Venture Madness Quarterly Partner Huddle (invitation-only)

Venture Madness connects investors with Arizona's most promising tech companies.

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona’s economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: recruit, grow, create – recruit out-of-state companies to expand their operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to grow their business in Arizona and beyond; and partner with entrepreneurs and companies large and small to create new jobs and businesses in targeted industries. The ACA is overseen by a prestigious public-private sector board of directors bringing together industry, academia and government. Chaired by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, the board is comprised of the state’s most prominent private-sector business leaders, university and community college presidents, and elected officials. The ACA’s executive management team drives the organization’s day-to-day operations, ensuring it maintains focus on the recruitment of quality companies and jobs to the state of Arizona. This team brings together the best and brightest in economic development, management and communications.

Where vision and capital intersect. AZ-VC was built out of necessity to fill the void that existed in terms of capital sources for post-revenue companies looking to expand beyond seed-level financing. Without local financing options, these companies relied on venture capitalists outside of Arizona in places like Silicon Valley, Salt Lake City, Denver and elsewhere. Fundraising is always hard – it’s even harder when you are from out-of-town. In 2020, invisionAZ and its Chairman Jack Selby, made an announcement to lead the charge to create the largest venture capital fund in the state’s history. Anchored with $25M from Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, AZ-VC (formerly invisionAZ Fund) began to take shape. In collaboration with prominent members of the Arizona community, this historic milestone has been achieved, demonstrating the inertia and conviction behind Arizona’s thriving tech ecosystem.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is committed to helping Arizonans get healthier faster and stay healthier longer. With a focus on connecting people with the care they need, BCBSAZ offers health insurance and related services to more than 1.9 million customers. Through advanced clinical programs and community outreach, BCBSAZ is inspiring health in Arizona. BCBSAZ, a non-profit company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. The company and its subsidiaries employ more than 2,500+ people in its Phoenix, Flagstaff, and Tucson offices.

Our mission is to attract and grow quality businesses, and advocate for Greater Phoenix’s competitiveness. Established in 1989, the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) actively works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. As the regional economic development organization, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa County and more than 190 private investors to accomplish its mission, and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate. Consistently ranked as a top national economic development organization, GPEC’s approach to connectivity extends beyond the fabric of the community. Known as The Connected Place, Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial technology-focused companies that are committed to changing the game. As a result, over the past 32 years GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping more than 895 companies, creating more than 163,000 jobs and $33.4 billion in capital investment.

Osborn Maledon is a leading Arizona law firm providing litigation, business and general counsel solutions for our clients.

At SRP, we believe in building a better Arizona one innovative step at a time. Salt River Project, or SRP, is a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing affordable water and power to more than 2 million people in central Arizona. It’s made up of two separate organizations: the “Association,” a private water corporation founded in 1903, and the “District,” an electricity provider formed as an agricultural improvement district and a political subdivision of the State of Arizona in 1937. By providing these essential resources for more than a century, we’ve helped the Phoenix metropolitan area develop and thrive. Our guiding principles have remained the same since our founding – to act in the best interest of the people we serve and strive to help build a better future for Arizona. See how decisions get made.

SVB is the financial partner of the innovation economy, helping individuals, investors and the world’s most innovative companies achieve their ambitious goals. SVB’s businesses - Silicon Valley Bank, SVB Capital, SVB Private and SVB Securities - together offer the services that dynamic and fast-growing clients require as they grow, including commercial banking, venture investing, wealth planning and investment banking. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, SVB operates in centers of innovation around the world. Learn more at svb.com/global.