As many businesses start reopening their doors for the first time since March, our clients have continued to work around the clock to keep their startups on-track. Although CEI has been closed to the public, much of the research and technology being developed at the Center is considered essential. In fact, many of our resident entrepreneurs have pivoted their operations to focus on solving COVID-19 related problems. Keep reading to learn about the incredible efforts our community is making to combat the Coronavirus outbreak. 

Serving Phoenix entrepreneurs and Arizona’s startup ecosystem is always CEI’s priority, but we jump on any opportunity to expand our network and support international founders who dream of entering the U.S. market. Doing so helps us stay aware of how entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds are thinking about problems and how their home countries are using their resources to encourage innovation.

2019 has turned out to be a big year for CEI. But for us, the real heroes of this story will always be our clients. Over the last 12 months, we’ve had lots of amazing new entrepreneurs walk through our doors and many of our long-term residents have hit major milestones!

Keep reading to meet our new clients and find out about all the exciting things that are happening in the hallways of CEI. 

After a challenging week of business education, 11 Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) students from across the Valley competed to win The Big Pitch, CEI’s student startup challenge. On Wednesday, March 20, each student pitched business ideas before an audience and judging panel that consisted of Dr. Karla Fisher, Provost of MCCCD; James Goulka, Managing Director of AZ Tech Investors; Geoffrey Ossias, a partner at Perkins Coie; and Tom Zender, local CEO Mentor & Business Coach.

It’s been an exciting year for CEI. With a host of new programs and plenty of incoming clients to keep our staff busy, it can be hard to stay on top of all the new faces that come through our doors. However, the guest we’ve had over the last two months left a lasting impression.

Starting in October, we had the pleasure of hosting FOUR international groups, with individuals whose occupations ranged from entrepreneur to investor. With so much activity week after week, we wanted to give you a glimpse at how these events went. Keep reading for photos and recaps about the time spent with our new friends!

If there is one characteristic that’s consistent amongst all of our clients, it’s their relentless drive to build successful businesses. In fact, they’re making headlines, hitting milestones, and winning competitions so frequently that it’s even hard for us to keep up!

To make sure that their wins don’t go unrecognized, we’re launching a new, quarterly initiative to highlight their achievements. Keep reading to find a list of new clients and partners, graduating clients, and a list of everyone’s 2018 successes!