Member news: September 2021
Nikola announces strategic agreements with Bosch for fuel-cell manufacturing
Nikola Corporation, a leading designer and manufacturer of heavy-duty commercial battery-electric vehicles (BEV), fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) and energy infrastructure solutions, today announced agreements with the Bosch Group of companies for Nikola Class 7 and 8 fuel-cell electric vehicles (FCEV) which will enable Nikola to build the Bosch fuel-cell power modules at its Coolidge, Arizona facility. Read more >>
Peoria startup Promineo is building accessible pathways toward tech jobs
Promineo Tech, a Peoria-based education-as-a-service startup, is working to bring more people into tech, especially those eager to learn. “I launched Promineo Tech and that was me finding a handful of people who wanted to learn software development and teaching them in my living room and helping them get jobs,” Nick Suwyn, the company’s founder and president, said. “The whole mission was propelled by making a better experience but making it affordable and accessible.” Promineo Tech was started in 2018 and now has a headcount of nearly 40, including 12 employees and several contractors. The company partners with higher education institutions — mainly community colleges — and runs coding bootcamps for students. Read more >>
Lucid Air officially EPA-rated at 520 miles of range
Lucid Group, which is setting new standards with its advanced luxury EVs, today announced that the Lucid Air Dream Edition Range has received an official EPA rating of 520 miles of range. It is the longest-range electric vehicle ever rated by the EPA – delivering at least 100+ miles of additional range over its closest competitor. One of two distinct versions of the Lucid Air Dream Edition, the Dream Edition Range embodies Lucid’s exacting focus on maximizing efficiency, achieving 520 miles of range while still delivering 933 horsepower. It sits alongside the 1,111 horsepower Lucid Air Dream Edition Performance and the 800 horsepower Grand Touring versions, which have also now received their official EPA range ratings. Read more >>
Waymo autonomous vehicles partnership gets national spotlight
In a report just released by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), seniors and ADA riders in the East Valley found autonomous vehicles (AV) preferable over traditional taxis or rideshare options. For the disabled and senior population who may lack consistent mobility options, there is significant evidence that AVs provide a safe, convenient travel solution. Participants in the study were also engaged in more activities outside of the home and believe they would be comfortable riding alone, without an autonomous vehicle specialist. Read more >>
SRP’s largest energy storage facility now operational in Arizona
SRP has brought online a 25 MW battery storage facility at its Bolster Substation next to its Agua Fria Generating Station in Peoria. 25 MW is enough energy to power about 5,600 residential homes, according to the public utility. The efficient storage solution will be using renewable energy when a surplus is available. SRP will increase renewable-charging capability by adding more solar energy resources to its power grid. This summer, the company announced a commitment to add 2,025 MW of utility-scale solar energy by the year 2025. Read more >>
UArizona Tech Park Leader appointed as North American division president for International Network of Science Parks
Carol Stewart, Associate Vice President of Tech Parks Arizona for the University of Arizona, has been appointed the new International Association of Science Parks and Areas of Innovation (IASP) North America Division President on the International Board of Directors. IASP is a worldwide innovation ecosystem that includes over 350 member organizations from 76 countries. The global network of science parks and innovation hubs is comprised of 7 regional divisions: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eurasia, Europe, Latin America, North America, West Asia and North Africa. Read more >>
Junior Achievement of Arizona to serve 90,000 low-income AZ students
Local nonprofit Junior Achievement of Arizona announced it is poised to serve another 90,000 Ariz. students-in-need with financial literacy and career readiness education over the next three years, resulting from $2.7 million funding awarded by Governor Doug Ducey. The additional funds will allow Junior Achievement to reach to 90,000 low-income, diverse, K-12 students from hundreds of schools statewide, primarily in Maricopa and Pima counties over the next three years. Read more >>
DocSolid announces general availability of Airmail2 Digital Records Room
DocSolid, the legal technology experts for enterprise scanning, workflow and paper reduction solutions, announces general availability of Airmail2 Digital Records Room after successful implementation and roll outs in key Am Law 200 early adoption program firms. Airmail2 Digital Records Room is a firm-wide system of software, workflow and firm services to digitize paper records to the DMS. A best-of-breed solution, Airmail2 Digital Records Room replaces paper file rooms, enables real estate compression and delivery of file requests for attorneys working from home to ultimately stop the flow of paper records to offsite storage. “Digitizing paper records has a new, clarified ROI – real estate reduction,” said Steve Irons, President of DocSolid. Read more >>
Carvana looks to buy 150 acres in Surprise after closing on 3 acres in Glendale
Online car reseller Carvana Co., which recently sought approval from Tempe to expand its headquarters, could be adding to its portfolio by building in the West Valley. Sources with knowledge of the deal told the Business Journal that Carvana (NYSE: CVNA) plans to purchase about 150 acres on the northeast corner of Cactus and Litchfield Roads in Surprise. The sale is expected to close September 20. Read more >>
Scottsdale software company GitKraken acquires Virginia startup
GitKraken, a Scottsdale company that makes tools for software developers, announced that it has acquired BigBrassBand, a Virginia-based maker of development tools. More than 2.5 million people working at 75,000 companies already use GitKraken software and with the addition of BigBrassBand, the combined entity will boost productivity for 6 million developers using GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure DevOps. Read more >>
Scottsdale-based Emerge raises $130 million, aims to hire hundreds
Emerge, a Scottsdale technology company that facilitates freight procurement and shipping, said Thursday it has raised $130 million in series B funding. The funding is a big milestone for the 4-year-old company, and Andrew Leto, founder and co-CEO of Emerge, said now has the opportunity to build a technology that will be foundational in the freight industry. Emerge runs on an online marketplace that connects the shippers looking to move their goods to the carriers driving trucks around the country, much like Hotels.com connects travelers to lodging. Read more >>