Hello InvestU Members!
Venture Madness Recap
In case you missed it, last week marked the 31st year of Venture Madness, Arizona’s largest annual gathering of venture capital funds and startups. The conference included 17 pitches, 4 alumni updates, and 4 founder interviews. I was pleased to see both familiar and new companies on stage throughout the day. Some highlights included:
- Will Shaw, Better Agency (InvestU Finalist Dec. 2021), and Rebecca Clyde, Botco.ai (InvestU Portfolio Company) shared their stories of growing companies, the importance of team culture, and the best hires they’ve ever made.
- Rachel Mertensmeyer from Rivia Health (InvestU Portfolio Company) announced that she has grown from 6 to 61 customers in the last year and her latest round has been fully subscribed.
- EdTech had a strong showing, with four pitching companies and a third place win by Elevate, a tech sales training program and job connection platform primarily supporting underrepresented and non-traditional students.
- Seven of the presenting companies are in the InvestU pipeline and can be reviewed on Dealum under Funnel / Venture Madness if you would like to learn more.
Call for Investments
If you are interested in continuing diligence or participating in any rounds from the last InvestU event, please submit your interest on Dealum or by replying to this email.
- IMIDEX: Convertible Note, 20% discount, $8M valuation cap, 8% interest, minimum check size = $50K
- TINGE Beauty: SAFE, 15% discount, $6M valuation cap, minimum check size = $25K
- Lifelab Studios: Terms not yet set, minimum check size = $50K
April Events at ASU
ASU Hool Coury Law Tech Venture Challenge and InvestU Reception
What: Tech startup fans will enjoy a catered lunch, then watch select ASU founders pitch for their share of $50K in available grant seed funding, powered by the Hool Coury Law Tech Venture Challenge, Good Work Capital Challenge, and the eSeed Challenge. The afternoon will conclude with a hosted happy hour networking reception, powered by Hool Coury Law and InvestU.
When: Friday, April 28; 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm.
Where: ASU Tempe campus – College Avenue Commons (CAVC); Devil’s Oasis Room; Map: https://goo.gl/maps/ozneyzzs9HkfstUN8
Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/asu-hool-coury-law-tech-venture-challenge-and-investu-reception-tickets-609631222397
Global Futures Earth Day Celebration
What: This dynamic three-hour event that will include conversations and interactive experiences around water, decision making and the critical issues we all face now and into the future. Presentations include:
- Students Are Changemakers panel featuring Kyleigh Brown, Mauricio Juarez Leon and Jordan King, moderated by Lizzie Quigley
- Be a Decision Maker of Arizona’s Energy Future – an interactive exercise powered by Decision Theater, allowing you to help determine Arizona’s energy pathways
- Arizona’s Water Future panel featuring Amber Wutich and Jay Famiglietti, moderated by Peter Schlosser
- Special Earth Day address speaker TBA
When: Friday, April 21; 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Walton Center for Planetary Health, 777 E. University Road Tempe, AZ 85281, Auditorium WCPH 107
Register here: https://globalfutures.asu.edu/events/view/global-futures-earth-day-discussion/
Thank you,
| Louise Hardman |
| Director, RealmSpark & Investor Engagement |
| RealmSpark |
| ASU Enterprise Partners |
| o: (480) 727-7884 |
| email: louise.hardman@asuep.org |
| website: asuenterprisepartners.org |
| PO Box 2260 | Tempe, AZ | 85280-2260 |