Trico Electric Cooperative was one of five cooperatives across the country selected by the USDA to move forward in the award process for the Powering Affordable Clean Energy (PACE) program.
Trico’s application includes four renewable energy and battery energy storage projects designed to provide cost-effective and sustainable energy solutions for its members in Southern Arizona. Trico’s projects include the following:
• Arivaca Rural Microgrid: A microgrid with 3MW of solar generation and 3MW/12MWh of battery storage capacity, designed to serve the load of approximately 620 residents in Arivaca. A microgrid is a power system that can be detached from the main electric grid either full time or for a specific event, like a power outage. This project is designed to use renewable energy and battery technology to improve reliability and resilience, especially during extreme weather events like monsoons.
• Trico Standalone Battery Energy Storage System: This 10MW/40MWh battery storage system will help Trico manage its peaks and save members money by charging the battery when solar energy is plentiful and prices are low and discharging energy during peaks when market prices are high. The project will be on the northwest side of Trico’s service territory where rapid growth is increasing demand.
• Avion Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility II: A facility with 10MW of solar generation and 10MW/40MWh of battery storage capacity, designed to provide cost-effective and sustainable renewable energy for Trico Members. The project will be near Trico’s existing Avion Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility in Marana, and will be capable of powering about 2,500 homes.
• Valencia Solar and Battery Energy Storage Facility: A facility with 10MW of solar generation and 10MW/40MWh of battery storage capacity, designed to provide cost-effective and sustainable renewable energy for Trico members, including the Pascua Yaqui Nation. The project will be located near Trico’s Valencia Substation and will be capable of powering about 2,500 homes.
Trico expects to develop and build the PACE projects over the next five years working with regional partners and the community to locate the projects and maximize their effectiveness. Development work will start immediately.
“PACE is a big win for Trico members and Southern Arizona and we are excited to be working with USDA and RUS,” said Brian Heithoff, Trico’s chief executive officer and general manager.
“The projects Trico is planning to build will provide cost-effective, sustainable energy solutions and benefit our members for decades to come.”
Trico Electric Cooperative Inc. is a not-for-profit electric cooperative serving nearly 50,000 members in Marana, Corona de Tucson, SaddleBrooke, Mount Lemmon, Sahuarita, Green Valley, Three Points, Star Valley and Arivaca.
Whether you are in the market for a new home or ready to upgrade your current residence, investing in energy-efficient home improvements could help you save money thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act.
Signed into law in August 2022, the federally funded Inflation Reduction Act includes a record $370 billion reserved spending for energy initiatives, including significant tax credits, rebates and other incentives for homeowners who replace or upgrade their HVAC systems, appliances and insulation. Combined with additional state, local and manufacturer’s programs, these energy-efficient home improvements can help you save considerably at tax time — and lower your utility bills in the long run.
When you’re ready to enhance your home’s efficiency, here’s what you need to know:
Energy-Efficient Home Improvement Credit: Beginning with products installed on Jan. 1, 2023, and extending through the end of 2032, energy tax credits have been expanded from previous programs with increased cost-saving values. They now offer homeowners a rebate up to 30% of eligible expenses up to $1,200 per year each year that the program is active. Homeowners considering an energy-efficient heat pump can save even more money with an additional rebate up to $2,000 available. Eligible upgrades include:
- Home energy audits
- Heat pump HVAC or water heaters
- Biomass stoves and boilers
- High-efficiency gas furnaces
- High-efficiency central air conditioning
- ENERGY-STAR certified doors and windows
- Insulation enhancements
- Electric panel and wiring upgrades
- Clean energy equipment installation
High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program: The High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act, or HEEHRA, is a 10-year program that provides homeowners with rebates up to 100% of the cost of eligible projects up to $14,000. HEEHRA rebates are based on income and can help to fund home improvements such as switching to electric appliances, installing a heat pump or updating your home’s circuit panel. The value of each rebate varies by project and includes up to $8,000 for eligible households to install heat pumps.
State and local rebate programs: In addition to federally funded programs, many state, local and utility rebates are available to incentivize energy-efficient home improvements. These offers can vary so it’s best to speak to a local expert such as your HVAC contractor, or use this zip code-based HVAC savings database at York.com/residential-equipment/rebates-and-savings as a point of reference.
