Venture Start

The Arizona Commerce Authority is proud to partner with the J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute at Arizona State University to launch Venture Start, a high-energy, week-long entrepreneurial cohort designed to help aspiring founders rapidly transform ideas into ventures.

Venture Start is designed for early-stage entrepreneurs, recent graduates, innovators and individuals exploring entrepreneurship during the summer months. Participants will engage in five consecutive days of hands-on workshops, expert-led instruction, practical venture building activities and access to Arizona's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Hosted in a hybrid format at ASU 850 PBC in Phoenix, Venture Start combines structured entrepreneurial education with a collaborative founder experience that encourages creativity, accountability and rapid action.

Participants who complete the program will be recognized as Venture Start Founders, receive a certificate of completion and have the opportunity to showcase their ventures during the Venture Start Graduation and Pitch Showcase.

To get started, click the link below to create an account on ASU's entrepreneurial learning platform, connect with the Venture Start community and access program resources.

Venture Start Fall 2026 Schedule

Session 1: Building Effective Strategies
Tuesday, Sept 29, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hybrid – ASU 850 PBC or Virtual
Explore the entrepreneurial mindset, discover tools used by successful founders and begin developing a Business Model Canvas to frame and evaluate your venture opportunity.

Session 2: Desirability
Tuesday, Oct 6, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hybrid – ASU 850 PBC or Virtual
Learn how to identify and validate customer needs, conduct meaningful customer discovery and define the problem your venture is uniquely positioned to solve.

Session 3: Feasibility
Wednesday, Oct 20, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hybrid – ASU 850 PBC or Virtual
Develop a compelling value proposition, refine your customer segments and strengthen your understanding of how your solution creates value in the marketplace.

Session 4: Viability
Thursday, Oct 27, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hybrid – ASU 850 PBC or Virtual
Explore revenue models, venture development strategies and growth opportunities while refining the foundation of your business.

Session 5: Licensing & Legal Elements
Friday, Nov 3, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hybrid – ASU 850 PBC or Virtual
Learn about the concept of a legal entity and the importance of choosing the right legal structure for your business, to support your business's growth and long-term sustainability.

Session 6: Graduation and Pitch Showcase
Tuesday, Nov 10, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hybrid – ASU 850 PBC or Virtual
Celebrate the accomplishments of the Fall 2026 cohort as participants receive certificates of completion and selected founders present their ventures during the Venture Start Pitch Showcase. Participants will gain valuable feedback from judges, community leaders and Arizona's entrepreneurial ecosystem partners.

What You'll Gain

Complete structured customer discovery and problem validation activities
Define a clear target customer segment
Develop a compelling value proposition
Build a Business Model Canvas
Strengthen their venture development strategy
Prepare and deliver a concise, investor-ready pitch
Connect with Arizona's entrepreneurial support network and resources

Whether you're exploring your first business idea or accelerating an existing concept, Venture Start provides the tools, mentorship and community needed to take the next step on your entrepreneurial journey.