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Arizona Charts AI Future with New 19-Member Policy Committee

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs has established a 19-member Artificial Intelligence (AI) Steering Committee as part of her administration's initiative to shape the state's AI policy framework. The committee is tasked with developing guidelines that ensure the responsible and ethical deployment of AI technologies across Arizona. Initial recommendations from the committee are expected by spring 2026.

The formation of this committee underscores Arizona's commitment to fostering innovation while addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging technologies. The committee comprises experts from various sectors, including academia, industry, government, and non-profit organizations, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach to AI governance. Their collective expertise will guide the development of policies that promote transparency, public education, and responsible innovation in AI applications. We are proud to have Freeway advisor, Chris Richardson as a notable member of this committee!

Why Startups Should Scale Up with Fractional Talent

In this video clip from our recent Tech Talent Summit, Steve Galley, CEO of Open Access Ventures, discusses the value of leveraging fractional talent as you scale your startup in the early stages.

Reid’s Real Estate Corner: New AI Data Center Set for Tonopah, AZ

by Reid Simpson, REALTOR® & Team Lead GolfCourseHomes.com

On May 23, a 640-acre piece of desert dubbed "Hassayampa Ranch" was sold by way of Arizona Land Consulting in Tonopah, AZ, for $ 51 M. Anita Verma-Lallian, the founder of Arizona Land Consulting, in partnership with Smita Mehta of Equity Land Group, identified & sold the parcel to a group of investors (to which they remain a part of the newly formed team) now referred to as "Hassayampa Ranch 2040." The group has its sights set on building a 1 gigawatt AI data center.

Chamath Palihapitiya of Social Capital and the popular All-In Podcast came aboard as an investor and has been a long-time advocate for national energy security and winning the AI race. Anita Verma-Lallian commented that, "When you have Bill Gates building his smart city next door and tech titans choosing Arizona over Silicon Valley, it's clear we're witnessing a historic shift." Hassayampa Ranch 2040 is located less than a 30-minute drive from the Palo Verde Generation Station, the largest nuclear power plant in the United States, consistently generating in excess of 3 gigawatts of electricity.

As AI applications begin to take shape in more industries and bring convenience through computing to our everyday lives, energy demand is only going to increase. Here is a fun comparison from the U.S. Department of Energy: How Much Power is 1 Gigawatt?

Arizona Bioscience Industry Surges Ahead with Job and Research Growth

Arizona's bioscience industry is experiencing significant growth, with job growth outpacing the national average and record highs in research funding. Key metrics highlighted by the Flinn Foundation indicate a strong and expanding industry, though some areas, like venture capital deals, are showing a national trend of decline.

Key Areas of Growth:

💻 Jobs. Arizona's bioscience job growth rate (8.1% from 2020-2023) exceeded the national rate (6.7%)

🔬 Non-hospital jobs. A substantial portion of the state's bioscience workforce saw even faster growth.

💵 Wages. Bioscience workers in Arizona earned an average of $87,000 in 2023, a $20,000 premium above the state's private-sector average.

💰 Research Funding. Arizona received $368 million in National Institutes of Health (NIH) grants in 2024, setting a new record and experiencing a four times faster growth rate compared to the U.S. from 2020 to 2024.

🧑‍🔬 Academic R&D. Academic research and development expenditures reached a record high of $706 million in 2022.

💸 Venture Capital. Venture capital funding for bioscience companies reached $289 million in 2024, though the number of deals declined.

🎓 University Tech Transfer. Arizona universities spun out 14 bioscience firms in 2024, a slight increase from the previous year, but still below the peak of 27 in 2021.

Uplinq Secures $10 Million Series A to Revolutionize AI-Powered Bookkeeping and Tax Solutions for SMBs

Uplinq, a leading provider of AI-driven bookkeeping and tax solutions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), announced the closing of a $10 million Series A funding round. The round was led by Next Coast Ventures, with participation from AZ-VC, Live Oak Ventures, and existing investors.

💸 23 Funding Rounds in 2025 💸 

~$211M+ Invested in AZ in May 2025 😃

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