Edson E+I Igniting Innovation Venture Challenge Showcases Local Creative Tech Entrepreneurs

The Edson E+I Igniting Innovation Venture Challenge, held on March 27, marked the exciting finale of the three-part Edson E+I Creative Tech Innovation Series. This dynamic event brought together Arizona State University (ASU) students, faculty, staff, and the East Valley’s creative tech community to celebrate the intersection of emerging technology, entrepreneurship, and the creative arts.

Designed to foster collaboration and innovation, the series included in-depth discussions, interactive sessions, and a panel with Stephanie Tomlin, Director of Industry Relations at the MIX Center. It concluded with a welcome by Jaye O’Donnall, Mesa’s Economic Development Director, and a thrilling pitch competition. With a $5,000 seed funding opportunity created by the Mesa West Rotary Club, the competition provided emerging entrepreneurs with a platform to refine their ideas and build meaningful connections with experienced business leaders and mentors.

Mesa West Rotary is part of a global network of business leaders dedicated to giving back to their communities through mentorship, funding, and service. Their involvement in the Venture Challenge is a testament to their commitment to fostering the next generation of entrepreneurs while strengthening local economies.

The event, coordinated by ASU Edson E+I and sponsored by Mesa Business Builder, attracted a diverse audience of over 50 community members, students, university leaders, and Rotarians, all eager to support the finalists. A judging panel comprised of Mesa West Rotary members and City of Mesa employees awarded the $5,000 grand prize to Michael Li of Ethereal Co. for presenting a scalable venture with significant local impact. In a surprise move, the Rotary also granted a $1,000 award to the HeatSense team, recognizing their strong potential for growth.

Peter Costa, an established Mesa creative entrepreneur who exemplifies the local culture and CEO of Baltu Technologies, delivered an inspiring fireside chat while the judges deliberated, offering finalists valuable insights and encouragement as they embark on their journeys as both creatives and problem solvers.

“The City of Mesa has been laying the foundation for an Innovation District for years, working diligently to put the right resources in place,” said Kristin Slice, Director of ASU Edson E+I Community Entrepreneurship. “ASU Edson E+I has been embedded in the local Mesa community for many years, supporting entrepreneurs through initiatives like the Creative Tech Innovation Series. These programs spotlight local innovators, connect them with mentors and resources, and celebrate the visionaries solving today’s biggest challenges while staying rooted in their communities. The intersection of local mentorship and active entrepreneurial engagement has resulted in a deeply impactful program.”

As part of ASU’s mission to be socially embedded, the university plays a key role in fostering innovation districts by creating unique and engaging opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with business leaders. ASU leverages its research on entrepreneurship to facilitate these meaningful collisions, ensuring that students and community members alike have access to the resources they need to succeed. This aligns with the ASU Charter, which states: ASU is a comprehensive public research university, measured not by whom it excludes, but by whom it includes and how they succeed; advancing research and discovery of public value; and assuming fundamental responsibility for the economic, social, cultural and overall health of the communities it serves. The Creative Tech Innovation Series embodies this mission by providing students with hands-on entrepreneurial experiences and exposing community members to new, innovative ideas and technologies.

The 5 finalists for the challenge were:

• Micheal Li and Benjamin Voller-Brown: Ethereal Co
• Vishwas Gopala Krishna and Sreekar Chitti: EMVO/ChatPot
• Revi Teja Chopparapu, Jayaram Atluri, Sai Bhuvana Kurada: Bliss ARC
• Shashwat Raj and Kenisha Kaushal: Kavvy
• Trent Ward, William Yeager, Nick Kenney, Thomas Drake, Izma Syed: HeatSense

Looking ahead, Edson E+I will host its signature community event, Innovation Night East Valley, at The Studios @ Mesa City Center on Thursday, April 24 from 5:30-8:30PM. This family-friendly celebration of innovation will feature another pitch competition sponsored by Meta and showcase the entrepreneurial spirit of the East Valley. Community members are invited to join the event, explore various entrepreneurial opportunities in Mesa, or stop by The Studios for a free tour and access to co-working spaces.