Applying Idealab’s 30-year IdeaDay model to help nonprofits and mission-driven innovators commercialize their innovations

As social entrepreneurs increasingly seek venture-scale models for solving global challenges, Idealab Arizona and the Moonshot Accelerator at Arizona State University today announced the launch of IdeaDay 2026 for Social Enterprise during Arizona Tech Week. The initiative will bring together nonprofit innovators, venture builders, philanthropists, and investors to explore how mission-driven ideas can evolve into scalable companies. The event represents one of the first efforts to apply Idealab’s venture studio model—traditionally used to launch technology startups—to nonprofit and social-impact innovation.

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IdeaDay is a venture formation framework developed by Idealab, the startup incubator founded by entrepreneur Bill Gross in Pasadena, Calif., which for nearly three decades has helped launch more than 175 companies, including dozens that have gone on to successful IPOs and acquisitions.

Through IdeaDay 2026 at ASU for Social Enterprise, teams participating in the Moonshot Accelerator—many of whom are working on solutions in areas such as health, food systems, climate, information access and community wellbeing—will have the opportunity to explore how their innovations could evolve into sustainable commercial ventures capable of scaling their impact.

By bringing together mission-driven innovators from the Moonshot Accelerator, Idealab Arizona’s venture-building expertise, and leaders from Arizona’s innovation ecosystem, IdeaDay 2026 at ASU aims to create a new pathway for turning bold ideas into real-world solutions.

The launch of IdeaDay 2026 at ASU for Social Enterprise during Arizona Tech Week reflects the rapid growth of Phoenix as a national hub for startups, venture capital and innovation.

“For nearly three decades, Idealab has used a disciplined venture creation process to turn bold ideas into more than 175 companies that have gone on to raise billions of dollars and create entirely new industries,” said Allen Morgan, CEO and Co-Founder of Idealab Arizona. “With IdeaDay 2026 at ASU during Arizona Tech Week, we are applying that proven IdeaDay playbook to social enterprise—bringing the same company-building rigor that launched successful startups to mission-driven innovators who want to scale their impact.”

“The Moonshot Accelerator supports visionary teams pursuing ideas that have the potential to transform lives and communities,” said John Graham, Chairman of the ASU Foundation and a Founding Investor of Idealab Arizona. “IdeaDay 2026 at ASU during Arizona Tech Week creates an exciting opportunity for some of those teams to explore how their mission-driven work could evolve into scalable ventures. Bringing together the Moonshot Accelerator and Idealab Arizona around this event helps create a bridge between bold ideas and real-world impact.”

“At ASU, we support teams across the university to build their bold ideas with the potential for lasting impact,” said Monro Obenauer, assistant director of the Moonshot Accelerator. “Through this event, our teams have an opportunity to learn about diverse resource strategies that could help sustain their work.”

“Many of the most powerful ideas start with a mission to improve people’s lives,” said Mike and Cindy Watts, founding investors of Idealab Arizona and major donors to ASU whose philanthropy helped establish the Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. “IdeaDay 2026 at ASU provides a platform where those ideas can be explored not just as projects, but as sustainable ventures capable of scaling their impact. We’re proud to support a collaboration that empowers innovators to do well by doing good.”

“Arizona continues to attract bold innovators and world-class research talent,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “IdeaDay 2026 at ASU during Arizona Tech Week highlights the strength of Arizona’s innovation ecosystem and creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs to turn breakthrough ideas into impactful companies.”

IdeaDay 2026 at ASU for Social Enterprise will take place April 9 from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Fusion on First in downtown Phoenix during Arizona Tech Week. The event will bring together students, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, investors and community leaders for a day-long venture creation workshop where participants will develop ideas, test assumptions and refine concepts with guidance from experienced founders and venture builders, culminating in a final pitch presentation. Registration is open to the public. More information is available at IdeaDayAZ.com.

About Idealab Arizona

Idealab Arizona is a venture studio focused on the earliest stage of company creation—from idea to establishing product-market fit. The studio focuses on big problems in the world around climate, medical innovation, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Idealab Arizona co-founds companies with extraordinary entrepreneurs to turn the most commercially promising solutions into thriving businesses.

For more information, please visit idealabaz.com.

About Idealab Studio and Idealab

Idealab Studio looks for big problems in the world and invests in companies to solve those problems believing that entrepreneurship can unlock human potential and make the world a better place. Idealab Studio provides business development support to its portfolio companies and leverages its experience with founding, supporting and investing in startups to help them grow into successful businesses.

In the 30 years since its founding, Idealab has started more than 175 companies, created more than 10,000 jobs, and had more than 50 successful IPOs and acquisitions.

For additional information, please visit idealabstudio.com and idealab.com.

About the Moonshot Accelerator at Arizona State University

The Moonshot Accelerator at Arizona State University supports interdisciplinary teams pursuing ambitious solutions to global challenges. The program helps researchers and innovators advance bold ideas and explore pathways for real-world impact through collaboration, experimentation and strategic partnerships.

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