Manufacturer rebates and financing options: When it comes to your home’s efficiency, heating and cooling often account for the most energy consumption — and the highest utility bills. Because of this, upgrading the HVAC system can often provide the greatest payback.
Regardless of your home comfort needs, manufacturers such as YORK have an extensive offering of energy-efficient systems, including electric heat pumps, that may be eligible for certain rebates. Plus, your contractor can discuss available financing options to help with the upfront equipment costs to maximize savings.
Intel announced its plans for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Bringing AI Everywhere, Intel will implement artificial intelligence technology powered by Intel processors on the world’s biggest stage.
As the Official Worldwide AI Platform Partner of the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024, Intel will introduce new, innovative AI experiences based on Intel hardware and software that enable next-generation engagement for fans, organizers, athletes and viewers around the world.
Key AI implementations include:
- An immersive sports experience that will allow fans to experience innovative technology used to measure athletic potential.
- The first Olympics to showcase an end-to-end 8K livestreaming experience.
- Advancements in universal accessibility at selected Olympic and Paralympic facilities.
“The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the world’s biggest showcase for the best athletes to push the boundaries of possibility and do things we never thought possible,” said Sarah Vickers, leader of Intel’s Olympic and Paralympic Games Office. “This summer, Intel will accelerate its mission of bringing AI Everywhere using Intel solutions at Paris 2024, showcasing the powerful potential of technology and AI to create immersive and interactive experiences at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024 for millions around the world.”
Paris 2024 is set to be one of the largest events ever organized in France, with close to 15,000 athletes, millions of spectators and billions of viewers worldwide across linear television and digital platforms. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will embed Intel AI platform technology throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games experience in three key areas.
First-of-Its-Kind On-Site Immersive AI Experiences
On the ground in Paris, AI applications powered by Intel processors and software solutions will demonstrate the potential of technology to benefit athletes, coaches and spectators leading up to and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Intel will create an interactive, AI-powered fan activation to take spectators on a journey of becoming an Olympic athlete. Trained on Intel® Gaudi® accelerators, running on Intel® Xeon® processors with built-in AI acceleration and optimized with OpenVINO™, Intel’s AI Platform Experience, in collaboration with Samsung, will use AI and computer vision to analyze athletic drills and match each participant’s profile to an Olympic sport.
Intel’s technology is also driving advancements in accessibility for the visually impaired throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games Paris 2024. Leveraging AI built on Intel Xeon, 3D models of both the Team USA High Performance Center in Paris and the International Paralympic Committee headquarters in Bonn, Germany, allow indoor and voice navigation via a smartphone application.
Revolutionary 8K Live OTT Broadcast Workflow Delivery and Tailored Viewing for Fans
Paris 2024 will be the first edition of the Olympics to utilize Intel Xeon processors to showcase an end-to-end 8K livestreaming experience, providing a visible pathway for the future of low-latency, 8K resolution livestreaming over the internet. Broadcast servers powered by the latest Intel Xeon Scalable processors with Intel® Deep Learning Boost technology will encode and compress the live signal produced by Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) at 8K/60FPS/HDR “More/Faster/Better Pixels” (48 Gbps RAW to 40-60 Mbps distribution using VVC standard) in milliseconds. An 8K over-the-top (OTT) signal will be delivered to the latest Intel-based PCs and laptops connected to 8K TV to selected locations worldwide in just seconds. This will pave the way for viewers around the world to enjoy future Olympic action through a high-resolution livestreaming experience with the highest broadcast-grade quality.
AI automation enables broadcasters to bring more customized digital content to viewers faster than ever. Olympic Broadcasting Services Automatic Highlights Generation, trained on the Intel® Geti™ platform, can package tailored highlights across multiple disciplines and distribute to fans instantly, creating efficiencies in production and editing.
Preserving the Legacy of the Olympic Games
To help continue the legacy of the Olympic Games, neural object cloning will transform video of Olympic collections into 3D digital artifacts. This solution, developed by Intel’s Emergent AI Lab, is being tested to enable the Olympic Museum to bring some of its collections into interactive digital environments where viewers can rotate and explore pieces of Olympic history, as if they were in their hands.
Intel will continue to develop and roll out new implementations of AI technology in the lead-up to the Olympic Games, with additional activations expected in the coming months.
