Being creative in business means more than designing a flashy logo or having social media channels filled with entertaining videos. Being one of the most creative companies in Arizona means effectively harnessing technology, innovating product offerings, and developing new processes to drive growth and differentiation. It involves more than just creativity in design or content; it encompasses a holistic approach to integrating technology and innovation into every facet of the business.
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Utilizing technology is foundational. Creative businesses often adopt cutting-edge tools and platforms to enhance their capabilities. For example, a tech-savvy design firm might use augmented reality (AR) to offer clients immersive previews of their projects, or a software company might integrate machine learning to create more intuitive and adaptive applications. Technology not only boosts efficiency but also opens up new avenues for creativity and problem-solving.
Creating new products is another vital aspect. This involves continuously ideating and developing offerings that address emerging needs or capitalize on new trends. For instance, a fashion brand might use 3D printing to design customizable apparel, or a media company might develop interactive content that engages audiences in novel ways. Product innovation requires a deep understanding of market demands and a willingness to experiment and iterate.
Developing new processes is equally important. Creative businesses often reinvent traditional workflows to enhance productivity and adaptability. This might mean implementing agile methodologies to foster rapid development and collaboration or leveraging cloud-based platforms for seamless project management and communication.
In essence, being a creative business means integrating technology, fostering product innovation, and evolving processes to remain dynamic and competitive. This approach ensures the business is not only responsive to current trends but also a leader in shaping future developments.
40 of the most creative companies in Arizona for 2024
72Sold: Since it launched in 2018, 72Sold has become one of the Arizona’s most creative companies and America’s fastest growing real estate brands because of its program for identifying the most serious buyers for any home in America in eight days or less.
Ad Chariot: Founded by local business leader and attorney Jason Prichett, Ad Chariot operates via a mobile app similar to Uber or Lyft, but because businesses/events advertise on the 100% electric carts, rides are free.
Adobe Population Health: By combining proprietary risk stratification and health risk assessment with virtual and in-home care, Adobe gathers a complete picture of at-risk members, coordinating with primary care while addressing social determinants, improving outcomes and lowering costs.
Agua Fria Union High School District: The district’s Academies provide robust, tailored academic experiences for students to explore high-wage, in-demand careers and understand the education, training and credentials needed to meet their career and college goals.
Align Technology: Align Technology is a global medical device company with industry-leading products including the Invisalign® system, the most advanced clear aligner system in the world, and iTero™ intraoral scanners and services for orthodontic and restorative dentistry and exocad™ CAD/CAM software.
Amkor: Amkor plans to build a $2 billion facility near Peoria. Set to be strategically positioned near TSMC’s upcoming Fab 21 complex in Arizona, Amkor’s Peoria facility will occupy 55 acres and will feature over 500,000 square feet of cleanroom space.
Arevon Energy: Headquartered in Scottsdale, Arevon Energy is a leading renewable energy company, supplying clean energy to utilities and corporations across North America and uses innovative approaches and technology to develop, build, finance, own and operate clean energy projects.
Artie: Phoenix-based Artie introduced its pre-portioned, artisan-inspired meals for dogs that can be made at home with the company’s countertop appliance. The company was selected as a winner of Purina’s Pet Care Innovation Prize in 2023.
Avnet: Avnet’s Smart Factory solution, built on the IoTConnect platform and hosted on Amazon’s AWS, is designed to transform traditional manufacturing environments into efficient, data-driven operations.
B2B CFO: B2B CFO is one of Arizona’s most creative companies because it pioneered its industry beginning in 1987. B2B CFO creates long-term, professional relationships on an affordable, as-needed basis.
Biocare Medical: Tempe-based Biocare is a global leader in solutions for cancer research and diagnostics, providing world-class reagents, including tissue-conserving simultaneous Multiplex IHC antibody cocktails and detections and a comprehensive suite of advanced instrumentation for IHC, molecular, and histology testing.
Burch & Cracchiolo: Four years ago, B&C built out a 17,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility with the latest in technology and video capability.
Brainiest: Scottsdale-based Brainiest provides small and medium business marketers with creative, strategic, and analytic AI tools that help brands connect with target audiences. Brainiest delivers on the promise of AI for everyday businesspeople.
Choulet Performance Psychiatry: Choulet Performance Psychiatry’s mission is to revolutionize mental health care for high-achieving professionals, athletes and their families by utilizing a modern concierge approach to mental health.
City of Hope: As an independent biomedical, treatment and education center, City of Hope is focused on basic and clinical research in cancer, diabetes and other chronic, life-threatening diseases.
Cordia: Phoenix-based Cordia is a leading provider of safe, reliable, and sustainable energy solutions and one of Arizona’s most creative companies. Cordia is committed to driving change toward a more resilient, sustainable energy future and empowering people and communities to reach their full potential.
Cox Communications: Cox Communications’ high-speed fiber-powered broadband service has been recognized by Ookla Speedtest for offering America’s fastest download speeds achieving median speeds of 260.09 Mbps.
Desert Financial Credit Union: Desert Financial has worked to create an Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) to assist members with a variety of tasks.
