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Tucson’s HJ3 and Grannus Named National Finalists in 2013 Cleantech Open

Tucson, Arizona, saw two local companies, HJ3 Composite Technologies and Grannus, named as 2013 Cleantech national finalists during this year’s annual IdeaFunding event. IdeaFunding, organized by Tech Launch Arizona, provides a platform for entrepreneurs in Southern Arizona to pitch their business ideas to seasoned startup investors and gain valuable insights to enhance their prospects for investment and startup success.

The event was inaugurated by Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild, emphasizing the city's commitment to fostering technology startups and innovation leadership in the region. The Mayor underscored Tucson's goal of nurturing the next generation of tech visionaries through support from organizations like the University of Arizona's Tech Launch Arizona, dedicated to fostering technology transfers and entrepreneurial ventures originating from the university.

Arizona holds a strong entrepreneurial reputation, ranking among the top five cities for entrepreneurs, as recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine. Tucson boasts nine incubators, providing entrepreneurs and startups with the essential workspace and resources to nurture their ideas and businesses.

HJ3 and Grannus, both Tucson-based startups, have benefited significantly from the supportive local community. HJ3, a technology transfer from the University of Arizona, won the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Arizona Innovation Challenge for two consecutive years and is now a National Finalist in the Cleantech Open Accelerator. As National Finalists, HJ3 and Grannus each received $20,000 in cash and in-kind services, and they will compete against 22 other winners from a pool of over 300 initial cleantech entrepreneur teams at the Cleantech Open National Global Forum in San Jose, CA, on November 20th and 21st, with prizes reaching as high as $200,000.

HJ3 Composite Technologies specializes in sustainable solutions for reinforcing deteriorating infrastructure worldwide. The company manufactures, engineers, and installs advanced patented composite systems, with a track record of over 10,000 successful applications across the globe. As the world grapples with the degradation of its infrastructure, HJ3 enables owners to achieve more with less cost and less environmental impact.

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