Published by Launch Haus for our guests and fellow entrepreneurs, this is the definitive resource for all those working in the startup ecosystem of Phoenix and Greater Phoenix Arizona. Inspired by the Definitive Guide to Fort Collins, Hitchhiker's Guide to Boulder Tech Community and Sam Teller's Guide to LA Startups, Chris and I have decided to illuminate and connect the world to the amazing resources and players in the Valley of the Sun Ecosystem. Future iterations will ensue as we continue our primary research and interface activity.

1. The Definitive Guide to the
Phoenix, Arizona
Startup Scene
Chris J Snook & Brianne Snook
Version 1.3 Last Revision February 17th 2016
a publication of
With Partnership Support From

2. Contributors to this guide:
1. Chris J Snook, Venture Catalyst; Entrepreneur In Residence @ASU @ethology Chris J Snook
2. Brianne Snook, Co-Founder/Managing Partner; Launch Haus
3. Jeffrey Pruitt, CEO; Tallwave
4. Office of Entrepreneurship + Innovation at Arizona State University
5. Steve Hamaker, Designer & Identity Specialist; Stevaker Design
6. Jonathan Cottrell and Mario Martinez of #YESPHX and StartupAZ
7. Nate Curran, Entrepreneur-In-Residence; Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation
8. Arizona Commerce Authority
THANK YOU

3. Guidelines to Amplify Your Results and Adoption into Arizona’s Startup Ecosystems
1. This ecosystem must be led by the Entrepreneurs, supported by Feeders, and amplified by Mentors
2. Promote Greater Phoenix as an AWESOME place to live, work, and innovate by building something
great!
3. Give Generously (of your time, energy, & network resources) Before you Expect to Get!
4. Enjoy the culture, lifestyle, and people!
5. No Whining…Act and Make a Positive Difference!
6. When you have a BIG EXIT…Give back to the Ecosystem!
7. Contribute Something to each interaction even when nothing immediate is in it for you!
8. Have an “Open Door” policy when entrepreneurs and investors enter the ecosystem.
9. Be in a constant state of “discovery”. Learn and Connect others to resources they need!
10. Promote your fellow ecosystems and the city nodes of Downtown Phoenix, Chandler, Tempe and
Scottsdale, and collaborate to assist smaller nodes such as Mesa and visit often, encouraging them
to do likewise!
ETIQUETTE

4. Want to skip around? Here’s what we’re going to cover.
OVERVIEW
6. Why Phoenix?
8. Notable Successes
9. Movements
10. Meetups/Events/Maps
14. ASU Entrepreneurship
15. ASU Tech Transfer
RESOURCES
17. Incubators
27. Prototype labs
33. Venture Capital
35. Office Space
37. Co-Working
38. Finding Talent/Jobs
39. Get Connected
LIFESTYLE &
ACTIVITIES
41. “HIPSTER” Places
42. Stay Caffeinated
43. Trails/Parks/Wine
46. Author Profile

5. The essential understanding that’ll get you
up to speed and connected in a hurry!
OVERVIEW
DISCLAIMER: Last Updated 2/15/16
We’re going to walk you through a snapshot of the most relevant
resources, players, and movements to help you insert into,
contribute to, and benefit from the Greater Phoenix Arizona Startup
Ecosystem. We are continually adding to this guide as we become
aware of new additions and changes in the marketplace. We don’t
know it all but this is a great place to start! Your feedback is
welcomed.

6. Phoenix is located in the heart of the fastest
growing and most dynamic metropolitan area in the
country with a population of over 4 million people.
#7 Best Places to Live Scottsdale (Money
Magazine)
#9 Happiest Place for Young Professionals
(Forbes)
One of the Best Cost of Living Indexes of any
major economic hub in the West.
A Great International Airport (Phoenix Skyharber)
WHY PHOENIX?
1
2
FUN FACT #1
Arizona is the most entrepreneurial state, with a 2011
startup rate of 520 startups per 100,000 adults Source:
Kauffmann Entrepreneurial Activity Index 2012

