Venture Scale
Designed for growth-stage companies ready to strengthen operations, improve scalability, and prepare for investment.
Arizona's next generation of high-growth founders begins here.
Bridge Entrepreneurs Network Colorado (BEN), in partnership with the Arizona Commerce Authority, Omni Institute, and TrueSpace, is proud to present Venture Scale, the first program in Arizona's ecosystem with the goal to accelerate business growth ten-fold.
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Program Overview
Venture Scale is built on a simple premise: revenue is a lag indicator; organizational capability is a lead indicator. The program develops both in parallel, equipping SEDI-owned and small to growth stage businesses with systems, leadership capacity, and capital readiness.
Over the course of nine months, this cohort-based program equips ambitious entrepreneurs with the structure, insight, and support needed to become ready for a Series A raise and beyond. This isn't theory—it's a hands-on, guided process built to transform how to operate, lead, and grow.
Participants gain direct access to expert partners and proven frameworks, enabling them to:
Unlock data-driven insights that sharpen decision-making and reveal growth opportunities
Develop a clear, strategic approach to raising their next round of capital with confidence
Build resilient operational and financial systems that support sustainable scale
Strengthen leadership capabilities and design organizations that can evolve with growth
Venture Scale is built on Gallup's proven entrepreneurship model, applying a research-backed framework to help founders accelerate their trajectory and fuel the region's next wave of breakout companies.
Program Dates: August 2026 – April 2027
If you're ready to scale intentionally, lead with clarity, and build a company designed to endure, now is the time to step forward.
Availability is limited, and demand is expected to be high.
This program is highly subsidized through an ACA managed grant program. As a condition of participation, founders are required to contribute $1,500 toward program costs. Payment instructions will be provided upon acceptance.
Program value: $7,500 per person
Questions?
Please contact Senior Director Kelly Hughes at Kelly@bencolorado.org
Qualifications
We seek Arizona Founders and CEOs who are ready to strengthen leadership and management, improve operational capacity, and prepare for growth capital.
Participants Must
Be Founders and/or CEOs of Arizona-based, for-profit companies
Be generating $500K annual revenue with an MVP actively in market
Be considering a Seed / Series A raise
Demonstrate an ambitious, growth-oriented mindset
Be coachable, vulnerable, and transparent
Be in good standing with the Arizona Secretary of State
Commit to the required level of participation throughout the program
Application Process
Applications for the August 20, 2026 cohort will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis through 5:00 p.m. MT on Friday, August 7, 2026.
The application process includes:
Online application
Video-based interview
Formal acceptance process
General information on revenue, profitability, number of employees, and major growth challenges will be collected for application review and future aggregated program reporting purposes. All information will remain confidential.
TrueSpace's TrueHQ platform delivers eight self-paced modules that founders complete on their own schedule, with all content finalized before program close.
BEN hosts advisor network office hours and coordinates custom one-on-one capital strategy support beginning in Month 3.
Between those sessions:
Program Delivery Model
Venture Scale uses a blended format designed for founders running active companies. This hybrid experience combines in-person and virtual sessions while integrating the proven strengths and programming of each partner organization.
Three full-day, in-person sessions in Phoenix anchor the program in Months 1 (August ‘26), 4 (November ‘26), and 9 (April ‘27).
Omni Institute facilitates monthly virtual leadership development sessions and structured peer consultation calls throughout the program.
BEN is grateful to Wells Fargo, a longstanding corporate and philanthropic sponsor, for its support in Colorado and beyond. With Wells Fargo's support, BEN is expanding and exploring ecosystem-building partnerships in Arizona and other states to serve more growth-minded entrepreneurs with more expert volunteer advisors excited to bring the BEN methodology to new markets.