In partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, Plug and Play, an international organization that specializes in assisting startups has announced they are setting up a presence in Phoenix.
With 50 locations around the globe and ties to 50,000 organizations worldwide including Paypal, Hippo Insurance, Dropbox, Colgate, and Apply Board, Plug and Play will first work out the Arizona Commerce Authority offices and staff up to 15 specialists. The first recipients of start-up assistance will hail from the advanced manufacturing, sustainability, and health sectors in the Phoenix area. Other industries will be considered for support after this first phase.
The chosen location, the fifth largest city in the United States, has, through the leadership of its Mayor, Kate Gallego, and City Council, launched a renaissance in the local Bio, Sustainability, and Semiconductor industries.
The job creation and positive local economic developments to the Plug and Play presence could be substantial.
On announcing this new venture, Plug and Play founder and CEO Saeed Amidi relayed:
“There are only a few special places in the world where key stakeholders such as governmental entities, local entrepreneurs and VCs, and business or university leaders welcome you with open arms. Everyone I’ve encountered in Arizona has been incredibly supportive and motivated to create the most business-friendly community possible. I’m incredibly excited to launch Plug and Play Arizona and help accelerate the next generation of entrepreneurs in the Grand Canyon State.”
Reacting to this development, Governor Katie Hobbs offered,
“Arizona is thrilled to facilitate this groundbreaking partnership with global technology leader Plug and Play. Plug and Play set the standard for accelerating innovation and collaboration, finding the next generation of breakthrough technology. Their new office in Arizona will be a powerful force connecting promising startups with leading industry companies to create deep social and societal impact.”
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego posted on social media:
I’ve been telling @PlugandPlayTC that Phoenix is the perfect place to expand, and I’m thrilled to see it happening. By connecting local startups with industry leaders, they’re going to help foster collaboration and innovative problem solving in areas key to our future. pic.twitter.com/hpJeNnrs8i
— Mayor Kate Gallego (@MayorGallego) March 20, 2023
Sandra Watson, the President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority, wrote:
“We are incredibly excited to partner with Plug and Play to take Arizona’s startup ecosystem to the next level. Plug and Play’s Arizona office will be a catalyst for innovation in key target industries like advanced manufacturing, supply chain, sustainability, and more. We are so thankful to Saeed Amidi and the entire Plug and Play team for making this premier partnership possible and we can’t wait for the promising collaborations ahead.”
On April 5, 2023, Plug and Play will host an event where their representatives will announce the first ten to twenty Phoenix area companies that have been selected for start-up assistance.
According to Frederik Bohn, the spokesperson for Plug and Play, the ten to twenty recipients will be chosen based on the “startup technologies’ relevance to current business challenges, ability to scale, and even opportunities to generate new revenue streams. The goal is to have a cohort of startups that can help solve challenges across the Advanced Manufacturing space for the semiconductor, aerospace, and mobility industries.”