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September 28, 2026 (Tucson, Ariz.) - The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), the startup incubator network of Tech Parks Arizona, is now accepting applications for the UACI Sponsored Launch Program fueled by the City of Sierra Vista.
UACI is Arizona’s leading and longest continuously operating incubator, helping innovators turn breakthrough ideas into successful companies and has supported over 300 science and tech-based startups. This is the fourth year that UACI and the City of Sierra Vista have partnered through Sponsored Launch to help science and technology startups grow while driving regional economic development.
UACI and the City of Sierra Vista have supported science and technology startups across Southeastern Arizona by providing the resources, mentorship and connections needed to accelerate business growth. The selected startup will receive a one-year sponsored admission to UACI, valued at $5,000, along with access to UACI's proven incubation program and entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Through UACI, founders gain access to the people, place and programming needed to successfully launch and scale a business. This includes structured business support, customized mentoring, office and laboratory facilities, and the UACI Program Roadmap©, a comprehensive framework that guides entrepreneurs through key milestones ranging from market validation and business model development to fundraising and scaling.
Applications are due by October 30, 2026. Eligible applicants must have a startup team located in or operating within the City of Sierra Vista or Southeastern Arizona and be developing an innovative solution to address a significant business or societal challenge in science or technology. Startups should demonstrate a strong commitment to commercializing their technology and pursuing a scalable business model with the potential to create lasting local and global impact.
For more information and to apply visit: https://www.uaci.com/incubator-program/sponsored-launch
About the UA Center for Innovation
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a startup incubator network with outposts across Southern Arizona. As part of Tech Parks Arizona, a not-for-profit, UACI advances university-based economic impact by helping scale science- and tech-based startups, supporting business retention, and attracting foreign direct investment to the region. In 2026, UACI was recognized as one of America’s Best Incubators & Accelerators by TIME Magazine. UACI ranked #6 among public-university affiliated incubators and #56 overall. For two decades, the program has directly served over 300 companies, impacting thousands of entrepreneurs who have attracted $200M in external capital. This is done by providing access to the people, place, and programming that help entrepreneurs take their companies from idea to market.
About City of Sierra Vista
Sierra Vista is the commercial, education, health care, and innovation hub of Southeast Arizona. It boasts a nation-leading cyber security program at Cochise College, adjacent to Fort Huachuca, which is the U.S. Army’s hub of technology, training, and testing; and is sitting on the cutting edge of space exploration as it pursues steps to become a multi-use spaceport reentry site. Already a forward-thinking city, Sierra Vista supports the growth of the tech-centric businesses that are key to its future.