Meet Greg Barr

Written by Tom Kelly

Since 2018, Greg Barr has been Editor-in-Chief of the Phoenix Business Journal and its affiliated startup-focused publication, AZ Inno, responsible for the overall editorial vision and content of the publications. He previously held several writing and editing positions at two other papers in the American City Business Journals chain, the Austin Business Journal and Houston Business Journal, from 2006-2018. A native of Canada, he worked at several newspapers in that country before moving to the U.S., including as an investigative reporter with the Financial Times of Canada and as a writer and editor with the Ottawa Citizen, one of Canada’s largest dailies.

How did you hear about Venture Café?

I’ve been a supporter since Day One.

Can you discuss your experience at Venture Café Phoenix and any impact the event has had on your organization?

Working closely with Alex Koupal has opened doors to wider collaborations between Venture Cafe and Phoenix Business Journal.

What inspires you?

Hearing the individual stories of startup founders who have overcome serious hurdles along the way and how they learned how to make the right decisions to grow the venture and inspire others to follow their path

Tell us a little more about your current role with your organization and how it has impacted the start-up ecosystem here in the greater Phoenix region.

I oversee all of the editorial content for AZ Inno, the only publication in Arizona devoted solely to the startup and innovation economy in the state, part of the 46-city nationwide network of American Inno publications. By shining a light on the innovation economy, including stories of startup successes, fundings (and failures) and through our annual AZ Inno awards program, the Fire Awards, it has helped foster a network of entrepreneurs, VC execs, educators and others in business who support the innovation economy.

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