7. SOME (NOT ALL)
NOTABLE STARTUPS
Add your company and see the full list at:
http://phoenix.startups-list.com/

8. NOTABLE SUCCESSES

9. • www.yesphx.com
• Ignite Phoenix
• Innovate Phoenix
• Digital Media Entrepreneurship/ASU
• Hightide (www.luhrshightide.com)
• 1 Million Cups Phoenix
• AZ Entrepreneurship
• Knight Foundation for Informed & Engaged Communities
• Digital Media Innovation (http://nmil.jmc.asu.edu/)
MOVEMENTS

10. MEETUPS
• Startup Grind Phoenix
• HackerNext Phoenix Tech Socials
• Gangplank Avondale
• Arizona Open Coffee (Weekly Tech Startup Networking)
• Scottsdale Eureka! Loft (Free co-working)
• IoT (Internet of Things) Phoenix
• Gangplank Chandler
• PHX Startup
• Cofounders Lab Phoenix Matchup
• Phoenix Mobile & IoT Technology Group
Show Up–Contribute–Receive

11. EVENTS
Mark Your Calendars!
• Venture Madness
• Phoenix Startup Week powered by Chase
• Hightide powered by Tallwave at Luhrs City Center
• PF Chang’s Rock & Roll Arizona Marathon and ½ Marathon
• Phoenix Open
• Spring Training Cactus League
• For Full list of annual and upcoming events go to
www.visitphoenix.com and http://www.azcommerce.com/start-up

12. TEAM ARIZONA
Join the Slack Channel!
• Visit http://www.team-arizona.slack.com to request an invite

13. TAG THIS www.yesphx.com

14. STARTUP BY NUMBERS
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler
“Arizona fosters the world's emerging
technologies, encouraging and supporting
business creativity and growth. We're a
nationally recognized Best Place for Business
for a reason.” ~Gov. Jan Brewer
http://www.azcommerce.com/start-up

15. STARTUP GENOME
Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe, Chandler

16. ARIZONA STATE
Entrepreneurship
The Venture Accelerator provides entrepreneurship training,
advising, and mentoring for student run ventures. Select
entrepreneurs are incubated for a 12 month period to develop the
idea and to better position it for a successful launch. The
Accelerator program consists of two stages: the Immersion Lab
which runs for four months and the Start-Up Spring Board which
runs for eight months.
The Immersion Lab is a 16-week intensive track program that
engages up to twelve student entrepreneurs and their teams in a
hands-on, execution style training opportunity that is focused on
launching their new ventures. During the Immersion Lab,
participants will work with a mentor and multiple advisors who guide
them as the venture teams deliver measurable outcomes in a time
sensitive manner.
The Start-Up Spring Board is the second -stage of the accelerator
program.
VISIT: www.biz.colostate.edu

17. VENTURE CATALYST
• Discover I.P. & Co-Founders
• License, R&D, Incubate, and Commercialize
New Solutions
• Access Capital, New Tech & World Class
Research
• Visit http://entrepreneurship.asu.edu/
Technology Transfer

18. The Places and People You Need to
Meet and Visit in Phoenix and
the Valley of the Sun.
RESOURCES

19. INCUBATORS
Mentorship—Acceleration-Commercialization!

20. STARTUP RESOURCES
The Arizona Commerce Authority has built a very
friendly UI/UX that serves as a great starting point
for finding resources, places, events, co-working
spaces and a list of accelerators. No list or website
is a complete resource in and of itself, but this is a
tremendous place to start and we applaud the AZ
Commerce Authority for investing resources into a
significant effort to make this data available and
easy to access.
Accelerating | Co-Working
http://www.azcommerce.com/start-up

21. Pledge 1%
By partnering with http://www.pledge1percent.org/, Arizona founders can join the
founders of companies like Yelp, Atlassian, Salesforce, and Box and help support the
long-term viability of the Foundation while continuing to build generosity into the DNA
of the community. Learn more at http://www.startupAZ.org
Connectivity-Rally a generous community by leveraging existing assets
like #yesphx, TeamAZ, and Pledge 1%
1
Capital- Help connect capital in the community to the most promising
early stage companies
2
Talent- Support talent development and a sustained
workforce that can grow companies and the economy
3