Intel’s Olympic and Paralympic Heritage
Intel has a storied history of innovation at the Olympic and Paralympic Games, accelerating the adoption of 5G, VR, drones and AI technology platforms to enhance the experience. This began with the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018, highlighted by the unforgettable Intel® Shooting Star™ drone display, and continued at Tokyo 2020 where Intel® Premium drones took to the sky to symbolize global solidarity following the pandemic. Intel also introduced 3D athlete tracking and VR training in 2020, while helping enable the first live broadcast over 5G at Beijing 2022.
“Our partnership with Intel has propelled us into a realm where emerging technologies, powered by artificial intelligence, are reshaping the world of sport for spectators, athletes, IOC staff and Partners,” said Ilario Corna, chief information technology officer at the International Olympic Committee. “Through their AI-powered solutions, Intel has enabled us to deploy AI faster than ever before. Together, in Paris 2024, our collaboration will create an Olympic experience like never before, embodying our shared commitment to building a better world through sport.”
The Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be July 26 to Aug. 11, 2024. The Paralympic Games will take place Aug. 28 to Sept. 8.
DMD Systems Recovery, LLC. (DMD), a reuse-first ITAD services provider, proudly announces that after a thorough reassessment by B Lab™, DMD’s B Impact Assessment™ jumped over 20 points, achieving a total score of 103. This achievement solidifies DMD’s status as a certified B Corp for the 4th year and underscores DMD’s commitment to sustainability in the IT Asset Disposition (ITAD) industry.
DMD provides certified and compliant ITAD services, resulting in a governed solution that combats the growing global e-waste crisis. DMD is the first and only ITAD to adopt a ‘reuse-first’ policy that prioritizes complete IT asset sustainability, with recycling only as a last resort. Additionally, DMD operates internally through a sustainable lens, publishing an annual impact report to share all progress and outcomes set forth publicly and transparently.
B Lab awards a Certified B Corporation™ to businesses that meet rigorous social and environmental performance standards, accountability, and transparency to balance profit and purpose. To be certified, a company must achieve a score of at least 80 points in the B Impact Assessment, which measures a company’s social and environmental impact across several domains, including its effect on workers, community, environment, and customers.
“Our journey to not only attain but exceed our B Corp certification score reflects our core belief that businesses can and should operate for the greater good,” said Aaron Zeper, CEO of DMD. This achievement is a direct outcome of our team’s unwavering dedication to our reuse-first business model and our collective efforts to foster a more sustainable and equitable world. We are immensely proud of this milestone and the positive impact we continue to make.”
Acknowledging DMD’s achievement, Jodi Beasley, Senior Director of Community at B Lab U.S. & Canada commented, “DMD’s improvement in their B Corp score is a clear indicator of their dedication to exceeding high social and environmental performance standards. Their success is a powerful example of how businesses can effectively drive positive change and serve as a force for good.”
About DMD Systems Recovery, LLC:
DMD Systems Recovery, LLC. (DMD) protects your reputation and our world with ITAD solutions having the highest standards for your Data Security and the Environment, ensuring your assets go to their next best use. DMD works with hundreds of companies and public entities to securely destroy their data, decommission assets, and redeploy or remarket the equipment across IT categories including Data Center, End User Compute, and Mobility. For more information, please visit: https://www.dmdsystems.com.
About B Lab U.S. & Canada:
B Lab U.S. & Canada is a partner in the B Global Network, a unified group of global, regional, and national organizations that power a business movement as a force for good. A historic global culture shift is underway to harness the power of business to help address society’s greatest challenges. Our global network creates standards, policies, tools, and programs that shift the behavior, culture, and structure of capitalism. B Lab certifies companies — known as B Corps — who are leading the way. Our vision is an inclusive, equitable, and regenerative economic system for all people and the planet.
The final numbers are in and Phoenix once again reached its goal of making Final Four Fan Fest a Zero Waste Event. During the four days of downtown events, 94.2% of all waste collected by the Public Works Department was diverted away from the landfill. A Zero Waste event is defined as one with at least 90% waste diversion.
