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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.
The Sponsored Launch sponsorship between UACI and the City of Sierra Vista Industrial Development Authority, the City of Sierra Vista Economic Development Department, and the Sierra Vista Chamber of Commerce is part of a larger collaboration. Over the past year, UACI and the City of Sierra Vista have worked together to identify startup potential in the area and develop programming plus incubator space that will help those companies grow into the next major employers in the region. UACI, with a proven track-record of success and currently have 80 startups in their program, seeks rural partners around the state of Arizona to align with, furthering their mission to serve as a business incubator that fuel’s Arizona economy through supporting startups. The Sponsored Launch winning startups will be the first to take residence at UACI’s newest physical location in Sierra Vista with a planned grand opening in February 2023.
“We are very excited to partner with UACI to bring these resources to our region as we look toward a future that empowers and supports the visionaries looking to grow businesses in our communities. We want to support entrepreneurs who want to put in the hard work and cultivate their ideas; this is the same drive that the west was founded upon,” said Demetry Simonton, President of the Board for the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista.
The enhanced program will offer customized business support to ensure that the winning startup teams have a successful journey through a 27-point venture development roadmap. The UACI incubator network helps entrepreneurs develop a business plan, perform a market assessment, implement product validation, prepare a business pitch presentation, secure funding, and much more for a successful launch into the market. UACI provides dedicated space for startups where they can work alongside other entrepreneurs in a fast-paced environment.
“We see great potential in Sierra Vista and throughout all of Cochise County to find and grow technology startups that will ultimately help the economic vitality of the region. It has been a pleasure working with the municipality, local chamber, Cochise Community College, IDA and others. It is clear that there is a need in the region for this type of activity and we are excited to help serve that need,” said Eric Smith, Executive Director, UACI.
The application window for submissions opened on December 1, 2022 and will close on January 13, 2023. After a review and interview process, the winning teams will be announced on February 1, 2023. The selected teams will receive a year of sponsorship at the incubator and office space with the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista. The total prize package is valued at $10,000 per startup sponsored.
For more information and to apply click here.
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 200 companies and impacted thousands of entrepreneurs. This is done by 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. UACI is part of Tech Parks Arizona, which brings together university, industry, and community, creating “interactive ground” to advance technology innovation.
About the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista
The Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista is an entrepreneurial nonprofit that draws upon its decades of experience and proven record of accomplishments to support community and economic development through access to capital. The organization’s primary goal in the city is to positively impact vulnerable populations and under-served communities through multiple strategies such as bond financing, community investment, and down payment assistance to advance homeownership.