Spring 2013 Arizona Innovation Challenge Winners

Recipients to commercialize technologies to advance businesses success in Arizona  

 

PHOENIX, AZ (June 11, 2013) — The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced the six winning companies in its spring 2013 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC).  This group of grant recipients represents a diverse cross-section of inventive Arizona entrepreneurs who are creating technology solutions with potential global implications:

appsFreedom’s patent-pending Freedom Platform gives clients the ability to quickly and easily design, develop and deploy its own proprietary mobile apps and manage them all through a corporate app store. Its enterprise mobility platform and comprehensive set of ready-to-use, pre-integrated mobile apps called, Freedom Apps, successfully deliver fast, easy access to SAP from a variety of desktops and devices.

Gingerbread Shed provides technology solutions to manage ticketing, marketing and event services for the rapidly growing music festival market.

Nasseo is a medical device company utilizing a molecular-based approach to creating next generation dental and orthopedic implant products. Nasseo’s technology was initially developed as a collaboration between UC San Diego’s Bioengineering and Materials Science Departments as well as the Lund University in Sweden.

ReplyBuy introduces a new form of mobile commerce and helps businesses distribute and sell perishable inventory in near real-time.  Companies of all sizes can launch and deploy customized sales campaigns to drive mobile sales across multiple channels including radio, TV, print, Facebook, Twitter and more from a single dashboard. The platform allows consumers to purchase any available campaign or offer with a simple text message from their phone.

Strongwatch is a developer of autonomous surveillance technology for military, government and commercial clients. The company’s advanced gyrostablized optical surveillance systems provide actionable information for protecting high-value assets.

Viomics is a molecular diagnostics company with products aimed at accurately detecting an array of cancer types early. LungVantage™ its first product is the most accurate and least expensive screen for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) developed today.

 

“Arizona’s innovation ecosystem is robust with companies developing forward-thinking technologies that are helping to expand our state’s economic future, and nurturing these types of companies in Arizona helps to pave the way for tomorrow’s high-wage job creating employers,” said Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO Sandra Watson. “Fostering a business climate that lifts companies from idea stage to commercialization to value for our society is a critical mission for Arizona’s long-term advancement in the global economy.”

 

The AIC is a bi-annual business plan competition that awards qualified, innovative start-ups and early stage companies up to $250,000 in grant funding capital to grow their businesses – ultimately advancing innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona. Winners were selected from a pool of more than 185 applicants.

 

ACA Senior Vice President of Business Development Brian Sherman adds, “The Arizona Innovation Challenge continues to identify and advance the most promising technology solutions.  This round has proven to be the most competitive to date, demonstrating the breadth and depth of talent and idea-generation we’re fostering right here in Arizona.”

 

The ACA commits $3 million annually to the Arizona Innovation Challenge — $1.5 million awarded in both the spring and the fall. Companies receiving awards will be required to commercialize their technology and generate revenue within the following 12 months.

 

Additionally, every applying company that meets the Arizona Innovation Challenge competition’s eligibility requirements will receive constructive feedback generated from the rigorous evaluation process discussing its application and other potential resources to advance success.  All semifinalists will be invited to participate in Venture Ready, the ACA’s mentor program that connects early stage companies with high-level CEOs and serial entrepreneurs to further refine business plans and investor pitches.

 

Media Contact

Nicole McTheny, Arizona Commerce Authority, (602) 845-1231, [email protected]

 

About the Arizona Commerce Authority

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: attract, expand, create – attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on Twitter at @azcommerce.