University of Arizona Center for Innovation
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), which serves as the science and technology startup incubator network of Tech Parks Arizona, is pleased to announce the open call for the UACI Sponsored Launch Fueled by the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce and Town of Oro Valley competition. The winning startup will receive sponsored entry into UACI at Oro Valley, the prestigious bioscience-focused incubator, along with resources , specialized facilities, services and expert guidance to grow their business.
In alignment with its mission to grow scalable startup ventures that fuel the Arizona economy, UACI has teamed up with Oro Valley leaders to support science and technology early-stage companies. The launch of the competition is part of a growing collaboration between UACI, the Town of Oro Valley and Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce over the past four years which has supported several startups in Oro Valley through previous Sponsored Launch programs. Building on the momentum and great interest of entrepreneurs who live in the region, the three organizations are making the sponsored entry available once again.
The winning startup will receive one sponsored year of admission at UACI which includes a structured incubation program, customized business mentoring and the ability to work alongside other startups in a fast-paced environment. UACI provides the people, programming and place needed to successfully launch and scale a business. The program provides wet and dry laboratory space, meeting rooms, and assistance through a 28-point roadmap that helps them with everything from refining their business model to obtaining funding.
Application submissions are open now and close on Friday, April 26, 2024. Applicants must meet certain qualifications including having a startup team that lives or operates in the Town of Oro Valley and is looking to make a significant difference in the local and global community through innovation. Specific application information can be found by visiting the UACI website.
In addition to one-year sponsored entry into UACI, the winning startup will receive membership in the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. This membership grants access to events, exclusive deals, and connections to a network of businesses in Oro Valley. Moreover, the municipal support from the Town of Oro Valley empowers UACI to drive economic development in the region. The combined value of this package, totaling $10,000, is generously funded by the Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Oro Valley.
As a region, Southern Arizona has recently experienced an increased interest in entrepreneurship, and the business ecosystem is ripe with educational offerings and promising locations for startup ventures. Oro Valley’s steady population growth, booming bioscience sector and potential for geographic expansion make it particularly attractive to scalable ventures and innovative technologies.
About the UA Center for Innovation
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a startup incubator network with outposts across the Southern Arizona region. For two decades, the program has directly served over 300 companies, impacting thousands of entrepreneurs who have attracted $105.8M in external capital. This is done by providing access to people, programming, and places that help entrepreneurs take their companies from idea to market. With the mission to fuel the Arizona economy, UACI works to help scale science and tech-based startups under the scope of Tech Parks Arizona creating university-based economic impact.
About the Town of Oro Valley
The Town of Oro Valley is located approximately 6 miles north of Tucson, Arizona cradled at the foot of the magnificent Santa Catalina Mountains with hiking trails through Catalina State Park, hiking and bicycle trails throughout the Town, and world class golf courses. Formed in 1974, the Town of Oro Valley is a community of 46,000 residents that is a modern, progressive, clean, safe community with robust employment opportunities and a bustling bioscience sector. The town has been recognized as a Best Places to Live in Arizona, Best Towns for Families, Best Places in America to Live and Launch a Small Business, and the Upscale Tech Mecca of Southern Arizona.
About Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce was formed in the fall of 1992 to support the growth of and business interests in the community. It became the Northern Pima County Chamber of Commerce in 1998, when Northwest Tucson was entering a period of major growth. Then, in 2011, directors went back to the organization’s roots, and adopted once more the name Greater Oro Valley Chamber of Commerce. The Oro Valley Chamber’s mission is to cultivate a vibrant economic region by empowering and uniting the Greater Oro Valley business community.
A group of investors who own approximately 30,000 acres of land in the Harquahala Valley have inked a deal to build a $1.2 billion solar project on the site and are negotiating separate deals to sell the water underneath the project, which lies about 60 miles west of Phoenix.
Salt Lake City-based Copia Power, a developer of renewable energy platforms backed by global investment firm The Carlyle Group (Nasdaq: CG), plans to invest billions in the region in an effort to develop more than 1,500 megawatts of additional renewable energy projects, said Garret Bean, managing director of strategic development for Copia Power.
Copia’s project marks the latest addition to Arizona’s growing solar industry, which ranked No. 9 in the nation in 2023 by one metric. SRP’s new Buckeye solar-battery facility is another example of a large project that recently went live.
