INNOVATION & ENTREPRENEURSHIP

Startup Tucson is working to grow a strong, vibrant ecosystem of diverse entrepreneurs, companies and talent in Tucson. As a one-stop-shop for entrepreneurship in Southern Arizona, the non-profit spurs economic growth by providing trainings, technical-assistance, mentoring as well as networking events in it’s downtown Tucson location. The non-profit also has a number of special initiatives designed to support specific industries and entrepreneurs in the community, including a Launch Lab featuring prototyping and media equipment.

Launched in 2003, The University of Arizona Center for Innovation is Arizona’s leading and longest continuously running incubation organization. For over two decades, the program has directly served over 300 companies, impacting thousands of entrepreneurs who have attracted $200M in external capital. UACI’s mission is to fuel Arizona’s economy by supporting scalable, science and tech startups by connecting them with the people, place and programming they need to move ideas from concept to market under the scope of Tech Parks Arizona creating university-based economic impact. 

The University of Arizona supports innovation within Southern Arizona through a number of entities and programs within the community. 

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation fosters technology startups, emerging and mature companies develop their ideas, inventions and next evolution of product by connecting them with the people, place and programming they need to move ideas from concept to market. 

 Tech Launch Arizona ensures that technologies and innovations originating with University of Arizona researchers find meaningful application through patenting intellectual property and commercialization.  

TENWEST Impact Festival is a dynamic, multi-day festival bringing together a wide range of people and interests to share perspectives and create innovative solutions. Culture-makers, technologists, professionals, & community builders alike assemble over ten days of exhibitions, talks, and interactive experiences to inspire the ideas and facilitate the connections that will empower Tucson. The long term goal of the TENWEST festival is to share the diverse attributes of Tucson to attract and retain talent in Southern Arizona and to be identified with Tucson and Southern Arizona internationally.

A user-friendly guide to the organizations and groups that support the growth of small businesses and startups in Tucson, the Ecosystem Guide includes over 80 listings. Users can browse by category to learn more about resources within Southern Arizona. Connect Tucson, by the City of Tucson, also provides a guide to doing business in Tucson.

Available to support the growing entrepreneurial and remote worker communities, Tucson offers multiple co-working options including the downtown locations of COMMON Workspace, La Suprema, The L Offices, as well as Oro Valley location Post Workspaces.

The Tucson region offers multiple types of capital resources for startups seeking funding. Desert Angels is a Tucson-based nonprofit organization of accredited Angel investors who seek opportunities to invest in regional start-up or early-stage no-tech, low-tech, or high-tech companies. Private local venture capitalists like UA Venture Capital and BlueStone Venture Partners provide venture capital for companies that have a product or service in testing or pilot production and also serve as the primary source of capital once the venture matures into a viable business.

In addition to equity-based funding, there are also many programs and organizations working to help businesses seek out additional types of capital. The Community Investment Corporation, Business Development Finance Corporation and Growth Partners Arizona are just a few examples.

Southern Arizona and Arizona at large have several longstanding challenge and pitch competitions a year that give entrepreneurs and startups the opportunity to compete for funding and support. IdeaFunding has been a signature event in Southern Arizona for 25 years. Each year the event hosts hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors, and mentors. Hosted by Startup Tucson, the event features thought leadership in innovation as well as a pitch competition that gives thousands of dollars of non-dilutive funds for early-stage companies. The Arizona Innovation Challenge is Arizona’s leading business plan competition — one of the largest in the country — and is designed to advance innovation and technology commercialization opportunities in Arizona by helping early-stage ventures scale. Venture Madness Venture Madness, presented by Invest Southwest in partnership with the ACA, pits the most promising startups and emerging growth companies in a head-to-head competition each year.

In addition to funding resources, many organizations provide assistance in developing business plans and other small business support: Small Business Development Center, SCORE Counselors to America’s Small Business and YWCA Women’s Business Center.