Brandon Clarke

Selected Leadership Impact

• Co-founded and led StartupAZ, supporting 130+ founders whose companies created nearly 3,000 jobs, raised $500M+ in capital, and generated more than $2.5B in enterprise value.
• Raised $3M+ in sponsorship, philanthropic, and ecosystem funding.
• Managed a $500K annual operating budget and led a team of 3 full-time staff plus dozens of volunteers.
• Reported to and partnered with StartupAZ's corporate board, including quarterly board meetings, strategic preparation, and governance updates.
• Designed StartupAZ's Generosity Pledge, an equity-aligned model representing the equivalent of 1% of founder stake across a startup portfolio valued at approximately $2.5B.
• Launched NAU Venture Studio, Northern Arizona University's first applied entrepreneurship program.
• Managed a team of 4 plus student volunteers, partners, and advisory stakeholders.
• Built programs connecting students, entrepreneurs, universities, civic leaders, funders, and community partners around applied venture creation.

Core CEO Capabilities

Professional Experience

1. NAU Venture Studio

   Flagstaff, Arizona
   • AdvisorApril 2026 – Present
   • Founder / Managing DirectorOctober 2023 – March 2026

   Led the development and launch of NAU Venture Studio, Northern Arizona University's first applied entrepreneurship program, designed to connect students, faculty, founders, funders, and community partners around purposeful innovation and venture creation.

   • Built the Venture Studio from concept to launch as a new institutional platform within the university.
   • Managed a team of 4, with additional student volunteers and external partners.
   • Engaged university leadership, faculty, entrepreneurs, advisors, and community stakeholders to support venture creation.
   • Developed programming to help high-achieving students from diverse disciplines build businesses and co-create solutions to meaningful problems.
   • Helped establish a model for applied entrepreneurship connected to real-world outcomes, regional workforce needs, and community impact.

2. StartupAZ / Helion House

   Phoenix, Arizona / United States
   • Founder, Helion HouseFebruary 2026 – Present
   • Chair, StartupAZMarch 2022 – Present
   • Co-Founder, CEO2015 – March 2022

   Co-founded and led StartupAZ, a founder-support platform designed to strengthen Arizona's entrepreneurial ecosystem through peer accountability, founder development, capital access, mentorship, and community infrastructure. Later launched Helion House as a live-learn-build residency focused on helping young entrepreneurs turn ideas into products, revenue, and career leverage.

   • Built StartupAZ into one of Arizona's most active founder-support platforms, serving 130+ early-stage founders.
   • Helped supported companies create nearly 3,000 jobs, raise $500M+ in capital, and generate more than $2.5B in enterprise value.
   • Raised more than $3M in sponsorship, philanthropic, and ecosystem funding.
   • Managed a $500K annual operating budget at peak.
   • Built and led a team of 3 full-time staff and dozens of volunteers.
   • Reported to StartupAZ's corporate board through quarterly meetings, governance preparation, strategic updates, and stakeholder alignment.
   • Designed the Generosity Pledge, an equity-aligned model representing the equivalent of 1% of founder stake across a startup portfolio valued at approximately $2.5B.
   • Built trusted relationships across founders, investors, corporate partners, civic leaders, universities, philanthropists, and community stakeholders.
   • Launched Helion House to extend the founder-support model into talent development, workforce innovation, and entrepreneurial residency programs.

3. Scout Workforce

   Flagstaff, Arizona
   • Co-Founder / AdvisorMay 2025 – Present

   Co-founded and advise Scout Workforce, a workforce intelligence platform emerging from applied venture development connected to NAU Venture Studio.

4. Catalyst R&D

   Hybrid
   • FounderSeptember 2020 – Present

   Founded Catalyst R&D, an applied research and development startup studio focused on practical innovation that improves everyday life.

   • Developed venture concepts across workforce, housing, youth entrepreneurship, consumer technology, and applied innovation.
   • Built early-stage operating models, partnership strategies, and market validation pathways.
   • Served as a platform for testing new ideas before formal venture formation or institutional partnership.

Earlier Experience

• Little Taller — Advisor / Builder

  2021 – 2023

  Supported founders, studio ventures, and agency operations.

• Schola — Board Member

  2019 – 2020

  Served on the board of a school matching platform helping families find and enroll in PreK–12 schools.

• City of Phoenix — Committee Member, Downtown Phoenix Innovation District

  2017 – 2018

  Mayor-appointed member focused on innovation district development.

• DrivenMedia — Founder / CEO

  2008 – 2012

  Founded and operated a non-traditional outdoor advertising company, leading sales, marketing, operations, and business development.

• BCI — Principal

  2004 – 2010

  Led real estate acquisition and holdings activity.

• Pat & Oscar's — Marketing Director / Restaurant Manager

  1998 – 2003

  Held operating and marketing leadership roles in a multi-unit restaurant environment.

Board, Civic & Advisory Leadership

• Board Member, Schola
• Mayor-Appointed Committee Member, Downtown Phoenix Innovation District
• Board Member and Volunteer Youth Soccer Coach, Madison Futbol Club

Education