Copia’s green energy campus is expected to span 14,000 acres, while the landowners have option agreements with other solar developers to build an additional 6,000 acres of solar on site, said Carson Brown, a partner and Harquahala Valley landowner.
“There are over 4,000 acres not under options that we expect to negotiate with solar groups on that land over the next couple of years, and I expect billions more in investment over the next five to seven years as these projects get built,” Brown said.
Bean said his team has been working on this deal for the past three years.
“Copia was familiar to the region and were introduced to the landowners through great partners,” he said. “Since that relationship formulated three years ago, we worked closely with the landowners to develop and start construction on the Harquahala projects.”
Copia secures project financing from several partners
The first two phases of Copia’s Harquahala Sun complex are expected to be completed in early 2025 and produce 450 megawatts of solar generation each year, he said. It will include a 300 megawatt/1200 MWh battery energy storage system.
San Diego-based SOLV Energy will build the projects, generating more than 700 construction jobs that will be sustained through subsequent phases of development and construction, Bean said.
In December, Copia Power secured a $1.2 billion construction-to-term loan financing package to fund the construction of its Harquahala Sun I and Harquahala Sun II solar plus storage projects.
The financing was executed by Crédit Agricole CIB, BNP Paribas, Natixis CIB, and SMBC as coordinating lead arrangers. It is one of the first structured with a non-recourse tax credit transfer bridge and term loan takeout. This leverages the flexibility provided by the Inflation Reduction Act’s tax credit transfer provisions, rather than a traditional tax equity and term loan takeout.
The solar rays in Harquahala Valley are some of the most intense in the southwest, and its proximity to Delaney Substation make it an ideal location for solar projects, Brown said.
“This region is ideal for renewable energy with existing and planned transmission infrastructure, great sun and supportive landowners and community members,” Bean said. “We anticipate future phases of the project coming online in the following years and through 2028.”
At full capacity, he expects the project to be 2,000 MW, which is enough energy to power more than 500,000 homes.
“This project will be essential in meeting the increasing power demands of Arizona residents and businesses,” Bean said.
Buckeye, Queen Creek could benefit from water rights
Meanwhile, the owners of this property are also in talks to sell Harquahala’s underground water supply to Queen Creek and Buckeye, two municipalities that are not designated water providers. Water security is an increasingly high priority as Valley municipalities continue to grow at a breakneck space.
Paul Gardner, assistant town manager for Queen Creek, said his team is nearly finished with an application to the Arizona Department of Water Resources to transport 5,000 acre feet per year over the next 100 years.
The city of Buckeye has a concurrent application for nearly 6,000 acre feet of water to be transported over the next 100 years, he said.
Gardner said he hopes the water department will have reached a decision by the end of May. While price negotiations are still ongoing, he expects to pay around $7,000 an acre foot, or $35 million for the 5,000 acre feet.
“We have large industrial projects coming to Queen Creek,” Gardner said. “This water may be used for that.”
There are major power grids between Arizona and California that go right by the Harquahala property, Gardner said.
“It doesn’t get much hotter than Harquahala,” he said. “Now you have renewable projects going on. It’s a double win for the state.”
Petra Schadeberg-Hermann, co-managing partner of Krombacher Brewery, one of the largest private breweries in Germany, is an investor in Harquahala who recently sold hundreds of acres to homebuilders at her Soleo master-planned community in Queen Creek.
“With all the chip plants being built in Phoenix all needing so much energy, to have solar on top of it and the water is really a perfect match,” she said. “Harquahala is a perfect location for solar. It’s flat land, there is nothing to shade it. There are no trees. It’s really a perfect location for solar.”
Before signing this solar deal with Copia Power, the landowners had been leasing the land to farmers, who grew alfalfa and shipped product out of state and oversees, Brown said.
Some already have stopped farming operations, and the balance will voluntarily stop farming in the near future, he said, allowing for water to be conserved for a better use, according to Brown. He noted that there are a lot of chip manufacturers, data centers and other businesses looking to locate in Arizona that need water and will potentially benefit from this water in Harquahala Valley.
“The land is driving billions in investment, hundreds of jobs and new infrastructure that will provide water and energy to grow Arizona communities and businesses,” Copia Power’s Bean said.
XNRGY, a North American leader in sustainable HVAC solutions, announced the groundbreaking of its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Mesa, Arizona.