22. ASU STARTUP
ASU offers services for Arizona-based companies, including faculty spinouts, alumni
ventures and non-ASU startups, through the ASU Startup Accelerator.
Over 300 Mentors with deep domain experience1
Access to Co-Working Space at ASU SKYSONG in Scottsdale2
Free Perks from MSFT, GOOGLE, G.A.N., etc. and a well-
attended Demo Day to pitch to capital providers3

23. NEW MEDIA INNOVATION
ASU Cronkite journalism students work side by side with computer engineering, design and business students to
create cutting-edge digital media products for regional and national media companies and other organizations.
Students with ideas for digital products or media-related businesses also may develop their entrepreneurial
ventures in the lab. Students
1
2

24. VELOCITY LABS
1
2
We deliver customized solutions for your business with a focus on Web Apps,
Code Audits and Application Maintenance www.velocitylabs.io

25. ASU TECH TRANSFER
The Furnace Technology Transfer Accelerator is an innovative startup accelerator designed to form, incubate and launch new
companies. Each company is created to license technology and intellectual property from a participating research institution.
Teams compete for the opportunity to license and commercialize technologies, and selected teams participate in an intensive,
nine-month accelerator experience that provides seed funding, office space, and access to top industry mentors.
View at https://vimeo.com/102271580
1
3

26. HOUSE OF GENIUSVenue: Events happen monthly
Polsinelli, Downtown
One East Washington, Suite 1200
Phoenix, AZ 85004
See more at: http://houseofgenius.org/location/phoenix/
1
3
Co-Organizers:
Nima Jacob Nojoumi-City Director
Maggie Zehring
Evan Gilbert
APPLY AT: http://houseofgenius.org/apply/phoenix/

27. ACCELERATORS NEARBY
BIG BOUNCE – Tempe Arizona1
BIOACCEL- 501 c (3) providing funding for Early-Stage Life Science2
CEIGATEWAY- No Equity Taken and Free Counseling in
partnership with Maricopa SBDC3
CHANDLER INNOVATIONS INCUBATOR– 60,000 sf of space offering
resources to life science and emerging tech companies4

28. ACCELERATORS NEARBY
CHEF’S SHARE KITCHEN– Shared Commercial Kitchen Space
and Incubator for Food-based Startups located in Mesa, AZ5
STEALTHMODE PARTNERS- Founded by Francine Hardaway to help
package and secure funding for early stage tech6
4

29. PROTOTYPE LABS

30. TALLWAVE
We help startups get things done. It happens through a process of building products and taking them to
market. We call it Commercialization.
SANDCASTLE: A 2-Week Sprint for Validation/UX Prototyping1
HIGHTIDE: Accelerator Program2
SPRINGBOARD: A 2-Week Sprint
for Sales Acceleration and Systemization
3

31. PADT
For Over 20 Years Phoenix Analysis & Design
Technologies (PADT) is the Southwest's
leading provider of Numerical Simulation,
Product Development, and Rapid Prototyping
products and services.
Visit them at http://www.padtinc.com/
7755 S. Research Dr.
Suite 110
Tempe, AZ 85284
480-813-4884 Office
480-813-4807 Fax
1-800-293-PADT

32. TECH SHOP
Each of our facilities includes laser cutters, plastics and electronics
labs, a machine shop, a wood shop, a metal working shop, a textiles
department, welding stations and a waterjet cutter. Members have
open access to design software, featuring the entire Autodesk
Design Suite. Huge project areas with large work tables are
available for completing projects and collaborating with others. Free
coffee and fresh popcorn are always available for your enjoyment.
We also offer a number of experience-driven corporate events
developed specifically to bring teams together and engage them in
the act of making.
Visit them www.techshop.com
ASU Chandler Innovation Center
249 E. Chicago St.
Chandler, AZ 85225
Phone
(480) 327-0820
Email
info.ch@techshop.com

33. IDEAS SQUARED
Ideas Squared is a public maker space designed
to offer the public access to equipment and
opportunities for the purpose of self-
development and the fulfillment of project-based
goals.
It is also a professional maker space designed
to offer those seeking professional fulfillment in
the form of full-time employment professional
skill development.
Learn more and come check it out
www.ideas-squared.biz

