Three tech innovation teams win business incubation support from The University of Arizona and sponsored by the Town of Sahuarita and Freeport-McMoRan
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.
“The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation is pleased to partner with the Town of Sahuarita and UACI to support diverse businesses in the next evolution of the BizLaunch program,” said Jessica Brack, Community Development Manager at Freeport McMoRan’s Sierrita operation. “The work is in direct alignment with our goal of supporting community resiliency through economic diversification and aligns with the priorities identified by both the Green Valley and Sahuarita communities.”
The startups NeoChloris, Inc., Revolute Robotics and SolarSpace will receive fully sponsored admission into the UACI incubation program thanks to the generous financial support of the Town of Sahuarita and the Freeport-McMoRan Foundation.
NeoChloris, Inc. develops, designs and implements sustainable water and energy technologies. Their intellectual property portfolio consists of carbon mitigation, bioenergy and water purification systems.
Revolute Robotics has developed safe robots for inaccessible places based on technology developed in the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona. Their robot switches between rolling on the ground and flying through the air to extend operating time and navigate where no other robot can travel.
SolarSpace designs and builds self-sustaining, solar powered EV Charging Stations (E-Stations) in remote areas without a nearby electrical grid. Their technology is 3x more powerful and requires 5x less land than traditional PV.
The winning startups were selected because they were working on solutions for real-world problems and their desire to make a significant difference in the local and global community through innovation. The winning teams began their six-month residency at UACI on November 1.
“We enjoyed working with the past cohort of three innovative startups and are thrilled to welcome a new cohort of three more tech startups. The Town of Sahuarita views these ventures as our farm system, to use a baseball analogy where experienced players train the younger players so that successful players can move on to a higher level,” said Victor Gonzalez, Economic Development Director for the Town of Sahuarita. “This sponsorship at UACI, in partnership with the Freeport McMoRan Foundation, will help mentor these businesses along to the point where they are eventually ready for the ‘big league’.”
The winning startups will receive six-months sponsored admission at UACI which includes venture development programming and space. Access to UACI provides the selected startups with a structured incubation program, customized business support and the ability to work alongside other startups in a fast-paced environment. UACI provides access to the people, programming and places needed to scale a business. Other tools the incubation program provides are office and lab space and assistance through a 27-point roadmap that helps them with everything from refining their business model to obtaining funding.
“This extraordinary collaboration has continuously been elevated over the past four years. It has been a valuable resource not only to the startups but for the region as well. We use this partnership to advance the startups and help find ways for them to prove their technologies in Sahuarita,” shared Eric Smith, Executive Director of UACI.
About the UA Center for Innovation
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a startup incubator network with outposts across the Southern Arizona region. For nearly two decades, the program has directly served over 160 companies and impacted thousands of entrepreneurs. This is done through providing access to people, programming and places that help entrepreneurs take their companies from idea to market. Startups go through a structured program that takes them through a continuum of education provided by mentors, advisors and community collaborators. UACI also provides access to service providers, industry cluster groups, interns and connections to potential customers and strategic partners. Entrepreneurs utilize various physical spaces that include offices, wet and dry labs, meeting rooms, a prototyping center, collaboration areas and the infrastructure to support these spaces. The UACI is part of Tech Parks Arizona, which brings together university, industry and community, creating “interactive ground” to advance technology innovation.
About the Town of Sahuarita
Incorporated in 1994, the Town of Sahuarita is the fifth youngest town in the State with a median age of 34 and a significant number of retirees. Residents are active, highly educated, and enjoy the abundant outdoor opportunities afforded by the town’s natural surroundings.
About Freeport-McMoRan
Freeport-McMoRan is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. The company operates large, long-lived, geographically diverse assets with significant proven and probable reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum and is one of the world’s largest publicly traded copper producers. By supplying responsibly produced copper, FCX is proud to be a positive contributor to the world well beyond its operational boundaries.