Downtown PHX Small Business Venture Challenge

The Downtown PHX Small Business Innovation Summit Venture Challenge, win up to $10,000

Powered by a strategic partnership between the ASU Edson E+I Institute and the City of Phoenix to advance the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Downtown Phoenix, we are excited to announce the Downtown Phoenix Small Business Innovation Summit Venture Challenge! Part of the Downtown PHX Small Business Innovation Summits program, we are thrilled to offer a grant opportunity of up to $10,000 for underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Phoenix area. This initiative, powered by the ASU Edson E+I Institute and the City of Phoenix, aims to support small businesses seeking to secure government and large organizational contracts.

Venture Challenges are designed to be a learning and community-building experience. They are built using a rubric to encourage the development of specific skills and understanding. They are designed to encourage the application of concepts shared during the summit series and to accelerate the growth of local networks of entrepreneurs, resources and support.

While diverse entrepreneurs are the fastest-growing population in the country, they remain underrepresented and under-resourced. Through the power of entrepreneurship, people with diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds are well-positioned to impact our local economy significantly and use their unique perspectives to solve the world’s biggest challenges. As defined by the EDA, underrepresented entrepreneurs include people who identify with underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, members of religious minorities; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) persons; persons with disabilities, persons from disadvantaged backgrounds and veterans. This funding track is dedicated to ventures identifying with those communities and looking to grow through procurement.

*Venture/founder does not need to live or work in the City of Phoenix. This Venture Challenge is open to all Phoenix impacting ventures. Participation in the Downtown PHX Small Business Innovation Summits program is highly encouraged, and will best position ventures/founders to apply for the Venture Challenge, however, participation is not required to apply for the Downtown Phoenix Small Business Innovation Summit Venture Challenge.

Key Details:

• Grant Amount: Up to $10,000
• Eligibility: Underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Phoenix area
• Purpose: To help small businesses grow by securing procurement contracts

About the Venture Challenge:

• Learning and Community Building: The challenge is designed to foster skill development, understanding, and local entrepreneurial networks.
• Focus on Diversity: We support entrepreneurs from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, religious minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals, persons with disabilities, veterans and those from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Additional Information:

Participation in Summit Program: Highly encouraged but not required for application.

Residency: You do not need to live or work in the City of Phoenix, but your venture should impact the Phoenix area.

Join us in strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Downtown Phoenix. Apply now and take the next step in accelerating your business growth!

PHX Small Business Innovation Summits Venture Challenge Timeline

Applications open: Tuesday, May 28th at 5:00pm (AZ time)

Applications close: Wednesday, June 30th at 11:59pm (AZ time)

Finalists notified: no later than Monday, July 22nd

Final Pitches event: Tuesday, July 30th from 5-7pm at the E+I space at  850PBC.