Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC)
Usually opens in March and September
Projected from the months this call usually opens — not a date the funder has confirmed.
Projected from the pattern of past calls — confirm on the funder's page before planning around it.
One of the largest state-run business plan competitions; historically awarded up to $250,000 per company across two rounds a year, with milestone-based disbursement and mandatory participation in the Venture Ready mentoring programme.
Arizona Commerce Authority
public · regional
Deadline: annual_call — The Arizona Commerce Authority ran the Arizona Innovation Challenge twice a year (spring and autumn) for over a decade.
This funder does not publish a success rate. We rank it using the rate observed across similar programmes and label it as an estimate rather than implying we know.
Quick — mostly identity and bank details.
Who can apply
- micro enterprises
- Sectors: deeptech, health, ai, manufacturing, space
- Stage: pre_seed, seed
- R&D activity required
- Locally registered entity required
Company must be based in Arizona or committed to relocating there, with a scalable technology product and a defined path to revenue.
Source. https://www.azcommerce.com/programs/ — checked 2026-08-14 · not human-checked