The Arizona Commerce Authority announced the six winning companies in its Fall 2014 Arizona Innovation Challenge on Tuesday, and two are from Tucson.
“These grant recipients represent innovative Arizona entrepreneurs who are creating technological solutions with the potential for global impact,” the Commerce Authority said in a news release. The biannual business plan competition awards innovative start-ups and early-stage companies up to $250,000 in grant funding capital.
The recipients are:
- NuvOx Pharma — Tucson (Bio & Life Sciences): Creator of a therapeutic biotechnology for improving oxygen delivery in the bloodstream to help treat life-threatening conditions, including radiation-resistant cancers. NuvOx was founded and is led by Dr.
- Evan Unger
- , a University of Arizona professor of radiology and bioengineering.
- Park Genius — Tucson (IT-Software): Developer of a mobile application allowing motorists to conveniently pay for parking using their smartphone. The software also gives parking providers a cost-efficient way to process cashless payments. Park Genius was founded by three graduates of the McGuire Entrepreneurship Program at the UA Eller College of Management,
- Thomas Maguire
- ,
- Austin Weiss
- and
- Ross Shanken
- .
- Iris PR Management- Phoenix (IT – Software): Developer of the first core management system for the public relations industry.
- Iron Horse Diagnostics, Inc. — Scottsdale (Bio & Life Sciences): Creator of a diagnostic platform for neurological traumas and diseases. The company’s tests support the diagnosis and management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as traumatic brain injury, concussions and other neurological diseases.
- Pure Chat — Scottsdale (IT-Software): Developer of a live chat solution for websites that helps businesses connect to their customers from anywhere.
- Spotlight Software — Peoria (IT-Software): Developer of a SaaS-based sales performance management platform.
A panel of expert judges evaluated 154 applications. A third Tucson-based company — Dermspectra LLC, which has developed a full-body imaging system to help track skin health — was also among 10 finalists.
