Winners announced for Fall 2019 Arizona Innovation Challenge

PHOENIX — The Arizona Commerce Authority announced the 10 Valley companies who won the Fall 2019 Arizona Innovation Challenge.

According to a press release, software companies Botco.ai, Inc., Emagine Solutions Technology, Insurmi, Radpay, Inc., RexPay Inc. and The Surf Network Inc. received the award.

Bio and life sciences companies Biosensing Instrument, OralKleen, LLC., Reglagene were also honored, along with IT hardware company OTOjOY.

“Each of these companies is advancing exciting innovations in digital health, wearables, fintech, SaaS and more. We could not be more proud to help them scale and achieve success in Arizona,” Sandra Watson, President & CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority said in the release.

The biannual competition focuses on advancing “innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona by helping early-stage ventures scale.”

The winning companies will be connected with serial entrepreneurs, high-level executives and subject matter experts as part of the organization’s venture ready accelerator that helps startups with their business plans, go-to-market strategies and investor readiness.

“This award will help fast-track our innovation roadmap and allow us to hire more talent locally.” Sonny Patel, founder and CEO of Insurmi said in a release. “The Arizona Innovation Challenge is among the most competitive and largest startup competitions in the U.S., attracting some of the most innovative technology ventures to compete.”

Panels and workshops will also be completed by the participants within the subsequent 12 months of the award.

The winners were selected from a pool of 80 applicants that were eventually cut down to 30 semi-finalists.

Each of the winners are based in the Valley, while semifinalists included Atlas Guides from Flagstaff and renewable energy firm EnKoat of Casa Grande.

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