The first phase of the Arizona facility encompasses a significant 275,000 square feet, surpassing XNRGY’s Montreal headquarters at 223,000 square feet. This initial investment signifies a key milestone in XNRGY’s previously announced $300 million capital investment plan for the Mesa area. The groundbreaking ceremony represents the start of a four-phase development plan, ultimately creating a massive 1,000,000-square-foot sustainable manufacturing hub.
XNRGY is known for pushing the boundaries of HVAC engineering and crafting custom solutions for complex buildings. They go beyond standard air handling units, delivering comprehensive packaged solutions that deliver maximum energy efficiency, lower connected power, redundancy, modularity, and help business owners achieve their sustainability goals.
“We are thrilled to announce the groundbreaking of our new facility in Mesa,” said Yves Leduc XNRGY’s COO. “Expanding our manufacturing footprint from our Montreal headquarters to this new facility in the States underscores XNRGY’s commitment to meeting the surging demand for our best-in-class sustainable climate control solutions,”
“This first phase of our Arizona facility will encompass an impressive 275,000 square feet, which signifies a significant increase in capacity, surpassing our Montreal headquarters at 223,000 square feet. This strategic expansion allows us to continuously deliver on our commitment to manufacturing excellence. By implementing industry-leading lean practices, we ensure exceptional service for our mission-critical customers.”
“The new Arizona facility is poised to become a hub for innovation at XNRGY,” said Larry Hopkins, XNRGY’s CTO. “We’re building not just a manufacturing plant but laying the foundation for the next generation of climate control systems. Here, we’ll focus on sustainable design principles to ensure the facility itself embodies the environmental responsibility our technology promotes.”
“XNRGY is bringing the future of sustainable climate control to the Valley,” said Wais Jalali, CEO of XNRGY. “Our new facility will not only create exciting careers, but also serve as a showcase for our industry-leading technology that reduces energy consumption, water usage, and carbon footprint. This translates to significant cost savings for our customers – a lower total cost of ownership for a healthier planet.”
Jalali added, “XNRGY’s commitment to sustainability means we focus on research and development to ensure our products offer maximum energy efficiency, reduced carbon footprints, and support for LEED certification across diverse applications, serving mission-critical markets such as data centers, life sciences, healthcare, biopharma, cleanrooms, and lithium-ion battery plants.”
“For over 40 years, I’ve dedicated myself to innovation in HVAC. But nothing ignites my passion like what we’re building here at XNRGY,” said Sham Ahmed, Co-Founder, President & General Manager of XNRGY. “We’ve united the best minds in North American HVAC, and together, we’re not just opening a facility – we’re launching the future of climate control. This Arizona site is a springboard for groundbreaking research, sustainable design, and shattering the boundaries of efficiency.”
“We’re building more than machines – we’re crafting a future where responsible climate control empowers every application. This isn’t just a new chapter for XNRGY – it’s a revolution for the entire industry, starting right here in Arizona. The future of HVAC is bright, and it’s ours to create,” concluded Ahmed.
XNRGY is not only committed to sustainability but also to building a strong future workforce. The company is actively partnering with local universities and trade schools to recruit and hire skilled workers. This investment in the Mesa community will foster a new generation of sustainability champions.
“We’re thrilled to see XNRGY break ground on their new facility at Gateway East,” said Matt Jensen, a partner with The Boyer Company. “XNRGY perfectly embodies the type of innovative and growth-oriented company we envisioned for this development. The project’s flexible design and ample space will allow XNRGY to seamlessly scale operations and meet their growing customer needs. Even in today’s unique economic climate, XNRGY’s vision and our collaborative approach with the Arizona community allowed us to find creative solutions to bring this project to life.”
GOVO Venture Partners made its seventh portfolio company investment since announcing the launch of its venture fund, GOVO Fund I, in January, 2023. The investment is part of a $2 million seed round for the company, MARS Suite, Inc, that is being co-led by Govo and AP Ventures.
MARS, based in Huntsville, Alabama, offers an integrated suite of cybersecurity technologies that when combined together increase the velocity in which a small to medium sized organization can deploy a robust cyber and risk program. MARS is powered by modern cyber technologies designed to combat new and emerging cyber-attacks and threats, while addressing the controls required by federal and industry regulators.
