ASU ScaleU makes new investments in start-ups

ASU ScaleU, a leading global higher education technology accelerator at Arizona State University, has recently invested in five startup companies that focus on supporting the New American University’s charter for inclusivity and excellence.

ASU ScaleU, a venture of ASU Enterprise Partners, assists the most promising early stage ed tech startups by developing opportunities to pilot these ventures on a large, public research university platform, as well as investment capital and other services to support company growth. Companies selected for the program aim to drive social impact at the university level and beyond with a focus on future of work, student success, and university transformation. 

ASU ScaleU helps ed tech startups successfully navigate the university ecosystem for pilot approvals and onboarding. Companies gather valuable market insights from ASU administrators, faculty and students across a variety of disciplines.

The new additions to the portfolio bring a diverse mix of opportunity and innovation to ASU ScaleU.

• AstrumU: Its platform enables students to discover the best fitting career path through machine learning and predictive analytics. AstrumU uses artificial intelligence to translate data from students to help them streamline the career selection process.

• InsideSherpa: The company creates virtual simulated micro-internships with corporations. InsideSherpa provides all students a series of resources and tasks designed to simulate the real-world experience of starting a career, enabling work experience with the world’s top firms.

• Riipen: This project-based learning platform connects students and faculty with companies to enable project-based education and experiential learning across all disciplines of study. 

• EX-IQ: The platform uses artificial intelligence to empower learning and converts any written document or audio file into an interactive materials. Users can interact with their notes in a variety of digital modalities.

• DeepBench: This marketplace connects university faculty as expert advisors to corporate partners on demand to answer industry questions and leverage their university knowledge. 

“ASU ScaleU is thrilled to support companies that serve such important and emerging needs for the university and higher education,” said Bennett Dwosh, director of strategy and venture acceleration of ASU Enterprise Partners. “All of the companies represent opportunities to make a social impact and are led by strong leaders who believe in the power of their technology to support university outcomes.”

Harkins unveils the CINÉ1 at Santan Village Theatre   

Harkins Theatres, Arizona’s homegrown movie theatre company, announced today the grand opening of its newest CINÉ1 premium large format auditorium at its Santan Village location. The CINÉ1 features plush leather Ultimate Lounger reclining seats, cutting-edge laser projection and Dolby Atmos 3D object-based sound. 

Other completed enhancements making their debut as part of phase one of the total remodel of the Santan Village theatre include:

• Ultimate Loungers™ (plush leather, electronic recliners)

• State-of-the-art laser projection

• Reserved seating

• In-lobby bar featuring wine and beer, including local craft favorites

• Updated and upgraded lobby finishes and décor

“The CINÉ1 at Harkins Santan Village is the most luxurious moviegoing experience in the southeast Valley,” said Dan Harkins, owner of Harkins Theatres. “We are thrilled to unveil our newest CINÉ1 and other theatre upgrades in time for our Santan Village guests to enjoy during the holiday moviegoing season.” 

The Santan Village remodel is part of Harkins’ ongoing $150 million initiative for its existing theatres company-wide as a continual effort to provide the most state-of-the-art amenities and Ultimate Moviegoing® experience for guests. Additional theatre remodel projects are underway, with more locations to be announced soon.

The final auditoriums included in phase two of the remodel will be completed Spring of 2020. 

For more information, visit Harkins.com.

Wilde Wealth Management supports more than 1,200 children through fundraising activities

Wilde Wealth Management Group helped make the season a little more merry and bright for more than 1,200 Arizona children in need this holiday season, with a donation of 900 toys as well as a more than $2,500 in cash donations to Toys for Tots in December.  This is the firm’s 15th year supporting The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. 

“Wilde Wealth Management Group believes in operating under a commitment to service both its clients and the community at large,” said Trevor Wilde, managing principal of Wilde Wealth Management Group. “Through our Wilde for Arizona Community Outreach Program, the firm empowers its team to be active members of the communities where we all work and live. Through office fundraisers, our annual Zoolights event and a new #GivingTuesday initiative with an Amazon Wish List, clients from all over the world to were able to help make this our most impactful drive yet.” 

Wilde Wealth Management Group is an award-winning independent financial services firm that provides comprehensive retirement, investment, real estate, insurance, legal and tax planning services all under one roof. A fee-based firm with in-house Independent Investment Advisors, Certified Financial Planners, Certified Public Accountants, attorneys, and mortgage and insurance specialists all working together toward clients’ diverse goals, Wilde Wealth is headquartered in Scottsdale and also has offices in Glendale, Tempe, Tucson and Payson, as well as an office in Indiana. For more information, visit www.wildewealth.com.

