Tech Incubator

25th anniversary of IdeaFunding celebrates milestone with 25 Arizona companies advancing to final round competing for over $50,000 in prizes

October 21, 2022

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).

TLA, FORGE, and UACI Launch Service to provide top-tier mentoring to ecosystem startups

September 7, 2022

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.

ACA now accepting applications for 2022 Arizona Innovation Challenge

August 4, 2022

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) announced today applications are being accepted for the 11th annual Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC). Applications are being accepted from August 1 to August 31. The Arizona Innovation Challenge, which is the largest state-sponsored business plan competition in the nation, advances innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona by helping early-stage ventures to scale.

Leader of University of Arizona Tech Parks promoted to vice president

August 3, 2022

Tech Parks Arizona leader Carol Stewart has been promoted to Vice President at the University of Arizona. She advances the University of Arizona under the leadership of Senior Vice President of Research Innovation and Impact Dr. Elizabeth “Betsy” Cantwell. Stewart leads the UA Tech Park at Rita Road with her talented team of professionals that collectively have over 165 years of tech park experience and is developing the UA Tech Park at the Bridges. She is also president of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, a technology business incubator network serving the University of Arizona, Tucson, and the international community.

StartupAZ names 18 companies to 2022 Collective cohorts

May 25, 2022

AZ Inno StartupAZ, a Valley nonprofit that helps foster the state’s innovation ecosystem, has chosen 18 companies to participate in the 2022 StartupAZ Collective, a yearlong program for founders. This year the participants will be split into two cohorts; The Growth group features established startups that may have employees or have raised some venture capital, […]

University of Arizona launches incubator outpost at Biosphere 2

April 13, 2022

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) held a grand opening yesterday to celebrate its new startup incubator at Biosphere 2, which supports renewable energy and sustainable tech startups. UACI at Biosphere 2 was launched with four startups, all of which will go through UACI’s structured 27-point road map that takes them through a continuum of education provided by mentors, advisers and community collaborators. Entrepreneurs will use various physical spaces at Biosphere 2 that allow them to test and demonstrate the tech in specific environments.

TechConnect Magazine | Winter 2022: Three UArizona faculty named fellows of National Academy of Inventors

January 13, 2022

The NAI Fellows Program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on quality of life, economic development and the welfare of society. Election to NAI fellow is the highest professional distinction accorded solely to academic inventors. The university’s new fellows are Liesl Folks, UArizona’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost; Terry Matsunaga, professor of medical imaging at the College of Medicine in Tucson; and Mark Van Dyke, associate dean of research and professor of biomedical engineering at the College of Engineering.

Arizona Commerce Authority announces awardees for the 2021 Arizona Innovation Challenge

December 7, 2021

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) announced today 10 companies have been selected as Awardees for the 2021 Arizona Innovation Challenge (AIC). The 10 companies will be added to the Arizona Innovation Challenge portfolio and participate in the ACA’s Venture Ready Accelerator, connecting companies with serial entrepreneurs, high-level executives, and subject matter experts.

Three tech innovation teams win business incubation support from The University of Arizona and sponsored by the Town of Sahuarita and Freeport-McMoRan

November 9, 2021

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is pleased to announce the winning startups of the UACI Sponsored Launch program fueled by the Town of Sahuarita and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation.

SBA Administration Infused $100K into Tucson Innovation Ecosystem

September 23, 2021

As further evidence that Tucson’s innovation ecosystem is a rising star at the national level, both Startup Tucson and The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) each secured $50,000 in prize money from the U.S. Small Business Administration. Tucson secured two out of the three Growth Accelerator Fund Competition prizes awarded in Arizona.

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