Press Releases

Invest Southwest’s Venture Madness Announces 2018 Finalists and Conference Speakers

Twenty-seven companies will present for a chance to be crowned Venture Madness Champion PHOENIX (January 4, 2018) – Invest Southwest, in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, today announced the final list of companies scheduled to present at the 2018 Venture Madness Conference. Formatting for the annual conference has changed for this year resulting in a […]

Invest Southwest Names Top 16 Finalists for the 2017 Venture Madness Competition

Top 16 will advance to a three-day live event on March 8-10, 2017 PHOENIX (February 3, 2017) – Invest Southwest, in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, has selected the top 16 companies that will advance to the live-demo portion of the 2017 Venture Madness competition. The competition launched in January, giving 64 early-stage companies […]

Top 32 Companies Advance to Round 2 of 2017 Venture Madness Startup Competition

Final elimination round will determine top 16 finalists by February 3, 2017 PHOENIX (January 24, 2017) – Invest Southwest, in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, has selected the top 32 startups who are advancing to round two of the 2017 Venture Madness competition. The Invest Southwest’s selection panel determined the top 64 finalists earlier […]

Top 64 Startups Make the First Round of Cuts for Invest Southwest’s 2017 Venture Madness Competition

Next Round of Elimination Brings the Count to 32 by Jan 25, then Top 16 by Feb 3 $5k People’s Choice Award Voting Opens Today PHOENIX (January 17, 2017) – Invest Southwest and the Arizona Commerce Authority have chosen the top 64 startups for the 2017 Venture Madness competition. Online voting for the $5,000 People’s […]

Invest Southwest Announces New Investment Opportunities for Venture Madness Competitors

PHOENIX (December 21, 2016) – Invest Southwest announces today that MRTNZ Ventures, Grayhawk Investments, the Arizona Founders Fund and Tallwave Capital have committed to creating an unprecedented pool of $300,000 in potential investment dollars that will be available to one or more of the 2017 Venture Madness Top 16 finalist companies. “For nearly 25 years, […]

Invest Southwest’s Venture Madness Startup Competition Call for Entries Opens Nov. 1, 2016

Calling regional investors and early-stage firms, the Venture Madness startup competition call for applications opens November 1, 2016 and runs through January 5, 2017. Get ready to compete for your share of the $100,000 cash prize at the March 8 – 10, 2017 event.

Invest Southwest Appoints Timothy Kelley of Grand Canyon University and Chase Norlin of Transmosis to 2017 Board of Directors

Kelley and Norlin join the Invest Southwest Board of Directors and Executive Committee members who will guide the organization’s strategic direction and mission for 2017.

Invest Southwest Announces Gary Vaynerchuk as Keynote Speaker for Venture Madness

Gary Vaynerchuk will usher in closing keynote at three day live-pitch startup event WHAT: Invest Southwest has secured Gary Vaynerchuk to be the keynote speaker on the final day of Venture Madness 2016. WHEN: March 4, 2016 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. WHERE: Talking Stick Resort 9800 E. Talking Stick Way Scottsdale, AZ 85256 Showroom, […]

Invest Southwest Names Top 16 Finalists for the 2016 Venture Madness Competition

Finalists will advance to a three-day live event in March, 2016 PHOENIX (February 1, 2016) – Invest Southwest, in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, has selected the top 16 companies that will advance to the final elimination round of the 2016 Venture Madness competition. The competition launched in January, giving 64 early stage companies […]

Top 32 Companies Advance to Round 2 of 2016 Venture Madness Competition

Final elimination round will determine top 16 finalists by February 1, 2016 PHOENIX (January 20, 2016) – Invest Southwest in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority have selected the top 32 startups who are advancing to round two of the 2016 Venture Madness competition. Voting for the online ‘bracketology’ competition is now open to the […]