Biosciences – Health Forward
Healthcare as a topic is often associated with one crisis or another: availability, delivery model, cost, et cetera. But behind all of that is the bioscience industry — and that industry is thriving here in Metro Phoenix.
Healthcare is at a pivotal crossroads. To solve our industry’s most pressing challenges, we must fundamentally shift how care is delivered, moving it closer to the patient: faster, more affordably, more exact, and with less friction.
True innovation isn’t about using “AI” as a trendy buzzword; it is about deploying practical, accountable technology to tackle problems that are urgent, expensive, and frequent. Whether predicting disease years before symptoms appear or automating complex diagnostics at the point of care, technology must serve human dignity and elevate clinical outcomes.
That philosophy is driving a transformative era for Greater Phoenix. With the launch of the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering at Arizona State University, we are training a new generation of physician-engineers equipped to merge bedside care with systems-level thinking using artificial intelligence and engineering.
Simultaneously, through vehicles like Jetstream Venture Fund, we are seeding local healthtech startups to ensure these future leaders have the support of a thriving ecosystem right here in Arizona. By uniting clinical education, venture capital, and bioscience innovation, we aren’t just adapting to the future of healthcare—we are actively building it in our own backyard for the betterment of Arizonians
Arizona is one of the nation’s fastest-growing and most attractive hubs for biosciences, and that sector is one of the state’s fastest-growing industries. The diversity of companies furthers the strength of the synergy powering the bioscience industry here, and 11 of those companies share insights into their place in the industry.
Artificial intelligence is enabling a lot of advances in every aspect of our lives, but it’s also being blamed for adding to unemployment issues. Karla Jo Helms argues that two popular demons in this regard — AI and remote work — are easy scapegoats as she presents “Remote Work Did Not Fail Young Workers –Management Did” feature article.
Offering a different view of management in the From the Top feature “Mark Davis: Brewing Black Rock Coffee Bar’s Next Chapter,” Davis gives us a candid look at how he took Black Rock Coffee Bar public while keeping the strong company culture that has generated exceptional employee loyalty and longevity.
Eleanor Shaffer addresses an ongoing business concern — liability — in this month’s Legal feature “Preventing Lawsuits through Better Safety Policies.” And Kyle Henzel addresses an issue that is becoming pervasive although not yet commonly communicated: In his Roundtable feature “The Hidden Shipping-Cost Crisis,” he delves into the parameters of the problem but also offers suggestions on how AI can help small businesses protect their profit margins.
Smaller articles in regular departments, from Startups to CRE to Technology, are an additional monthly trove of informative and relevant content, this month including “9 Efficiency Hacks Every Entrepreneur Should Implement Today” and “Where Hospitality Meets Housing: The Rise of Resort-Adjacent Residential Communities in Phoenix” and “Arizona Farmers Look Skyward for Relief” as well as a look at the new economic driver of live shopping.
Also this month, In Business Magazine presents the Arts & Culture Guide for 2026/2027 season to showcase some of our great organizations and provide information on how to connect to enrich your lives and help impact our great community.
It is my pleasure to work with In Business Magazine in its efforts to inform and strengthen our local economy. Please enjoy this August edition of In Business Magazine.
Sincerely,
John Shufeldt, M.D., J.D., MBA, FACEP
Founder & Managing Director
Xcellerant Ventures and Jetstream Venture Fund
John Shufeldt is a healthcare entrepreneur, investor, and founder and managing director of Xcellerant Ventures and Jetstream Venture Fund. With more than 35 years of clinical and venture experience, he previously founded national platforms that include NextCare, MeMD and Tribal Health. A dedicated serial innovator, Dr. Shufeldt recently established the John Shufeldt School of Medicine and Medical Engineering at Arizona State University, which welcomed its inaugural class of physician-engineers in July, 2026.
