The Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC) Fall 2025 is a program from the Arizona Commerce Authority that funds and accelerates Arizona's most promising startups through one of the nation's largest business plan competitions.

The Fall 2025 cohort focuses specifically on Software as a Service (SaaS) startups, with up to 10 awardees selected through a three-round judging process evaluated by prominent venture capitalists and industry leaders. Awardees are paired with an Entrepreneur-In-Residence for a three-month mentorship period, and non-winning semifinalists and finalists are invited to participate in Venture Raise, a 12-week accelerator.

Eligible applicants are Arizona-based startups, particularly those focused on SaaS and AI technologies. The application window for Fall 2025 ran July 29 through August 11, 2025.

Arizona Commerce Authority Accepting Applications For 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge Arizona Commerce Authority Accepting Applications For 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge The Fall 2025 cohort will focus on SaaS startups PHOENIX, AZ (July 29, 2025) – The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) today announced it is accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC), one of the nation’s largest business plan competitions.

This year, the Arizona Innovation Challenge will feature a Fall 2025 cohort and Spring 2026 cohort, with investments for the most promising companies taking place in partnership with investors and venture capitalists in Arizona. In addition, the ACA announced the Fall 2025 cohort will be focused on Software as a Service (SaaS) startups. The application window will run from Tuesday, July 29 to Monday, August 11.

The AIC consists of three judging rounds where companies receive constructive feedback on their applications generated from the rigorous online evaluation and scoring process. The 20 semifinalists selected from the applicant pool will pitch in front of prominent venture capitalists (VCs) and partners, who will serve as judges for the AIC.

The judges include leaders such as Clate Mask, CEO of PHX FWD and Gregg Scoresby, CEO of PHX Ventures and founder of AIC awardee CampusLogic, and VCs including AZ Venture Capital Inc., AZ-VC, and Plug and Play. After the semifinalist round, the judges will select 15 finalists to participate in virtual interviews, and once all judging rounds are complete, the judges will select up to 10 companies as Fall 2025 AIC awardees in August 2025.

The AIC awardees will be paired with an ACA Entrepreneur-In-Residence (EIR) and meet with the EIR several times over a three-month period to track progress towards goals. With the prominent growth of the software market globally and in Arizona, we’re excited to support SaaS-focused startups through this year’s Arizona Innovation Challenge, said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority.

We’re grateful to our Arizona venture capitalist partners for their collaboration and look forward to seeing the exciting startups in this year’s competition. AIC Semifinalists and Finalists who do not become AIC Awardees will be invited to participate in Venture Raise , a 12-week accelerator that focuses on funding options, investor pitching, startup financial health, and more.

Applications will be accepted beginning Tuesday, July 29, through Monday, August 11, at 5:00 p. m. MST.

Applicants can submit applications HERE . The ACA will host a virtual application support workshop on July 30 at 2:00 p. m.

MST to provide guidance and tips for a successful application. Learn more and register HERE . The Arizona Innovation Challenge launched in 2011 as a way to identify and accelerate support for Arizona’s most promising startups.

Since then, 150 AIC awardees have been selected from over 3,000 applicants, representing a combined portfolio value of more than $6 billion. AIC awardees include sectors such as IT and software, bio and life sciences, cleantech and renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. Previous awardees include notable startups such as Botco.

ai, CampusLogic, Paradox, GT Medical Technologies, Swift Coat and more. Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected] The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy.

The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce. com and follow the ACA on X @azcommerce .