The University of Arizona Center for Innovation had an economic output of $35.3 million in 2021, according to a new analysis of the center’s impact. Part of Tech Parks Arizona, the UArizona Center for Innovation, or UACI, is a business incubator network that empowers science and technology startups in Southern Arizona and around the world to bring their ideas to market.
Four technology startups from Ukraine are calling the University of Arizona Tech Park home for six months. During that time, the startups – which focus on areas including emotional intelligence, remote meeting transcription, green energy storage and online commerce – will have opportunities to make connections and explore market expansion opportunities in the United States, with support from the University of Arizona Center for Innovation startup incubator.
An Arizona State University startup has received funding to validate research for fire-safe lithium-ion batteries. Safe-Li, which holds a license to commercialize fire-safe lithium-ion and lithium-metal battery technology, received $300,000 in seed funding and was accepted into Shell’s GameChanger Program, according to an ASU announcement.
Eurofins CellTx which provides comprehensive laboratory services to meet the unique testing and processing needs of the transplant community, has officially began operating in the new laboratory located at the University of Arizona (UA) Tech Park. Eurofins CellTx is a member of the Eurofins Transplant Diagnostics family of laboratories and part Eurofins Scientific, a leading international group of laboratories providing an unparalleled range of testing and support services to the pharmaceutical, food, environmental and consumer products industries and to governments. Eurofins Scientific is a worldwide leader in its field with 55,000 employees across 900 sites in 50 countries.
Startups looking to fund their business ideas might have a greater opportunity to connect with investors in Arizona. Investors poured more than $1.8 billion into startups in Arizona in 2021 and venture capital funding was up more than 144%, compared to the prior year, according to the Arizona Technology Council’s third quarter technology industry impact report.
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) has teamed up with the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista, the City of Sierra Vista Economic Development Department, and the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce to sponsor three promising startup teams with UACI programming which includes: resources, facilities, services, and expert guidance to grow their business. Science and technology startup ventures that are headquartered in the Sierra Vista region or have founders from the area qualify to apply for the Sponsored Launch program.
Arizona Tech Investors (ATI), an Arizona-based angel investing group focused on early-stage and startup companies developing solutions in the SaaS, technology and life sciences sectors, has selected Bob DeLean as its new Chairman, CEO & Managing Director. In his new role, DeLean will oversee the group’s investments and memberships, following the current Chairman & Managing Director James Goulka’s retirement at the end of this year. ATI leads the Arizona angel investing community with over 115 investments in the startup ecosystem.
Chairwoman Lea Márquez Peterson of the Arizona Corporation Commission is encouraging Arizona’s largest electric utility, Arizona Public Service Company (APS), to partner with local venture capital groups to incorporate utility/energy RFPs into local start-up competitions and technology transfer programs.
IdeaFunding has played a significant role in the entrepreneurial landscape for 25 years and is Southern Arizona’s largest and longest entrepreneurial conference and pitch competition. Over the past two months, early-stage startup companies from all over Arizona have participated in several rounds of company pitch presentations at IdeaFunding, which is part of the TENWEST Festival co-led by Startup Tucson and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI).
Tech Launch Arizona, FORGE, and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) have partnered to launch the University of Arizona Venture Mentoring Service (UAZVMS). Through the program, entrepreneurs connected with the University of Arizona launching a new venture can get free mentorship from experienced, trained, vetted mentors to help them develop successful startup strategies. Mentors engaged in the program are selected based on their ability to provide advice to startups on the multiple issues and challenges that startups face, such as business planning, marketing, intellectual property strategy, raising funds, and human resources.