements: Is the idea scalable? Is the team behind it solid and capable to get it there? And is the market actually ready for it? The goal is to convince the potential funders that … [More]
Finding a Home In-Between
An unfilled niche in the real estate industry?! Explains Nick Calvi, “My wife and I were in between homes and in need of a comfortable furnished home for three to four months. We found the process to be very frustrating, calling and emailing owners and property managers, not getting any response. This created extra stress in an already very stressful time. We thought it should … [More]
FLI-ing Right into Sustainability Challenges
When nothing is certain, anything is possible. All it takes for someone to be successful is to find their passion, build a coalition, and work until they transform the future. Alice Murphy and Mark Hansen took this advice to heart when they founded FLI Right last April. “FLI Right is on a mission to transform the future with transformative technologies that aim to support … [More]
rePurpose Disrupts the Waste Cycle
“We believe in recycling as a solution for today, and reduction and redesign as solutions for tomorrow,” says rePurpose co-founder Svanika Balasubramanian. “At rePurpose, we are building a global movement of conscious consumers and businesses going #PlasticNeutral by supporting waste workers worldwide.” The company was founded last year with a mission to provide simple, … [More]
Got Liquid Nitrogen?
That is the question prominently lettered on the side of the N7 Delivery truck that seeks to answer it. Inspired by the need for nitrogen delivery to service their Creamistry locations, business partners Andre Wadsworth and Ryan Zeleznak launched N7 Delivery this past summer to provide nitrogen delivery services to local retail businesses around the Valley in addition to their … [More]
Accounting Aims to Serve Cannabis Businesses
Rebel Rock Accounting provides cannabis businesses nationwide with specialty accounting solutions, tax services, CFO/controller services and business system implementation, filling what CFO Melissa Diaz describes as “a clear void in the fast-paced, ever-evolving industry.” From grow operations and seed-to-sale businesses to dispensaries and beyond, she says she and her fellow … [More]
Waste Not Opportunity
BlueBridge is the wastewater industry’s only provider of cooperative resource recovery solutions for the management of fats, oils and grease (FOG), which make up the No. 1 cause of sewer overflows in the United States. Founded in 2018, BlueBridge is developing and implementing collaborative business models between municipalities, restaurants and organics recovery companies to … [More]
Innovating in the Cannabis Market
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Carefree, Ariz., Tech-Holdings is an innovator in the hemp and cannabis industries, and has developed and patented a proprietary, fast-acting delivery system technology that allows for the products to act within seconds, not minutes. The company owns a portfolio of national brands in these industries and is a leading manufacturer of … [More]
Gig-Staffing for Food & Beverage
Qwick is a Phoenix-based on-demand staffing company that connects service industry professionals with food and beverage shifts in real-time. Its platform enables food and beverage professionals to connect directly with hotels, catering companies, event venues and restaurants, while allowing them the freedom and flexibility to work on their own schedules. To hospitality … [More]
Filling a Neglected Niche in Recycling
Recyclops is an Uber-like service, leveraging a tech-driven smart routing app and local drivers to provide curbside recycling in rural areas, doorstep recycling for urban apartments, and in-office or curbside recycling for businesses. “The innovative solution has eliminated many of the logistical problems that have previously kept recycling from these areas,” explains Ryan … [More]
Incubating Resource Innovation and Solutions
Approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic waste leaks into the ocean every year. Less than half of the U.S. population has access to automatic curbside recycling, and billions of pounds of grease trap waste is ending up in our nation’s sewers every year, causing severe overflows. Luckily, there are several innovative startup ventures working to solve these very problems, … [More]
Dating Concierge Business
Customized dates as a business? That was Dana Lam and Martin Kupper’s idea back in 2017 when they founded their company recently rebranded as Surprise Date Challenge. Based in Phoenix, Surprise Date Challenge helps couples enhance romance and connection through date concierge services. Owners and real-life couple Lam and Kupper create customized, unique date activities that … [More]
Fundamental Income & Net Lease REITs
Fundamental Income was founded late last year to identify and create investment strategies rooted in solid, understandable fundamentals that are expected to generate sustainable income with predictable growth. Co-founders and partners Alexi Panagiotakopoulos and Chris Burbach, the firm’s principals, have extensive experience in net lease real estate, capital markets and credit … [More]
Arizona Facial Plastics – Leader in Regenerative Aging
Arizona Facial Plastics specializes in regenerative aging to help clients feel and look their best. In addition to facial plastic surgery and facial rejuvenation therapies that include lasers, microneedling and a skin-care line, the company offers a platelet-rich-plasma therapy for face, skin and sexual health. Named “Me.Serum,” this prescription potion is customized for each … [More]
True Salt – All-Natural and Unrefined
“While working in Mexico, I discovered this amazing salt and felt that it would be a natural substitution for what restaurants and hotels currently use,” says Brian Pierce. Taking that inspiration, he founded True Salt mid last year, bringing to market an all-natural, unrefined sea salt from the Sea of Cortez — salt with nutrients and flavor, without chemicals or … [More]
Dental Marketplace, Online
The first-ever online dental marketplace — and the only alternative to traditional dental insurance — launched its website out of Arizona a year ago, in March 2018. It was founded with the aim of helping consumers save on dental services and procedures, as well as assist dental practices in growing their client base. “Insurance options have simply become unaffordable for … [More]
Startups Find Community at Perimeter83
What’s a typical day for a startup at Perimeter83? Companies, which may be in-house tenants or affiliate members with offices of their own, may start with a “tech life coaching” meeting in our boardroom on the University of Advancing Technology campus for an individual strategy session. Maybe it’s a tough business decision the client wants to talk through with Executive … [More]
Arboles Home Mortgage: Emphasis on ‘Home’
“Arboles Home Mortgage, LLC is a mortgage lender that offers financing and refinancing on homes throughout Arizona, but we’re more than your usual mortgage lender,” says its principal, Patricia Garcia Duarte, who launched the company as a social enterprise last year. “We know that homeownership creates prosperity for owners and our communities. That’s why we’re committed to … [More]
