As President & CEO, James “Jim” Goulka leads AVC’s initiatives to invest in early-stage technology startups and funds across enterprise, software, consumer, climate-tech, and bio/health tech—all while helping catalyze access to equity capital for underserved founders and communities in Arizona.
AVC was formed in July 2022 as an independent 501(c)(3) with a mission to catalyze early-stage investment for startups in Arizona.
“I am excited to join Arizona Venture Development Corporation. It is a unique opportunity to demystify the role such investments play in Arizona’s economy, complement existing economic development initiatives statewide, and accelerate the growth of Arizona’s best young companies,” Goulka said in a statement. “I look forward to working with the AVC staff, our existing investment partners and the tech startup community.” (Source: Phoenix Business Journal)
Goulka retired as Chairman and Managing Director of Arizona Tech Investors (ATI) on December 31, 2022. Under his leadership over 12 years, ATI grew to over 100 men and women, who invest their own resources in disruptive startups in information technology and life sciences. Since its inception in 2007, ATI members have invested in over 90 companies, two thirds of which are Arizona-based. He has personally invested in over 50 angel funded startups.
Prior to joining ATI, Goulka served as CEO of 3 angel and VC backed software companies. Additionally, he was CEO of the National Technology Transfer Center, which commercialized the intellectual property developed in all 10 NASA labs and parts of the Department of Defense; the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation and the Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture; and served as COO and CFO of Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc. and its world-wide subsidiaries, where he was responsible for digitizing its products. Goulka began his career in corporate finance and private equity at JP Morgan Chase and Citibank.