PHOENIX, AZ (August 27, 2025)  – The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced 10 awardees have been selected for the Fall 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC). The Fall 2025 cohort includes some of the state’s most promising Software as a Service (SaaS)/AI startups. 

 

The 10 companies will be added to the Arizona Innovation Challenge portfolio and work with a successful startup mentor, known as an Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR), over a 12-week period to accelerate the startup's trajectory.

 

The ACA received 67 initial applicants for the fall cohort. From that pool, judges selected 25 semifinalists, who pitched their startups head-to-head earlier in the month. Fifteen finalists advanced to the final round and participated in virtual interviews before judges selected the 10 awardees.

 

Judges for the Fall 2025 cohort included prominent Arizona venture capitalists (VCs) and investors including Clate Mask, CEO of PHX FWD and Gregg Scoresby, Founder and Managing Partner of PHX Ventures and founder of AIC awardee CampusLogic, and VCs including AZ Venture Capital Inc., AZ-VC, and Plug and Play.

 

“We’re thrilled to celebrate this year’s Arizona Innovation Challenge awardees—trailblazing startups at the forefront of SaaS and AI innovation,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “These visionary companies are not only shaping the future of technology but also fueling Arizona’s rise as a national hub for next-gen innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.”

 

AIC Semifinalists and Finalists who did not become AIC Awardees will be invited to participate in Venture Raise, a 12-week accelerator that focuses on funding options, investor pitching, startup financial health, and more.

 

To learn more about the Arizona Innovation Challenge, please visit azcommerce.com/start-up.

Media Contact

Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, alyssat@azcommerce.com

About the Arizona Innovation Challenge

The Arizona Innovation Challenge launched in 2011 as a way to identify and accelerate support for Arizona’s most promising startups. Since then, 160 AIC awardees have been selected from over 3,000 applicants, representing a combined portfolio value of more than $6 billion. AIC awardees represent sectors such as AI/SaaS, IT and software, bio and life sciences, cleantech and renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Previous awardees include successful startups such as Botco.ai, CampusLogic, Paradox, GT Medical Technologies, and more.

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 X @azcommerce.