DECEMBER 2022

Dimensional Energy holds Grand Opening in the Solar Zone at The UA Tech Park

Dimensional Energy celebrated the grand opening of its first-of-a-kind facility located in the UA Tech Park's Solar Zone. Dimensional Energy joined the park in 2021 and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation in 2022. Dimensional Energy's newly opened facility in Arizona is the center of its efforts to scale its technology, which they plan to deploy around the world.

The company gives carbon dioxide a new life as a cost-effective building block for industrial fuels and consumer products traditionally made from fossil carbon. Or as The Arizona Daily Star wrote, this startup is making jet fuel from air and sunshine in Tucson. Dimensional Energy's carbon-dioxide utilization system uses a reactor to turn CO2 and hydrogen from water into synthetic gas in a process that mimics photosynthesis. Taking advantage of Arizona's climate-tech friendly environment, Dimensional Energy located its facility at the University of Arizona Tech Park in Tucson. They have been hiring former workers from oil, gas and mining, as well as graduates of Arizona's universities, and others who has the skills necessary to help to produce renewable hydrocarbon fuels, in Arizona and around the globe.

 
 

Sponsored Launch Opportunities Open

Two new Sponsored Launch Programs are currently running. One fueled by the Industrial Development Authority of the City of Sierra Vista which will sponsor three startups from the Cochise County region. As part of the sponsorship, these startups will also be the first located in the new UACI Sierra Vista Outpost. The other Sponsored Launch is fueled by R & A CPA which is open to startups based in the Tucson and Phoenix areas. Applications for both Sponsored Launches are currently being accepted.

 
 
 

American-Made Challenges Solar Prize Round 6 Semi-Finalists

The American-Made Challenges Solar Prize Round 6 Finalists have been announced. The UA Center for Innovation (UACI) is proud to be one of six U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Power Connectors across the nations, supporting Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah and Southern California as the Southwestern Region Power Connector. UACI has been awarded $47,000 from DOE to support Round 6 of the Solar Prize. Among the semi-finalists for Round 6 is UACI client, Portable Solar. Portable Solar Produces ground based solar kits that can be assembled by anyone, connected by an electrician, and are half the cost of rooftop solar.

 

2023 Student Business Plan Competition

UA Center for Innovation (UACI) has partnered with the Energy Tech University Prize from the DOE Office of Technology Transitions for the 2023 student business plan competition. This is a collegiate competition challenging student teams to develop and present a business plan to leverage National Laboratory-developed or other high-potential energy technologies including university developed technologies of interest to student competitors. The competition offers resources, benefits and experiences such as connections to like-minded competitors & industry leaders, the opportunity to develop commercialization plans for National Lab technologies, tailored mentorship & Energy I-Corps material, and $350,000 in cash prizes. Teams must be registered by January 26, 2023.

 

Santa Claus Talks About Entrepreneurship

In a collaboration with FORGE, UACI Executive Director, Eric Smith, took on the role as Santa Claus for the special holiday season fireside chat in FORGE at Roy Place to discuss handling supply chain issues, motivating employees, finding venture funding for unconventional business models and how to scale quickly.

 

Startup Spotlight:

Nymbus Media

Nymbus media showed off their Smart Concert wristband and app tech during TENWEST at the after party featuring a concert from MARCH FOURTH. The patented Nymbus Smart Concept platform enables musicians and live music brand sponsors to transform one-time audience interactions into long-term relationships, increased social engagement and recurring passive revenue.

 

Happy Holidays from the UACI Team!

Thank you to all who have helped make 2022 a wonderful year filled with new collaborations, accomplishments and innovation. Before we head into 2023, the UACI team would like to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season!

 
 
January 3


U.S. Department of Energy Funding Opportunity

Looking for funding? The Federal funding program Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR), provide over $2.2 billion to cutting-edge technologies developed by small businesses each year. The program provides non-dilutive funding to foster the commercialization workshops and mentorship to help applicants prepare a successful submission. You can read more about the workshops we are offering as well as register by visiting our SBIR/STTR Program event page. If you have any questions please reach out to Amanda Buchanan, UACI Program Manager at amanda.buchanan635@gmail.com.

 
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The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a key component of Tech Parks Arizona which brings together university, industry and community to advance technology innovation. UACI is the University of Arizona's startup incubator network with outposts across the Southern Arizona region with a mission to grow scalable startup ventures that fuel the Arizona ecosystem.