We know how much time startup founders spend hunkered down and uber-focused on cash flow, R&D, capital raising and just rolling up their sleeves to get the job done.
With that in mind, the Phoenix Business Journal and its affiliate publication AZ Inno present the 2024 finalists for the AZ Inno Fire Awards, a chance for these hard-working startup founders to be recognized for their contributions to the state's innovation economy.
The third annual Fire Awards will honor startups and founders in four award categories: Female Founders, Software, Biotech/Health Care and Inno Picks, a category chosen by AZ Inno writers and editors. The Fire Awards are the premier awards program for AZ Inno, the statewide online publication that is the go-to source for information about fast-track startups and the state's innovation economy.
The AZ Inno Fire Awards event, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, is set for Thursday, June 13, at Papago Golf Club, 5595 E Karsten Way in Phoenix, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
The finalists were selected from nominations that were sent in, along with some finalists chosen by the AZ Inno writers and editors for the high profile they have achieved within the past 12 months. Factors that were considered to determine this year's finalists included financial performance, employee growth and recent funding rounds.
Also, every year AZ Inno recognizes an innovative leader in Arizona who receives the coveted Blazer Award — our version of the Masters' golf tournament's green jacket, only red, and way cooler — that will be presented at the awards event in June.
This year's Blazer Award winner: Jenny Poon
The 2024 Blazer Award winner is Jenny Poon, a longtime Valley entrepreneur and equity advocate.
Poon is the founder of HUUB, an entrepreneur support platform that has helped deploy more than $3 million in funding and support for small businesses. She previously founded Co+Hoots, a well-known Valley coworking center, which currently serves hundreds of entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Most recently, Poon was named to the National Women's Business Council, a bipartisan group that provides policy recommendations to the president, Congress and the Small Business Administration on issues of importance to female business owners and entrepreneurs.
Previous Blazer Award winners are Diana Vowels (2023), the former CEO of StartupAZ who now co-leads Pet Ortho Braces; and Gregg Scoresby (2022) the founder of well-known Valley tech company CampusLogic who sold that business and went on to found Valley venture capital firm PHX Ventures.
This year's special guest at the Fire Awards, who will be interviewed on stage at the event by AZ Inno reporter Amy Edelen, is Susan Sly, a longtime entrepreneur, startup investor and recognized expert in artificial intelligence. Sly is the co-founder of Valley startup TPT Inc, which uses AI to help women treat symptoms of menopause. Prior to forming TPT, Sly was the co-CEO of Tempe-based RadiusAI, a startup that leverages artificial intelligence for the retail industry.
Here are the 2024 AZ Inno Fire Awards finalists — startups that are laying down a blazing trail of growth, disruption and innovation in their respective industry niches, presented in each of the four award categories, in alphabetical order:
Female Founders
- Boxxtech, Phoenix - Lauren Smee
- Devour, Phoenix - Shelly Rupel
- Navi Nurses, Phoenix - Jasmine Bhatti
- RadHash LTD, Phoenix - Lorde Astor West
- Svvy, Phoenix - Janice Utke
Software
- PRIVV, Scottsdale
- Nuclearn, Phoenix
- Quibble, Scottsdale
- Virtuous Software, Phoenix
Health Care/Bio Tech
- Movement Interactive, Phoenix
- NeoLight, Scottsdale
- PayGround, Gilbert
- Peerlogic Technologies Inc., Scottsdale
- Sleep Evolution, Florence
Inno Picks
- Beyond Silicon, Tempe
- FreePower, Phoenix
- Glomensio, Scottsdale
- Pawport, Phoenix
- PitchCom, Scottsdale
- Sinatra, Scottsdale
