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The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced it is accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC), one of the nation’s largest business plan competitions. This year, the Arizona Innovation Challenge will feature a Fall 2025 cohort and Spring 2026 cohort, with investments for the most promising companies taking place in partnership with investors and venture capitalists in Arizona. In addition, the ACA announced the Fall 2025 cohort will be focused on Software as a Service (SaaS) startups.
The application window will run from Tuesday, July 29, to Monday, August 11.
The AIC consists of three judging rounds where companies receive constructive feedback on their applications generated from the rigorous online evaluation and scoring process. The 20 semifinalists selected from the applicant pool will pitch in front of prominent venture capitalists (VCs) and partners, who will serve as judges for the AIC.
The judges include leaders such as Clate Mask, CEO of PHX FWD, and Gregg Scoresby, CEO of PHX Ventures and founder of AIC awardee CampusLogic, and VCs including AZ Venture Capital Inc., AZ-VC, and Plug and Play.
After the semifinalist round, the judges will select 15 finalists to participate in virtual interviews, and once all judging rounds are complete, the judges will select up to 10 companies as Fall 2025 AIC awardees in August 2025.
The AIC awardees will be paired with an ACA Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) and meet with the EIR several times over a three-month period to track progress towards goals.
“With the prominent growth of the software market globally and in Arizona, we’re excited to support SaaS-focused startups through this year’s Arizona Innovation Challenge,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “We’re grateful to our Arizona venture capitalist partners for their collaboration and look forward to seeing the exciting startups in this year’s competition.”
AIC Semifinalists and Finalists who do 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.
Applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, July 29, through Monday, August 11, at 5:00 p.m. MST.
Applicants can submit applications HERE.
The Arizona Innovation Challenge launched in 2011 as a way to identify and accelerate support for Arizona’s most promising startups. Since then, 150 AIC awardees have been selected from over 3,000 applicants, representing a combined portfolio value of more than $6 billion.
AIC awardees include sectors such as IT and software, bio and life sciences, cleantech and renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Previous awardees include notable startups such as Botco.ai, CampusLogic, Paradox, GT Medical Technologies, Swift Coat and more.
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