Arizona Entrepreneurs and the Secrets to Launching and Building an Innovative Enterprise E4
Do you dream of becoming a successful entrepreneur? Although many people are drawn in by the allure of entrepreneurship, launching your own company is not always easy. Ditching the corporate life and calling all the shots is certainly enticing. Without a doubt, being your own boss requires a certain amount of vision, discipline, tenacity and perseverance.
On this episode of AZTechCast, four extraordinary Arizona entrepreneurs shared their success stories on how they got started, the obstacles they overcame, how they figured out which business structure was right for their enterprise, as well as discussed the lessons learned and best practices for fledgling entrepreneurs to build their own successful businesses.
Moderated by Phoenix Business Radio Owner & President Karen Nowicki, an extraordinary panel of innovative entrepreneurial CEOs from Digital Air Strike, Axosoft, NANOPEC and Zuggand shared insightful personal stories, the challenges in today’s ultra-competitive business world, and what’s ahead in their entrepreneurial journey as leaders in Arizona’s ever-evolving tech ecosystem.
If you dream of being an entrepreneur and learning what it takes, this podcast episode is for you!
Helping software developers and teams be more productive, Axosoft creates technology that is used by the world’s most elite engineers. Companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and thousands more use Axosoft’s Agile Project Management Software and the GitKraken suite of developer tools, a cross-platform Git GUI, Kanban boards for issue tracking, and Timelines for project planning.
In addition, Axosoft built AZ CoWork, which supports and fosters the next generation of fast-growing tech companies in Arizona.
Lawdan Shojaee is used to breaking boundaries. As the CEO of Axosoft, she has become one of the few women in the Phoenix Valley to head a tech company. She has a doctorate in Physical Therapy, and over 800 hours logged at the controls of a single-engine plane.
She is passionate about paving the way for women in the tech, which is why her company created the viral campaign #ItWasNeverADress. Lawdan also believes strongly in equipping the next generation with the skills they need to be successful in life; meaning a curriculum of programming, confidence building, and entrepreneurship!
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Digital Air Strike is the leading social media, intelligent lead response, and consumer engagement technology company helping businesses increase consumer response and conversions in digital and social media environments while generating measurable ROI.
A pioneer in digital response, social media marketing and online reputation management solutions, Digital Air Strike deploys industry specific mobile apps, software, intelligent messaging and managed service platforms to monitor, engage, improve and manage consumer interactions for thousands of businesses in the United States, Canada and 11 additional countries, including working with seven of the largest automotive manufacturers.
Alexi Venneri is the co-founder and CEO of Digital Air Strike, the award-winning social media, intelligent lead response, and consumer engagement technology company. In 2010, in the middle of a recession, Venneri saw a need for dealerships to revolutionize the way they use social media and review sites to sell more cars and build customer loyalty.
Because of her leadership and vision, Digital Air Strike has grown to over 150 employees with four offices nationwide. Today, Digital Air Strike’s products, solutions, team, and technology influence 37% of all vehicle sales nationwide.
Venneri’s prior positions include President of Auto Media/Blue Flame 6 (part of The Van Tuyl Automotive Group), VP of Marketing, PR & Investor Relations at DealerTrack (TRAK), CMO at Who’s Calling and Director of Marketing for Major League Baseball’s Seattle Mariners. Venneri is an accomplished public speaker and author of the best-selling book Balls! Six Rules for Winning Today’s Business Game. In 2015, Venneri was named by Automotive News as one of the 100 Leading Women in the automotive industry.
Venneri has a B.A. in Marketing from the University of Calgary and is an accredited trainer at the University of Washington, as well as The Pacific Institute. Venneri supports numerous charitable organizations and works closely with ARME and the Beagle Freedom Project, nonprofit organizations that rescue and rehabilitate animals.
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Zuggand is a technology consulting and services firm specializing in Cloud, IoT, Security and AWS Staffing that helps organizations transform their business using modern digital technologies.
Zuggand opened for business in January 2015, but started its cloud journey as a customer in 2012 when the company’s leadership team was the executive IT team for the State of Arizona. It’s this customer perspective and experience that really enables Zuggand to truly understand what it takes to successfully migrate, optimize and innovate using AWS.
Aaron Sandeen is CEO and C-Founder of Zuggand, an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner that helps leaders accelerate cloud adoption and business innovation. As Zuggand’s Chief Executive Officer, Aaron is the crazy, mad scientist who drives innovation and growth. Whether it is developing new ideas to increase customer value or cultivating Zuggand’s internal culture, Aaron is the one leading the charge.
In a prior role, Aaron was the Chief Information Officer for the state of Arizona. When he took on that role, the state’s infrastructure had some serious issues. Aaron and his team started to experiment with AWS and fell in love. He worked with AWS to perform a well-Architected review to help get the state started on their journey. It was critical for him and his team to leapfrog from where they were and to do it the right way. This is where the Well-Architected Review Program from AWS really helped initiate change. Instead of trying to invent best practices or standards they leveraged AWS’s.
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Tucson-based NANOPEC’s mission is to empower diagnostic companies to create more accurate and affordable in-vitro fluorescence diagnostics that leave no sick patients untreated during early stages of cancer, infectious or genetic disease development. The bio-tech company’s platform of products are nano-structured ceramic materials for the next generation of advanced bio-processing and healthcare products. 
The company’s MetaFluorex technology platform allows early diagnostics by detecting lower amounts of bio-marker concentrations than incumbent in vitro diagnostics, while reducing the amount of costly reagents by up to 80%. NANOPEC’s proven disruptive technology platform eliminates false results, while increasing sensitivity and improving selectivity.
As president and CEO of Tucson-based NANOPEC, Mario Blanco, PhD, oversees the development of sustainable nanotechnology solutions, advanced nano-structured materials and point solutions for R&D laboratories and high-tech companies.
With his leadership and extensive experience in multi-disciplinary academic, industrial, and national laboratory settings, Mario is dedicated to the success and scientific direction of this innovative start-up, bio-tech company and developing advanced technologies for early disease diagnostics.
Mario has extensive experience in multiple areas of chemistry, physics, computation and biology. He’s earned a PhD in Chemistry from the University of California in Los Angeles, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of the Valley of Guatemala.
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About the Show 
The official podcast of the Arizona Technology Council, AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.
Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.
Visit www.aztechcouncil.org/techcast to learn more or to listen to recent episodes.
About Your Host
Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.
Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.
In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.
Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.
About Our Sponsor
The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.
A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.
Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.