Esser Design: Esser Design is an award-winning branding, marketing and advertising firm providing integrated programs and services linking strategy and creative design. For over 40 years, Esser Design has been the definitive choice for education, municipalities, nonprofits and corporations looking to define their brand, increase their brand visibility and achieve their goals.
Everspin Technologies: Chandler-based Everspin Technologies, Inc. is the world’s leading provider of Magnetoresistive RAM. Everspin MRAM delivers the industry’s most robust, highest performance non-volatile memory for industrial IoT, data center, and other mission-critical applications.
Footprint: Gilbert-based Footprint is a materials science organization that engineers fiber-based packaging in an effort to address the environmental crisis of plastic pollution.
GlobalMed: GlobalMed has been leading the advancement of telehealth and wellness for more than 20 years. It has partnered with strategic organizations so patients across the world can benefit from increased access to the most advanced virtual healthcare in the world.
GoDaddy: GoDaddy helps millions of entrepreneurs globally start, grow, and scale their businesses. People come to GoDaddy to name their idea, build a professional website, attract customers, sell their products and services, and accept payments online and in-person.
Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona: A recent example of Habitat’s creativity is its collaboration with the Havasupai Tribe to build two new homes in Supai Village, deep within Havasu Canyon in the southwestern portion of the Grand Canyon.
Hexagon: Hexagon’s mining technologies provide surveying, design, fleet management, production optimization and collision avoidance capabilities that connects people and processes, reduces costs and improves the safety and productivity of mine sites.
HOPCo: In disrupting traditional approaches to practice management, Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company (HOPCo) has grown to more than a $1 billion enterprise since it was founded by David Jacofsky, MD, in 2005.
Isos Technology: Tempe-based Isos accelerates the innovation curve for companies that are changing the world. Since 2005, its partnered with hundreds of organizations to help them tackle tough business challenges and achieve their strategic goals.
JE Dunn: Dunn Dashboard, the JE Dunn-designed and award-winning technology, provides web-based collaboration on design documents, building information modeling, electronic bid submittals and other project documentation.
Keap: Headquartered in Chandler, Keap pioneered the sales and marketing automation software market with its Keap family of products, services to help small business owners market their businesses effectively, and expert coaching.
Mayo Clinic: In July, Mayo completed the first total larynx transplant, offering hope to thousands who have lost their ability to speak, swallow and breathe on their own due to diminished function or loss of their larynx.
Nox Innovations: The Phoenix-based company is on the leading edge of construction’s best practices, driving innovation while leveraging the people that get the job done and becoming one of Arizona’s most creative companies. The company provides virtual design and construction services for contractors nationwide.
onsemi: With a focus on automotive and industrial markets, Scottsdale’s onsemi is accelerating change in megatrends such as vehicle electrification and safety, sustainable energy grids, industrial automation, and 5G and cloud infrastructure.
Payground: Gilbert-based PayGround is a healthcare payments platform that streamlines the payment experience for providers, hospitals and patients. For individuals and families, it offers a mobile app to manage, track and pay all medical bills in one secure place.
Persefoni: Tempe-based Persefoni AI has deep expertise in carbon accounting, data management, compliance and decarbonization planning. Persefoni AI’s strong vision includes the use of AI for deeper financial modeling and incorporating broader ESG reporting.
Phoenix Children’s: Phoenix Children’s is one of the nation’s largest pediatric health systems, providing world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care and has been serving children and families for 40 years.
Prologis: Prologis is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets, including Metro Phoenix. Prologis leases modern logistics facilities to a diverse base of customers across two major categories: business-to-business and retail/online fulfillment.
Pyx Health: Tucson-based Pyx Health is a leading social health company on a mission to support individuals struggling with loneliness. The company ranks No. 517 on the 2024 Inc. 5000 list.
Residio: Scottsdale-based Resideo is a leading global manufacturer and developer of technology-driven products and components that provide critical comfort, energy management, and safety and security solutions to over 150 million homes globally.
Rise48 Equity: Rise48 is a multifamily investment group with offices in Phoenix, Dallas, and Charlotte. Dedicated to empowering accredited and non-accredited investors, the company focuses on creating wealth-building opportunities while delivering exceptional living experiences.
Rivulet Entertainment: Gilbert-based Rivulet is engaged in producing and marketing feature-length films, television, and music production and has produced and financed such films as “John Wick,” “The Blackcoats Daughter,” “Nutcrackers” and “Drinking Buddies.”
STORE Capital: STORE Capital is one of the largest and fastest growing net-lease REITs and owns a large, well-diversified portfolio that consists of investments in more than 3,100 property locations across the U.S.
SynCardia: Nearly 20 years ago, the SynCardia Total Artificial Heart became the first total artificial heart to receive commercial approval from the FDA. Since then, it remains the world’s only commercially approved total artificial heart, making it one of Arizona’s most creative companies.
Taylor Morrison: Headquartered in Scottsdale, Taylor Morrison is one of the nation’s leading homebuilders and developers and will serve as the exclusive homebuilder for the reboot of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” on ABC.
