Jack Selby, a former PayPal executive now leading Copper Sky Capital, has taken early stakes in promising startups including AI chipmaker Etched.
His Arizona connections helped connect coastal tech firms with manufacturing opportunities in the state.
The Rise of Arizona in Semiconductors
Selby serves on the Arizona Commerce Authority board where he works to attract businesses to the state.
Etched recently taped out its first chip with TSMC and plans to ship systems this summer.
The startup reached a US$5 billion valuation after raising US$120 million in its Series A round.
Arizona's expanding TSMC operations continue strengthening the state's semiconductor ecosystem.
This approach builds on Selby founding his firm in 2021 with a focus on the Southwest region.
Implications for the AI Industry
Investments like this highlight how strong regional networks can help emerging hardware startups grow.
Copper Sky is now raising a US$300 million second fund to expand its reach across the United States.
Such moves could create more jobs in Arizona while strengthening domestic semiconductor capabilities.
For everyday users this means faster progress in AI tools that power phones, computers, and other devices.
Overall the strategy reinforces Arizona's growing role in advanced technology manufacturing.
Andrew Lee