Recognizing the critical technology and process gaps that exist in cybersecurity and compliance programs within small to medium-sized organizations in regulated industries, MARS developed its technology suite to combine cybersecurity IT and network scanning, alerting, detection and response technologies that used to power security and compliance as-a-service solutions for MSPs, MSSPs, and organizations looking to reduce the risk, cost, and time of become secure and compliant with industry and federal regulations. All of this is made accessible through proprietary dashboards, reports, automation, and specialized services.
Rob Panepinto, GOVO’s managing general partner, said of the investment, “Recent congressional testimony by FBI Director Christopher Ray reminded the American public that foreign actors intend to ‘wreak havoc’ on US interests. The hurdle for many small and medium-sized businesses, against both foreign and domestic cybersecurity threats, is the cost and complexity of cybersecurity technology. GOVO is attracted to MARS because it addresses these challenges with an experienced team of leaders and a solution tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses.”
MARS Suite was commercialized through a joint venture formed between All Points Logistics, and Mission Multiplier, and the technology was initially deployed at NASA as part of a security operations engineering contract awarded to All Points Logistics. Phil Monkress, CEO of All Points Logistics and managing partner of All Points Ventures (AP Ventures) said, “MARS Suite is a great representation of the innovative technologies and companies that AP Ventures is investing in. We are actively investing in, and helping to develop other disruptive and innovative technology companies and expect to make additional announcements around our portfolio companies in the near future.”
“MARS Suite was created to empower leadership teams with real-time visibility into cyber threats, IT vulnerabilities, and risks across the enterprise, enabling leaders and teams to make informed decisions on how best to prioritize and deploy response and remediation resources that will defend and protect the organization.” Said Jamie Miller, CEO of Mission Multiplier and Co-Founder of MARS Suite. Mark Dallmeier, MARS Suite’s President and CEO said, “MARS eliminates the need to buy, deploy, operate, and maintain multiple cyber scanning, detection, response, and reporting technologies. The solution can be deployed on premise or through a SaaS model, and can be purchased through our channel partners as part of a security and compliance as-a-service bundle. MARS provides the “easy button” for solving cybersecurity and compliance program complexity that the market has been searching for.”
ABOUT GOVO VENTURE PARTNERS
GOVO Venture Partners is a Winter Park, Florida based company. GOVO Fund I is a venture fund that invests, seed round through series A, in early-stage companies for which doing business with government or navigating government regulations is an important success factor. For more information, visit http://govovp.com.
ABOUT AP VENTURES
All Points Ventures (AP Ventures) is pioneering the future of space, defense, cyber, and nano technology through strategic investments in dual-use technology and engineering ventures. We focus on funding, developing, and launching early-stage ventures, and support those ventures with industry connections and a proven launch system. AP Ventures is ready to transform early-stage technology concepts ideas into venture-scale, market-ready successes. For more information contact [email protected]
ABOUT MARS SUITE, INC.
MARS is a Huntsville Alabama based technology company and developer of MARS Suite, an integrated suite of modern cyber technologies designed to combat the latest cyber-attacks and preserve businesses’ ability to operate in regulated industries. The company partners with a national network of MSPs, MSSPs, various Platform and Industry partners to provide security and compliance as-a-service and solutions to organizations operating in heavily regulated industries. For more information visit http://www.marssuite.com or contact [email protected]
CellTrust SL2 Enterprise Capture and the Archive360 Unified Data Governance Platform integrate to capture, archive, and manage mobile communications data across the enterprise in accordance with legal, regulatory, and organizational policies.
Archive360 is a unified data governance company transforming how organizations identify, collect, manage and act on their data. Businesses and government agencies worldwide rely on the security, scalability and scope of Archive360’s cloud-native platform to address their increasing data governance obligations across growing volumes of disparate data. By eliminating data silos, securing data access, and increasing data insights, Archive360 is reducing cost and risk.
“CellTrust is pleased to welcome Archive360 to our global partner ecosystem through the integration of the Archive360 Unified Data Governance Platform with SL2 Enterprise Capture,” Sean Moshir, CellTrust Chairman and CEO.
Together, CellTrust and Archive360 provide capture and data governance solutions for enterprises in highly regulated sectors such as financial services, government, education, healthcare, energy, life sciences and legal.