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INVEST SOUTHWEST

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 205620056 · Form 990 · FY2022 · Small ($100K-$1M) · investsouthwest.org
revenue
$347K
expenses
$284K
net assets
$223K
employees
0
volunteers
9
mission · from form 990

VENTURE MADNESS BY INVEST SOUTHWEST BRINGS TOGETHER THE REGION'S MOST PROMISING INVESTORS WITH EMERGING GROWTH COMPANIES AND STARTUPS.

profile · synthesized from sources

INVEST SOUTHWEST operates Venture Madness, an annual conference that connects Arizona-based tech startups with investors. The organization hosts educational seminars and webinars to prepare emerging growth companies for investor pitches and competition at the conference. Since 1992, participating companies have raised over $250 million in investment capital.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Get Ready Seminar
Educational seminar for startups preparing to apply to the Venture Madness Conference, covering investor pitching, application requirements, and program benefits
Venture Madness Conference
Annual conference connecting Arizona's most promising tech ventures with investors, featuring pitch competitions and networking opportunities
activities · 3 clusters

what they do

  • Small Business Technical Assistance & Counseling 5 activities
    • Deliver educational programming and mentorship for startups
      Provides educational seminars and capacity-building support for startups and emerging growth companies preparing to engage with investors, particularly in advance of the annual conference. Fosters ecosystem development through mentorship, education, and relationship-building between investors and entrepreneurs.
    • Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development
      Fosters relationships between investors and startups through education, mentorship, and ecosystem awareness, offering year-round memberships and a calendar of events to strengthen the entrepreneurial community.
    • Provide educational programming and mentorship for startups
      Offers educational seminars, mentorship, and ecosystem-building initiatives to support startups and emerging growth companies in preparing for investor engagement and scaling their businesses.
    • Startup Educational Seminars
      Provides educational seminars for startups and emerging growth companies, specifically to prepare them for applying to and participating in the Venture Madness Conference.
    • Startup Educational Seminars
      Provides educational seminars for startups and emerging growth companies, specifically preparing them to apply to the Venture Madness Conference and fostering relationships between investors and startups through education and mentorship.
  • Professional Membership and Job Board Services 3 activities
    • Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Support
      Offers year-round memberships and a calendar of events to strengthen the overall entrepreneurial ecosystem in Arizona.
    • Facilitate year-round entrepreneurial ecosystem engagement
      Offers year-round memberships and a calendar of events to support ongoing engagement between investors and startups, strengthening Arizona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem beyond the annual conference.
    • Maintain year-round engagement in the entrepreneurial ecosystem
      Offers year-round memberships and a calendar of events to sustain connections and support among investors, entrepreneurs, and emerging growth companies in Arizona.
  • Uncategorized 5 activities
    • Annual Venture Capital Conference and Expo
      Hosts an annual venture capital conference and expo in Arizona, connecting tech startups with accredited investors and private equity firms through presentations, networking, and speaker panels. This event has helped presenting companies collectively raise over $1 billion in capital.
    • Annual Venture Capital Conference and Expo
      Hosts an annual venture capital conference and expo in Arizona, connecting tech startups with accredited investors and private equity firms through presentations, networking, and speaker panels. This event has helped presenting companies collectively raise over $1 billion in capital.
    • Facilitate capital acquisition for startups through ecosystem support
      Has supported startups in raising over $1 billion in investment capital since 1992 through conference participation, investor connections, and ongoing ecosystem engagement.
    • Host annual venture capital conference connecting startups with investors
      Organizes an annual conference and expo that connects Arizona-based tech startups with accredited investors, private equity firms, and venture capitalists through company presentations, speaker panels, and networking events, attracting over 300 attendees annually.
    • Host annual venture capital conference connecting startups with investors
      Organizes an annual conference that connects promising tech startups in Arizona with accredited investors, private equity firms, and venture capitalists through company presentations, networking sessions, speaker panels, and an expo. The event draws over 300 attendees and has featured startups that collectively raised more than $1 billion in capital.
financials · form 990 · fy2022

the money

revenue
Total revenue$347K
Contributions & grants$321K93%
Program service revenue$26K7%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$284K
Program expenses
Admin / overhead
Fundraising
Salaries & benefits$0
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$347K
Cash$281K
Investments$0
Liabilities$123K
Net assets$223K
Liquid reserves11.8 mo
2 years on record · 2020–2022 · YoY revenue +36.9%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2022

who runs it

paid leadership · 1
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
KAREN KATZORKE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $66K
board members · 13
  • AARON HARMON — BOARD MEMBER
  • ANDY LOMBARD — BOARD CHAIR & TREASURER
  • BRIAN LEWIS — BOARD MEMBER
  • DIANA VOWELS — BOARD MEMBER
  • GREGG SCORESBY — BOARD MEMBER
  • HAMID SHOJAEE — BOARD MEMBER
  • KRISTELL MILLAN — BOARD MEMBER
  • MOLLY IAROCCI — BOARD MEMBER
  • PHILLIP PIPKINS — BOARD MEMBER
  • SANDRA WATSON — BOARD CHAIR & MEMBER
  • SHARON HWANG — BOARD MEMBER
  • SYDNIE KEDDINGTON — BOARD MEMBER
  • TIM KELLEY — BOARD MEMBER
relationships · 9

who they work with

  • ACA Partner — Co-promotes participating companies through shared social media channels.
  • Arizona Commerce Authority Partner — Partnered with Invest Southwest to launch the Venture Madness Conference in 2013.
  • Arizona Commerce Authority Partner — Partnership to support the Venture Madness Conference and related events.
  • Galvanize Partner — Provides venue space for the Get Ready Seminar in Phoenix.
  • Herberger Theater Center Partner — Venue partner for the 2026 Venture Madness Conference & Expo
  • INVEST SOUTHWEST Partner — Operates Venture Madness, a program or initiative under its umbrella.
  • University of Arizona Center for Innovation Partner — Collaborates with Invest Southwest on Venture Madness events and programming.
  • Venture Madness Network — Program operated by Invest Southwest to support Arizona's tech startup and investor ecosystem.
  • Venture Madness Partner — Collaborative partner in presenting companies and raising funding, jointly promoted as Invest Southwest and Venture Madness.