Annual PHX Startup Week Returns, $400K Going to Nonprofits

The second annual PHX Startup Week kicks off today, a week-long showcase and celebration of entrepreneurs in Arizona. The event series launched last year with a mission of fostering relationships and expanding thought leadership for local entrepreneurs. From highlighting diversity to featuring local startup jobs, PHX Startup Week is a free resource to expand the local community.

“When startups thrive, our community thrives,” said Chase’s Regional Manager for Business Banking Noreen Bishop. “Startups are innovators and job creators and they contribute to the local economy. Through Chase’s sponsorship of Phoenix Startup Week and our philanthropic contributions, we want to help grow this ecosystem to its full potential.”

Between today and Friday, speakers, VCs, and entrepreneurs will share their experience. Kicking off the morning early, Dave Drach from TechStars will discuss building businesses; on Tuesday Editor in Chief for GoDaddy Shawn Pfunder will dig into brand storytelling; on Wednesday there will be a fireside chat with Weebly CPO Dan Veltri; on Thursday six EdTech companies will compete head-to-head; and on Friday wrapping up with a few experts like Coplex CEO Zach Ferres.

PHX Nonprofits Receiving Grants

The following nonprofits will each receive a $100,000 grant from Chase as a result of their contributions to local small businesses:

Accion: The grant helps fund the organization’s staff efforts to ensure that entrepreneurs in Arizona have better access to the financial education and credit that Accion provides. Accion helps entrepreneurs with the tools they need to operate, grow or start their business, and offers small business loans and other resources.

Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce: This grant supports the Chamber’s minority business enterprise and women’s business enterprise initiatives with workshops, outreach, cohort trainings, networking events and conferences. The Chamber operates the Phoenix Minority Business Development Agency Business Center, which is one of 40 centers nationwide and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the No. 1 such business center in the nation for 2014-2015. The Hispanic Chamber promotes the success of Hispanic-owned and small businesses.

Prestamos: The grant supports the efforts of Prestamos to provide access to capital to small businesses in low-income communities to create jobs and revitalize communities. Through Prestamos, Chicanos Por La Causa (CPLC) has provided more than $43.8 million in loans to small businesses in the last five years, creating more 1,900 jobs. CPLC is a community organization dedicated to building stronger and healthier communities.

SEED SPOT: The grant supports the following SEED SPOT programs: the Latino Entrepreneur Program, which partners with the Univision television station in Phoenix for a “casting-call” for entrepreneurs to participate in a boot camp; the Women’s Entrepreneur Program, targeting women entrepreneurs who have an idea, prototype or existing business they are looking to scale; and the Cohort Capital Training Program, which helps graduates of SEED SPOT’s accelerator program raise capital. SEED SPOT is dedicated to educating, accelerating and investing in entrepreneurs who are creating solutions to social problems.

This article is part of a Startup Week content series brought to you by Chase for Business. Startup Week is celebration of entrepreneurs in cities around the globe. Chase for Business is everything a business needs in one place, from expert advice to valuable products and services. 

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Written by:
Elliot is an award winning journalist deeply ingrained in the startup world and is often digging into emerging technology and data. When not writing, he's likely either running or training for a triathlon. You can contact him by email at elliot(@)elliotvolkman.com or follow him on Twitter @thejournalizer.
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