Arizona Commerce Authority Entrepreneurial Company Programs & Resources

Randy Gustafson@azcommerce

ACA’s Innovation Team

Randy GustafsonVice President, Innovation

• Miguel Jardine – Arizona Innovation Challenge• Jill HowardAllen – SBIR Training & Initiatives• Deborah Klatt – Biz Development Coordination

www.AZCommerce.com/Start-up

What We Do

Building Connective Tissue

Title textENTREPRENEURIAL ECOSYSTEMThe ACA builds “connective tissue” between important stakeholder groups in Arizona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem

TO BENEFIT ENTREPRENEURS !

Andy Stoll

ACA Partnerships

Title text– AzBIA – Coordination, collaboration, sponsorship and administrative support (40 members)

– Invest Southwest – “Venture Madness” - 64 companies participating in online and live head-to-head pitches (March 2-4, Talking Stick Resort)

– Investors – Angel and VC investor groups/funds– Economic Development Partners– Higher Education – Universities, Community Colleges,

Technical/Trade Schools– SciTech Festival – over 800 events from Feb-Mar annually;

focused on STEAM initiatives and entrepreneurship– Arizona Tech Council, AZBio and many, many more …..

ACA Innovation Programs

Title textThe Angel Tax Credit Program– Tax credit up to 35% for investors in certified

companies who have an AZ tax liability.– For investments made in 2014 or later, NO Arizona

capital gains tax on income derived from investments in certified companies.

IMPACT:– Since 2006, 129 certified companies have received over 1,030

investments (totaling more than $61 Million).– $20.0 Million has been awarded in tax credits to-date.– Legislative efforts continuing NOW to obtain additional funding.

ACA Innovation Programs

Title textSBIR Training (formerly, PIII Playbook)– 2-day, technical assistance workshops to train

companies how to write SBIR/STTR grants.– Additional workshops and initiatives, including an

Arizona SBIR Resource Center

IMPACT:– 12 workshops held to-date, serving >100 companies– >$150,000 of delivered value ($1,500 per participant)– Additional SBIR events touched >125 companies

Next Workshop: MAY 17-18 (Phoenix)

ACA Innovation Programs

Title textArizona Innovation Challenge– Awards one of highest amounts of money in the country for a

technology commercialization challenge – $3 MM ($1.5 MM twice per year).

– Grants range from $100,000 to $250,000 per company, used to commercialize their technology within 1 year.

IMPACT:– 9 rounds to-date: 1,552 applications from 967 unique startups.

• Last 8 rounds alone (851 unique companies): >$775 Million in capital raised by companies; >$540 Million in total assets reported; almost 4,600 employees represented.

– 54 winning companies, awarded $13+ Million (non-dilutive).

Spring 2016 Round (10th) – Deadline is March 7th !!

ACA “Other” Programs

Title textArizona Innovation Accelerator Fund (AIAF)– $18.2 million federal grant, stimulates loan financing

to Arizona’s small businesses and manufacturers.

IMPACT:– Since Feb ’12: Approximately 55 deals, with over $18 Million in

deployed capital, representing the creation of over 2,100 FTE jobs (with nearly a $50K average salary). Capital in the fund is redeployed as loans mature.

– Current pipeline of about 20 companies, about 3 that may close within 30 days.

ACA “Other” Programs

Title textRevAZ (Arizona’s MEP center)– Goal is to become the central resource for technical assistance

and all things manufacturing for Arizona’s existing community of small and medium-sized manufacturers.

– Offers products and services that match the needs of manufacturing companies by providing focused, concrete advice, training and hands-on assistance in growing businesses and improving competitiveness.

– Includes: continuous improvement; business strategy to expand markets; certifications; facility expansion planning; supply chain.

IMPACT:– Began September 2013; in partnership with NIST– Touched over 1,000 companies; over 100 of tangible impact

PHX Startup Week Rocks !!

randyg@azcommerce.com