IdeaFunding | Startup Tucson

Southern Arizona's leading entrepreneurial event for over 25 years

a part of

since 2015

IdeaFunding is one of Arizona's largest entrepreneurial conferences and pitch competitions and the longest continually running startup event in all of Arizona. Every year hundreds of entrepreneurs, mentors, investors and business leaders come together to connect with each other, learn and be inspired by the best new ideas Arizona has to offer. The event provides entrepreneurs in southern Arizona with the opportunity to learn about the latest and greatest best practices in today’s startup environment, and to present their own business ideas to experienced startup investors.

More About TENWEST

IdeaFunding and TENWEST are presented by:

History

25 Years of History

For over 25 years IdeaFunding has brought together the Tucson entrepreneurial community -- including startup founders, managers, mentors, advisors and investors -- to promote the growth of innovative companies, and the skilled jobs and economic development these companies bring to our city, state and region. Founded by Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson, the event was originally presented in community partnership by members of the region’s business and academic communities and has been housed within a number of Southern Arizona's organizations during it's longstanding history including the University of Arizona McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship and University of Arizona Center for Innovation. Committee members have included members of the business and startup communities at large as well as representatives from Desert Angels, Tech Launch Arizona and many others. IdeaFunding has been a part of TENWEST Impact Festival under the leadership of Startup Tucson since 2015 and still uses a community impact model in it's annual organization.

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Education

One of the core components of IdeaFunding is the educational sessions for entrepreneurs and investors during the TENWEST Conference. Each year, these sessions include tactical and inspirational workshops, sessions and panels with experts from throughout our region. National keynote speakers also help make the event THE go to place to learn how to take your business to the next level every November. IdeaFunding’s education sessions are designed for companies at different growth stages, from early startups to mature companies looking for successful exits. The Capital Summit portion of the conference all focuses on funding sources, both traditional and non-traditional.

Past Keynotes & Signature Events have included:

2023: "Building for People: How Car-Less Cities Will Shape Our Future" Ryan Johnson
2023: "Arizona Startup Superstars: From Challenge Champs to Entrepreneurial Triumphs" Bryan Sherman, Lauren Fitzpatrick Shanks, Ayushi Patel, Jo Halsey
2023: "The Journey to Ten Figures" Justin Bayless, Mark Moeremans
2023: "Founding, Disrupting, and Thriving: Building Your Business and Community with Dr. Key" Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon, Keneshia Raymond
2022: "Founders & Funders: Alternative Finance" featuring Common Future, Community Credit Lab, TMV and more
2022: "Seeking Finance in Southern Arizona" featuring UAVC, Desert Angels, CIC and AVC
2019: Tech Launch Arizona Bridge Builders Innovation Ecosystem UnConference
2019: Ideas to Doors Venture Lab
2019: "Investment Deserts" - Allie Burns, CEO at Village Capital
2019: "Building a Startup Ecosystem" - Chris Heivly, VP of Innovation at TechStars
2019: VC's Unplugged luncheon with Rocky Mountain Venture Capital

Pitch Competition

IdeaFunding's annual pitch competition provides an opportunity for Arizona companies to share their stories with our community for a chance to win over $70,000 in cash and prizes. New company founders are invited to deliver pitches to a panel of judges, seasoned, qualified investors for cash prizes and valuable feedback on what they can do to improve their chances for investment and startup success. For active investors, IdeaFunding is a chance to listen to the pitches of select entrepreneurs, identify new, creative startup ideas, and pinpoint future investment opportunities.

IdeaFunding Pitch Competition is hosted in partnership between:

PRIOR IDEAFUNDING WINNERS INCLUDE:

Past Winners Include:

2023: Berry Cultured ($25,000)
2023: Ray Ray's Sonoran Spirit Tea ($5,000)
2022: Divine Hair Goods ($25,000)
2021: Micro Safari ($10,000)
2019: Bralessly Clothing Company and GenetiRate ($12,500 each)
2018: NanoCheQ ($25,000)
2017: Emagine Solutions Technologies ($25,000)
2016: Avery Therapeutics ($25,000)
2015: Drone Control

and many more....

Community Awards

Acknowledging and celebrating those who have created lasting legacies and forging new paths is critical to any innovation ecosystem. During the Community Awards Ceremony at IdeaFunding we honor major contributors to Southern Arizona. IdeaFunding celebrates both Outstanding Entrepreneurs and Community Builders through four total awards. Nominations are collected from the ecosystem and reviewed by committee.

Entrepreneur Awards

Thomas R. Brown Outstanding Entrepreneur Award
Thomas R. Brown Rising Star Entrepreneur Award

COMMUNITY BUILDER Awards

Larry Hecker & Sherry Hoskinson Lasting Community Builder Award
Larry Hecker & Sherry Hoskinson Bright Futures Community Builder Award

To nominate yourself or someone else, please ensure you have read the full award descriptions and criteria. Please note, incomplete nominations will not be accepted and awards may not be given every year if committee determines nominees do not adequately meet all qualifications.

Thomas R. Brown Entrepreneur Awards

The Thomas R. Brown Outstanding Entrepreneur Award recognizes an individual entrepreneur for their commitment, innovation and economic contribution in Southern Arizona. The award honors the co-founder of Burr-Brown Corporation, Tom Brown. He and a friend, Page Burr, started the company in Brown’s garage in 1956, and shortly thereafter Brown bought out Burr’s interest and grew the company until 2000 when it was acquired by Texas Instruments. The sale was the largest in Arizona history. Burr-Brown was a precision electronics manufacturing company with sales almost exclusively outside of Arizona, and thus it contributed significantly to the economy of Arizona. Please note, this award is only given when a deserving candidate has been identified.