Splaver Wealth Management partners with Wilde Wealth Management

Splaver Wealth Management has formally joined together with Wilde Wealth Management, an award-winning independent financial advisory firm with offices in Scottsdale, Tempe, Glendale, Payson, Tucson and Indiana, effective December 1, 2019.  Wilde Wealth Management provides comprehensive retirement, investment, real estate, insurance, legal and tax planning services all under one roof.  Through the partnership, Splaver Wealth Management will retain its brand and continue to operate from its current office, located at 8675 S. Priest Dr. #104 in Tempe. Managing partners Eric Splaver, CPA and Jennifer Splaver, CPA will also continue to operate Splaver & Splaver, CPA, PLC, a full-service tax, accounting and business consulting firm, from their Tempe office as well.

“In order to ensure that our clients are in good hands for generations to come, our firm has been seeking out a like-minded partner with both experience and youth for some time,” says Eric Splaver, whose firm also provides business services including bookkeeping and payroll assistance and is especially adept at developing strategies to assist client with minimizing their current and long-term income tax obligations. “As I shared our requirements with our professional network, especially the need for a partner whose approach was to serve all of the needs of clients from retirement and estate planning to taxes and insurance, the same name came up repeatedly: Trevor Wilde.”

Trevor Wilde is managing principal of Wilde Wealth Management and an Investment Advisor Representative who holds the Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) designation. He co-founded Wilde Wealth Management Group in 2003 to offer boutique, customized investment planning advice, and to offer clients expanded in-house service offerings from fellow independent specialists in the fields of legal, taxes, risk management, family services, real estate and insurance. Earlier this year, he was named by Barron’s to its annual list of top 1,200 advisors nationwide and fourth overall in Arizona. The honor marked Wilde’s 11th consecutive year being honored and highest ranking to date.  He was also recognized in 2018 as among the Most Admired Leaders in Arizona by the Phoenix Business Journal, and has been among the Top 15 Advisors out of more than 1,200 Cetera Advisors annually since 2012.

“Like Wilde, our firm is focused on serving multiple needs of clients over the course of their lives, and doing it with integrity and a holistic approach to service. This partnership shows that we are planning for the future, just as on a daily basis, we educate our clients to do,” says Eric Splaver. “It also gives us access to broader resources while still providing the level of service our clients have come to expect.”

Eric Splaver co-founded Splaver Wealth Management with wife and business partner Jennifer Splaver, CPA in 2010, after operating Splaver & Splaver CPA together since 2001. Eric Splaver began his career at KPMG (a “Big 4” Accounting Firm) in 1986, where he spent 8 years, leaving the firm as a senior manager in 1994 to take on the role of corporate controller, at Drive Time Automotive Group. While there, Eric helped to take the company public. Jennifer Splaver began her professional career at KPMG in 1987, where she worked for eight years. In 1995, she left KPMG for  “Big Four” accounting firm Ernst & Young , where she spent 12 years, leaving the firm as a senior manager to work with Eric at Splaver & Splaver, CPA, PLC. Among her core competencies is working with high-wealth individuals, trusts and estates.

“The formation of the wealth management side of our business was quite organic,” says Eric Splaver. “When a family with whom we worked closely for years, including on their trust and estate planning, lost a member of its family in 2010, we saw first-hand the devastation – both financially and emotionally – that not having a trusted financial partner in place could take. The poor advice they received and the subsequent adverse tax consequences they would suffer from as a result inspired us to immediate action.”

“Splaver is the exact type of affiliate with whom we are seeking to align,” says Wilde, who similarly partnered with Hallmark Financial and JRS Wealth Management in Tucson earlier this year. “Like Eric and Jennifer, our goal is to help individuals and businesses with all of their business needs today, tomorrow and for generations to come. Together, we intend to do just that as effectively and efficiently as possible.”

About Ranking Arizona

Ranking Arizona is an annual publication that ranks businesses in more than 300 categories based on public voting in the state’s biggest and most comprehensive business opinion poll. Ranking Arizona is based purely on opinion and ranks companies based on how voters answer this simple question: with whom would you recommend doing business? The magazine is published by AZ Big Media. To learn more about Ranking Arizona, contact Sheri King, director of sales.