AISLE: Your Expert-Guided Pathway to U.S. Expansion
Arizona International Soft Landing Experience (AISLE) is a program dedicated to helping international firms accelerate their U.S. growth plans by providing a low-risk, expert-guided, soft landing experience in the Southwestern U.S. region of Greater Phoenix. The program was co-founded and is co-led by Arizona State University (ASU), one of the fastest-growing research institutions in the country and home to nearly 80,000 students in Greater Phoenix, and the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), a globally recognized economic development organization representing Arizona’s largest market.
AISLE operates out of two locations with different specialties.
SkySong — The ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center
Renowned for initiatives in technology, research, education and entrepreneurship, SkySong is home to a community of over 80 companies. This location serves a variety of industries including software, automation, drones, engineering, marketing, semiconductors, transportation and logistics, and more.
Download the full program overview here.
Phoenix Bioscience Core (PBC)
The PBC, a 30-acre life sciences innovation district in downtown Phoenix, is tailored toward companies in fields like medical device manufacturing, biosciences and healthcare innovation. At the 227,000 square-foot, lab-enabled Wexford Science + Technology building, participants join a network of dozens of public and private organizations.
Download the full program overview here.
For additional questions, contact Casey Gilchrist, VP of International Business Development at GPEC.
See document translations for AISLE – Scottsdale here: Japanese, Korean, Mandarin.
AISLE Program Benefits
Access to Premier Facilities
At SkySong through AISLE – Scottsdale, participants can receive three months of complimentary access to Class A office space. Located just three miles away from ASU’s research-focused Tempe campus and 15 minutes from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, this space accomodates up to two occupants and includes use of conference rooms, WiFi, a telephone number, and other amenities.
At the PBC with AISLE – Phoenix, participants have access to discounted flexible office, private lab or or shared lab dedicated bench space within Connect Labs for three-, six- or 12-month periods with amenities including fume hoods, biosafety cabinets (BSCs), BSL-2 enabled lab spaces and more. This downtown Phoenix location is less than 15 minutes from ASU and roughly 10 minutes from the airport.
Photo: ASU
Exclusive Events & Networking
Access is also provided to a specialized lineup of educational and networking events, both in-person and hybrid, expertly curated by GPEC. These gatherings bring together regional business leaders, offering unparalleled opportunities to forge new connections and gain insights into the local business environment.
Dedicated Staff Liaison
Throughout tenure in AISLE, businesses will have a dedicated ASU and GPEC staff member who can advise, answer questions and facilitate connections in support of business goals. Participants at the PBC will also have a liaison from Connect Labs.
Connectivity to Business Resources
Introductions with the necessary services to initiate and expand operations in the U.S. are provided. Comprehensive support through ASU and GPEC’s vast partnership networks spans industry leaders, universities, workforce resources, state and local regulatory authorities, job-training programs, startup resources, and experts across various fields such as legal, accounting, finance, banking, insurance, marketing, public relations, business development, patents and visa services.
Regional Labor Market Data
In Greater Phoenix, you’ll find access to top-tier talent. GPEC can provide data on up-to-date wage rates, labor force composition including skill levels by occupation and industry, labor force availability, and facilitate connections with local employers to provide HR insights.
Photo: ASU
Operational Cost Comparison & Modeling
Participants can utilize GPEC’s internal team of research and analytics specialists to develop tailored analyses according to your company’s requirements and growth strategies. This may encompass customized assessments such as annual comparisons of operational costs across key markets, and projections regarding transportation, real estate, tax incentives or labor costs.
Press Announcement & Marketing
Upon being accepted into AISLE, ASU and GPEC will partner with your team to develop and release a joint press statement unveiling your company’s involvement in the program and its expansion into Greater Phoenix. GPEC will manage media engagement and arrange pertinent interviews on your behalf. Moreover, ASU and GPEC will amplify the announcement to an audience of approximately 48,000 through social media channels. Further promotional possibilities, including photo sessions or video interviews, may also be offered to you throughout the program.
Program Eligibility Requirements
To participate in AISLE, applicants must meet all the following eligibility requirements:
The applicant is a foreign company scaling up, or an established tech company seeking to expand its product or service into the U.S.
The applicant has proven revenue and/or is venture-capital backed.
The applicant has concrete U.S. expansion plans to be executed over the next three to nine months.
The applicant has sufficient resources to cover their expenses during the period of the program (i.e., lodging, travel and other business development expenses).
The applicant can commit at least one staff member to be physically present in Greater Phoenix and meet U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services requirements for business travel.
The applicant has at least substantially completed Phase One of the checklist, found here.
The applicant must be able to qualify for and obtain commercial general liability insurance to cover the office space they will utilize within Skysong or the Phoenix Bioscience Core. (See sample) Assistance in acquiring the appropriate insurance plan can be provided by the staff liaison facilitating this program.
Current & Past Companies
Advanced Manufacturing
Taiwan
E-commerce, Logistics & Distribution
Singapore
Software & IT
Taiwan
Advanced Manufacturing
Japan
Business Services
Mexico
Software & IT
Israel
Software & IT
France
Software & IT
Taiwan
Finance & Insurance
Canada
Software & IT
United Kingdom
Advanced Manufacturing
Singapore
Aerospace & Defense
United Kingdom
AISLE Program Case Study: All Ring Tech
Jerry Lu, Director at All Ring Tech, shares his insights on the AISLE program and how it facilitated a smooth and impactful entry into the U.S. market for the company.
About Arizona State University
Arizona State University has developed a new model for the American Research University, creating an institution that is committed to access, excellence and impact. ASU measures itself by those it includes, not by those it excludes. As the prototype for a New American University, ASU pursues research that contributes to the public good, and the University assumes fundamental responsibility for the economic, social and cultural vitality of the communities it serves. For more information, please visit ASU.edu.
SkySong, one of the Innovation Zones at ASU, is home to a diverse business community that links technology, research, education and entrepreneurship to position ASU and Greater Phoenix as global leaders in the knowledge economy.
About the Greater Phoenix Economic Council
The Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC), globally recognized as a top economic development organization (EDO), works to attract and grow quality businesses and advocate for the competitiveness of Greater Phoenix. A data-driven regional EDO, GPEC works with 22 member communities, Maricopa and Pinal counties and more than 200 private investors to accomplish its mission and serve as a strategic partner to companies across the world as they expand or relocate to Greater Phoenix. Over the past 36 years, GPEC has fueled the regional economy by helping over 1,075 companies, creating more than 195,000 jobs and more than $76.5 billion in capital investment. Greater Phoenix is in a relentless pursuit of innovative and entrepreneurial-focused companies looking to thrive and scale in a vibrant, dynamic region.