5 Arizona-based tech startups that are disrupting industries like medicine and space

Have you ever wanted to see Earth from space? Or ask a question at a conference without having to climb over people to get to the mic? Or maybe tip someone when you've run out of cash?

Fortunately, some of the brightest entrepreneurs in the tech industry have made those things possible.

Startups like World View Enterprises, Crowd Mics, and Tip.ly have worked diligently to find solutions to problems many of us face on a regular basis. Because of World View, astronauts will no longer be the only ones who can enjoy the mind-blowing views of Earth from space. The creators of Crowd Mics are boosting audience participation at conferences and meetings by allowing audience members to turn their phones into microphones. And the brains behind Tip.ly are working to make our reliance on cash become obsolete.

At first glance, these startups sound like ventures we'd expect from tech hotbed cities like Silicon Alley or New York. But in reality, these exciting enterprises are located in a part of the country currently experiencing a radical tech transformation: Arizona.

Here's a look at the tech startups that are working to disrupt industries such as medicine, education, space, and payments.

A round-trip ticket to space.

Company: World View Enterprises

Located: Tucson, Arizona

Astronauts that have been to space often attest to the awe and beauty of seeing Earth from the stratosphere. Fortunately, the founders of World View Enterprises have developed a way to bring that life-altering experience to those outside of NASA.

Using high-altitude balloons, passengers (which World View refers to as Voyagers) are transported up to space within a comfortable, technology-equipped space capsule. The capsule takes roughly two hours to ascend into space, and once it reaches maximum altitude, Voyagers can enjoy breathtaking views of Mother Earth for two hours before descending. Throughout the trip passengers have access to refreshments and even WiFi (because nothing beats taking a selfie from space). Tickets aren't cheap, priced at $75,000 for early birds, with a $7,500 non-refundable handling fee (included in the $75,000 ticket).

World View recently rented out its helium balloons to NASA to carry out experiments for Montana State and the University of North Florida.

Making sure everyone's voice is heard.

Company: Crowd Mics

Located: Mesa, Arizona

How many times have you been to a conference and wanted to ask a question but were just too shy to walk up to the microphone? With Crowd Mics, you can now ask questions and engage with large audiences without leaving your seat. Crowd Mics transforms any smartphone into a wireless microphone during live events with no additional hardware. The moderator plugs a mobile device into the sound system and connects to the WiFi. Audience members simply download the Crowd Mics app for free and connect to the same WiFi. Once their phones are connected, their voices can be projected throughout the room. If people are too shy to speak, they can text their questions to the moderator directly from their seat. Organizations like Arizona State University, Salesforce, and Univision have already embraced the audience interaction technology.

Say good-bye to cash tips.

Company: Tip.ly

Located: Phoenix, Arizona

Ever wanted to tip a delivery guy more but found you didn't have enough? Or worse, didn't have anything at all? Well, there's an app for that. With Tip.ly, users can send tips to service employees through a click of a button. First, register to give tips through the app with your PayPal or banking information, take a photo of the person you want to tip (the app uses "Face Tip Technology" to recognize faces), then select the amount you want to send - and voila, you're done.

The person receiving the tip can claim his money within 14 days by creating a Tip.ly account of his own. Entrepreneurs Stephen Campbell and Tim Baldwin developed the peer-to-peer mobile payment application to help tippers gain freedom from cash and tippees acquire more tips. As a bonus, business owners in the service industry can save money on processing credit card tips when patrons tip employees through Tip.ly.

Revolutionizing how students and professionals learn medicine.

Company: Picmonic

Located: Tempe, Arizona

It's no secret that everyone learns differently, but scientific evidence has shown that audio and visuals are extremely useful with memorization. Enter Picmonic. The software company, founded in 2011, helps medical professionals and students retain life-saving knowledge using interactive audiovisual mnemonics. Users are able to craft individualized study cards using fun and engaging audiovisuals, helping them retain information longer and score higher on exams. The breakthrough software is already being used in 74 countries with users boasting a 331% improvement in memory.

A dress rehearsal for surgery.

Company: EndoVantage

Located: Scottsdale, Arizona

EndoVantage's technology is helping surgeons prep for major surgeries like never before. Within the EndoVantage Interventional Suite (EVIS), doctors can utilize real patient data to plan specific endovascular treatments and then review those outcomes before they even step into the operating room. A doctor uploads a patient's medical images, selects a treatment device, watches simulations of these devices being deployed, and then receives 3D results to determine which treatments work best for his patient. EVIS is also being used to design and test endovascular devices without endangering any patients.

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