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STARTUPAZ FOUNDATION

PHOENIX, AZ · EIN 834147658 · Form 990 · FY2021 · NTEE S43 · Community Improvement · Small ($100K-$1M) · www.startupaz.org
revenue
$321K
expenses
$500K
net assets
$255K
employees
4
volunteers
9
program ratio
64%
mission · from form 990

THE MISSION OF STARTUPAZ IS TO BUILD A LOCAL COMMUNITY OF ENTREPRENEURS THAT WANT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT IN ARIZONA.

profile · synthesized from sources

StartupAZ Foundation supports high-potential tech entrepreneurs in Arizona through its Founders Collective, a selective program that provides mentorship, peer accountability, and access to seasoned leaders. The organization fosters a culture of performance and generosity, helping early-stage founders grow their companies while contributing back to the startup ecosystem. Founded in 2015, it operates as a nonprofit with a focus on building a sustainable and interconnected Arizona startup community.

named programs · 2 · from sources

what they call their work

Founders Collective
Selective year-long program for 8-10 high-potential founders annually, including a 3-day summer retreat, monthly accountability check-ins, and mentorship from Founders in Residence and industry experts.
Generosity Pledge
Initiative encouraging participating founders to give back to the startup community, reinforcing a culture of generosity and mutual support within Arizona’s innovation ecosystem.
activities · 1 group

what they do

  • Entrepreneurship Accelerator & Training Programs 6 activities
    • Early-stage founder support
      Has supported over 120 early-stage tech entrepreneurs in Arizona since the organization's founding in 2015, providing seed funding and ongoing programmatic engagement to help grow their ventures.
    • Early-stage founder support
      Provides funding and support to Arizona-based tech entrepreneurs, having backed over 120 early-stage founders since the organization's founding in 2015 with an initial $100,000 seed investment.
    • Founders Collective Program
      Identifies and supports early-stage tech entrepreneurs in Arizona through an annual program that selects 8-10 founders. The program includes a 3-day summer retreat and monthly accountability check-ins covering venture updates and business needs.
    • Founders Collective accelerator program
      Selects an annual cohort of 8–10 early-stage tech founders in Arizona for a one-year program that includes a 3-day summer retreat and monthly accountability check-ins featuring venture updates, peer feedback, and themed business discussions.
    • Founders Collective program
      Runs an annual cohort-based program for 8-10 early-stage tech founders in Arizona, providing structured support over a one-year commitment. The program begins with a 3-day summer retreat and includes monthly accountability check-ins featuring venture updates, peer feedback, and themed discussions on core business challenges.
    • Founders Collective program
      Runs an annual cohort-based program selecting 8–10 early-stage tech founders in Arizona for a one-year commitment that includes a 3-day summer retreat and ongoing support. The program has supported over 120 founders since 2015.
financials · form 990 · fy2021
revenue
Total revenue$321K
Contributions & grants$243K76%
Program service revenue$75K23%
Investment income$3K1%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$500K
Program expenses64%
Admin / overhead15%
Fundraising22%
Salaries & benefits$342K
Grants paid out$14K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$255K
Cash$253K
Investments$0
Liabilities$0
Net assets$255K
Liquid reserves6.1 mo
3 years on record · 2019–2021 · YoY revenue -27.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2021

who runs it

paid leadership · 2
NameTitleHours/wkCompensation
R BRANDON CLARKE VICE CHAIR 2 $125K
DIANA VOWELS PRESIDENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR 40 $28K
board members · 9
  • BRAD JANNENGA — DIRECTOR THRU 02/26/2022
  • BRENDA SCHMIDT — DIRECTOR
  • GREGG SCORESBY — BOARD CHAIR
  • HAMID SHOJAEE — DIRECTOR
  • JACKY ALLING — DIRECTOR
  • JI MI CHOI — TREASURER
  • JIM PRENDERGAST — DIRECTOR
  • MARIO MARTINEZ II — DIRECTOR
  • THOMAS CURZON — DIRECTOR
relationships · 29

who they work with

  • #yesphx Partner — Partner in Arizona's startup ecosystem, described as a unifying banner for the community.
  • AZ TechCelerator Facility Partner — Partner that provides an incubation facility with mentors, training, affordable space, and resources for growing businesses.
  • Arizona Commerce Authority Partner — Partner that is the state’s leading economic development organization, focused on recruiting, growing, and creating businesses in Arizona.
  • Arizona Community Foundation Partner — Formed as a component fund of the Arizona Community Foundation.
  • Arizona Small Business Association Partner — Partner whose mission is to foster and empower a thriving Arizona small business community by offering resources and advocacy.
  • Arizona State University – E+I Edson Partner — Partner in the Arizona ecosystem, which offers a yearlong entrepreneurship experience for first-year students.
  • Arizona Technology Council Partner — Partner established in 2002, which has grown to over 800 members and includes the Optics Valley Committee.
  • Brad Selby Partner — Seasoned startup leader serving as a Founder in Residence.
  • Brenda Schmidt Partner — Seasoned startup leader serving as a Founder in Residence.
  • Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI) Partner — Partner that provides guidance, training, and resources for new ventures and team building.
  • Clate Mask Partner — Seasoned startup leader serving as a Founder in Residence.
  • GCU’s Canyon Ventures Partner — Partner that operates a startup business accelerator on the Opportunity Zone of West Phoenix, providing education, mentorship, and connections.
  • Galvanize Partner — Listed as a community partner.
  • Girls in Tech Partner — Partner that is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating the gender gap in tech, with over 60,000 members globally.
  • Greater Phoenix Economic Council Partner — Partner focused on attracting and growing quality businesses and advocating for Greater Phoenix's competitiveness.
  • Gregg Scoresby Partner — Seasoned startup leader serving as a Founder in Residence.
  • Heidi Jannenga Partner — Seasoned startup leader serving as a Founder in Residence.
  • Jack Selby Partner — Seasoned startup leader serving as a Founder in Residence.
  • Local First Arizona Partner — Partner founded in 2003, committed to community and economic development through connecting people, local businesses, and communities.
  • McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship Partner — Partner that is a university-based center for entrepreneurship, established in 1984.
  • NAU Boundaryless Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center Partner — Partner that helps students, faculty, staff, and community partners become innovators and converts ingenuity into action and value.
  • SEED SPOT Partner — Partner that is a 501c3 nonprofit dedicated to supporting social entrepreneurs by providing access to resources, mentors, business fundamentals, and capital.
  • Snell & Wilmer Partner — Listed as a community partner.
  • Startup Tucson Partner — Partner founded in 2012 that has seen the innovation community grow with more funding, support organizations, accelerators, and incubators.
  • State Forty Eight Foundation Partner — Partner that supports Arizona’s startup community and propels business growth through entrepreneurship programming, education, tools, resources, and grant funding.
  • Tech Launch Arizona Partner — Partner that moves inventions from university research and technological innovation into the marketplace to create social and economic impact.
  • University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) Partner — Partner that is a startup incubator network with locations across Southern Arizona, providing expertise, connections, incubation programs, and space to science and technology startups.
  • University of Arizona, Finding Opportunities and Resources to Grow Entrepreneurs (FORGE) Partner — Partner that is a unit of Research, Innovation, and Impact at the University of Arizona.
  • Women Of MENA In Technology Partner — Partner that is a Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Organization established in Silicon Valley in 2015, focused on closing the diversity and gender gap in STEM.