34. HEATSYNC LABS
We are…
• A place where you can make things.
• A Hackerspace
• A grassroots co-op of volunteers (No Staff)
• Open FREE every weeknight
• Located at 140 West Main Street, Mesa AZ
Learn more and come check it out
www.heatsynclabs.org

35. GANGPLANK
Gangplank is a COMMUNITY. We aren't just a free
coworking space. We are about more than shared
space. We are about SHARED VISION. A grassroots
co-op of volunteers (No Staff)
We are a collaborative WORKSPACE. We have EVENT
and MEETING SPACE available as well as drop in
workspace. Located at 140 West Main Street, Mesa
AZ
Gangplank is a place to DO business, LEARN from
other entrepreneurs, and GROW your business.
Locations in Avondale and Chandler AZ visit us at
www.gangplankhq.com

36. VENTURE CAPITAL

37. • Tallwave Capital
• Grayhawk Capital
• MRTNZ Ventures
• Sorenson Capital
• Canal Partners
• Valley Ventures
• Arizona Tech Investors (Angel Syndicate)
LOCAL VCs

38. OFFICE SPACE

39. READY TO SCALE?
Luhrscitycenter.com
Flexible Space for Growth
CALL LUHR CITY CENTER AND
REFERENCE OUR GUIDE AS YOUR
REFERRAL SOURCE: (602) 252 6891

40. CO-WORKING

41. GALVANIZEPhoenix was recently named as #2 metro region in the creation of software technology jobs between 2012-2014, and
STEM jobs openings will increase in the US by 2.6 million through 2020. This new initiative between Galvanize, City of
Phoenix, and Allstate will ensure that America can meet the growing demand for technical workers and is the first step
toward eliminating technology’s talent gap.
Galvanize Co-Working (Opening 2016)1
G-School/Apply now/6 month programs2
Galvanize Ventures (early stage VC fund3

42. NEED AFFORDABLE DESKS?
Full List http://www.azcommerce.com/start-up/

43. FINDING TALENT/
STARTUP JOBS
• AZ Tech Beat (http://www.aztechbeat.com/jobs)
• Launch Haus Startup Job distribution list-Send your CV to
Chris J Snook for distribution to dozens of local startups in
Phoenix, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler etc.)

44. GET CONNECTED
Press/Newsletters/Social
• http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/topic/innovation/
• http://houseofgenius.org/location/phoenix/
• http://www.twitter.com/chrisjsnook
• http://www.ceigateway.com

45. LIFESTYLE ACTIVITIES

46. HIPSTER PLACES
• FnB
• Barrio Queen
• Virtu
• Citizen Public House
• Tuck Shop
• The Little Woody
• Rula Bula
• Phoenix Food Truck Fridays
• Pizzeria Bianco
• Beckett’s Table

47. STAY CAFFEINATED
• monOrchid
• The Henry
• Arizona Coffee
• Echo Coffee (Scottsdale)
• Cartel Coffee Lab
• Lola Coffee
• Jobot
• Inside the Bungalow (Mesa)
• Lux Coffeebar

48. TRAILS, PARKS,WINE ETC.
• Arizona State Parks
• Historic Trails of Arizona
• Sedona
• Grand Canyon National Park
• Havasu (“The River”)
• Verde Valley Wine Country
• Hike South Mountain
• Hike Piewesta Peak
• Superstition Mountains

49. THE PHOENIX NEWCOMER
INTEGRATION CHECKLIST
Study and Review This Guide and its Links
Email c@launchha.us for personal introductions
Attend a relevant Meetup or Open Event
Take a Tour of the Luhrs City Center, ASU
Incubators, and local makerspaces and plug in!

50. Welcome to the Greater Phoenix AZ Startup
Ecosystem! Please help us make this guide
more valuable in future versions by emailing
c@launchha.us your feedback Thanks in
advance!
WAS THIS HELPFUL?

51. CHRIS J. SNOOK
BRIANNE SNOOK
@chrisjsnook
c@launchha.us
@launchhausfc
b@launchha.us