Next Foundation

Location

Tucson, AZ

 

Build to Scale Program

Capital Challenge

 

Project Name

Capital Gravity Arizona - A Transformational Capital Accelerator for Arizona's Startup & Innovation Ecosystem

 

Award Amount

Federal Share

Local Match

 

$519,999

$610,500

This EDA investment will support Capital Gravity Arizona—a novel "capital accelerator” program designed to identify and activate hundreds of new startup investors necessary to fill the capital access gap in the state’s innovation ecosystem.

This high-impact program delivers multiple unique features including:

  • A “front door” to welcome new investors into Arizona’s growth-technology startup community
  • Access to a pipeline to invest in Arizona’s top startups
  • A diverse learning community that delivers world-class investor education and mentorship
  • A novel curriculum that develops “ecosystem builders” comprised of investor alumni
  • A learn-by-investing program where investors learn, deliberate, and make their first startup investment together
  • A cost-effective framework for launching member-managed funds with each investor cohort
  • A continuous pipeline of investor recruiting, networking, deal flow, and education
  • A pipeline for new and more diverse fund managers to help create and grow new Arizona-based investment funds.