Venture RAISE

Venture RAISE Alumni Group

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An ongoing monthly session for founders who have completed the Venture RAISE program. Alumni reconvene to share progress, work through active fundraising questions, and hear updated market data. Meets the third Wednesday of each month at noon Arizona time. Virtual, open to program graduates; joining details are shared after registration. Developed and delivered for the…

Venture RAISE – Fall 2025 Cohort

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An eight-week invitation-only cohort for Arizona founders working toward a raise, selected from the Arizona Innovation Challenge semifinalists. Kickoff in person at the Arizona Commerce Authority, then weekly virtual working sessions through early November. Participant feedback from this cohort and its spring counterpart shaped the Explore, Map and Go structure the program uses now. Free…

Venture RAISE Reverse Pitch

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

The pitch, reversed: active investors present to the founders instead of the other way around, then take questions. Held in person at the Arizona Commerce Authority for the Fall 2025 Venture RAISE cohort. Founders hear what each investor actually funds, at what stage and on what terms, before deciding whether a conversation is worth anyone’s…

Venture RAISE Graduation

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

Closing showcase for the Fall 2025 Venture RAISE cohort, hosted at J.P. Morgan Private Bank with investors in the room. Developed and delivered for the Arizona Commerce Authority.

RAISE Map – Fall 2026 Cohort

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An invitation-only cohort for Arizona founders building a fundraising plan, run across eight one-hour sessions over four weeks. Each session is twenty minutes of instruction followed by forty minutes of working time and Q&A on your own materials. Sessions meet Tuesdays at 12:30 and Thursdays at 4:30, with a scheduled break week from 22 to…

RAISE Go – Fall 2026 Cohort

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An invitation-only cohort for founders taking a fundraising plan to market, following RAISE Map. Eight one-hour sessions over four weeks, running concurrently with RAISE Map at complementary times. Each session is twenty minutes of instruction followed by forty minutes of working time and Q&A. Sessions meet Tuesdays at 4:30 and Thursdays at 12:30, with a…

RAISE Map – Spring 2026 Cohort

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An invitation-only cohort for Arizona founders building a fundraising plan, run across eight sessions over four weeks. Four Learning Sessions carried the instruction; four Working Sessions gave founders time on their own materials with support in the room. Virtual. Free to participants. Developed and delivered for the Arizona Commerce Authority.

RAISE Go – Spring 2026 Cohort

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An invitation-only cohort for founders taking a fundraising plan to market, following RAISE Map. Eight sessions over four weeks. Four Learning Sessions carried the instruction; four Working Sessions gave founders time on their own materials with support in the room. Virtual. Free to participants. Developed and delivered for the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Venture RAISE Explore – July 2026

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An introduction to the Venture RAISE program, open to any Arizona founder weighing outside capital. Ninety minutes covering how to assess funding readiness, how investors evaluate companies at the earliest stages, and which capital path fits a given business: equity, non-dilutive, or neither. Virtual. Free to attend. Developed and delivered for the Arizona Commerce Authority.

Venture RAISE Explore – September 2026

By Stephanie Sims | August 16, 2026

An introduction to the Venture RAISE program, open to any Arizona founder weighing outside capital. Ninety minutes covering how to assess funding readiness, how investors evaluate companies at the earliest stages, and which capital path fits your business: equity, non-dilutive, or neither. Virtual. Free to attend. Developed and delivered for the Arizona Commerce Authority.