Past Winners of this distinguished award include:

2023: Anthony Mulligan, Hydronalix
2022: Carlotta Flores, Flores Concepts & Don Guerra, Barrio Bread
2018: Lawrence Mehren, Accelerate Diagnostics
2015: Ryan George, SimpleView, CEO and Founder
2013: Ann Weaver Hart, PhD, President, University of Arizona
2011: Fletcher McCusker, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Director of Providence Service Corporation
2010: Jeremy Woan, Chairman and CEO of CyraCom International, Inc
2009: Kerstin Block, President and Co-owner of Buffalo Exchange
2008: Doug Goodman, President and CEO, Ridgetop Group
2007: Louise Francesconi, President, Raytheon MS
2006: Sarah Brown Smallhouse, President of the Brown Family Foundation
2005: James Wyant, PhD, Founder of Wyco Corporation and Dean of College of Optical Sciences, University of Arizona
2004: Charles Horn, Founder/Chairman of ScriptSave
2003: Anthony Mulligan and Mark Angier, Co-recipients— Founders of Advanced Ceramics Research, Inc.
2002: Thomas Grogan, MD, Co-Founder Ventana Medical Systems; and Professor of Pathology, University of Arizona
2001: Thomas R. Brown, Founder of Burr-Brown Corporation

To be eligible to win the Thomas R. Brown Outstanding Entrepreneur Award, an individual must meet the following criteria. Should the community find that no nominee satisfies this criteria, the award may not be given.

Individual (not a group or company)
Founding member
Entrepreneurial (a serial entrepreneur is also acceptable)
Innovative (can be any aspect of company; technology, business model, etc)
Successful and currently in business with management in place
Revenue of 5 million or more
Record of impact on the Tucson or Southern Arizona community
- i.e economic impact through the hiring of employees, integral in attracting something else of value to the to the community

Thomas R. Brown Outstanding
Entrepreneur Award

Established in 2001

The Rising Star Entrepreneur Award was established in 2018 as a complementary award to the Thomas R. Brown Outstanding Entrepreneur Award. The Thomas R. Brown Rising Star Entrepreneur Award recognizes an individual entrepreneur who is in the early stages of business, and poised for future success and impact and that demonstrates the same innovative spirit and commitment as the Outstanding Entrepreneur Award recipient. Please note, this award is only given when a deserving candidate has been identified.

To be eligible to win the Thomas R. Brown Rising Star Entrepreneur Award, an individual must meet the following criteria. Should the community find that no nominee satisfies this criteria, the award may not be given.

Individual (not a group or company)
Founding member
Entrepreneurial (a serial entrepreneur is also acceptable)
Innovative (can be any aspect of company; technology, business model, etc)
Currently in business with management in place
Potential to make an impact on the Tucson or Southern Arizona community and starting to show qualities of a leader

Thomas R. Brown Rising Star
entrepreneur Award

Established in 2018

Nominations for 2023 are now closed.

Larry Hecker & Sherry Hoskinson Community Builder Awards

The Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson Lasting Community Builder Award recognizes an individual that has shown outstanding commitment and dedication to building the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tucson, making a lasting impact as a community builder. The award is named for the combined efforts of attorney and community leader Larry Hecker and startup ecosystem builder Sherry Hoskinson, both part of the original founding team for IdeaFunding. Please note, this award is only given when a deserving candidate has been identified.

Past Winners of this distinguished award include:

2023: Doug Hockstad, Tech Launch Arizona
2019: Paul August, Vice President, ICAGEN
2018: Joann MacMaster, Tech Launch Arizona
2017: Bruce Wright, Associate Vice President, UA Tech Parks; President & CEO of Tech Park and UACI
2016: Sherry Hoskinson, Tech Launch Arizona and McGuire Entrepreneurship Center, UA
2015: Harry George, Solstice Capital, Desert Angels, numerous startup support
2014: Rick Myers, Arizona Board of Regents / IBM
2013: Larry Hecker, Principal, Larry Hecker PLLC

To be eligible to win the Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson Lasting Community Builder Award, an individual must meet the following criteria. Should the community find that no nominee satisfies this criteria, the award may not be given.

Individual (not a group or company)
Established history of working to serve the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Southern Arizona
Leadership position
History of collaboration within the ecosystem
Known to go above-and-beyond in the service of entrepreneurs

Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson
Lasting Community Builder Award

Established in 2013

The Bright Futures Community Builder Award was established in 2018 as a complementary award to the Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson Lasting Community Builder Award. The Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson Bright Futures Community Builder Award recognizes an individual in the earlier part of their career that has already shown that they embody the same traits as those of the Lasting Community Building Award and is poised to continue to make an impact on our ecosystem moving forward.

To be eligible to win the Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson Bright Futures Community Builder Award, an individual must meet the following criteria. Should the community find that no nominee satisfies this criteria, the award may not be given.

Individual (not a group or company)
Early track record of serving the entrepreneurial ecosystem of Southern Arizona
Recognized as a collaborative individual
45 and under

Larry Hecker and Sherry Hoskinson
Bright Futures community builder Award

Established in 2018

Nominations for 2023 are now closed.

Entrepreneur Awards

Community Builder Award

We are able to provide high caliber experience at a low cost to entrepreneurs through the generosity of our partners and sponsors. Consider joining us and building your brand by sponsoring a track, a pitch competition, or a prize. We can work creatively for your budget and messaging goals.

Contact liz@startuptucson.com for more information.