Local Startups Awarded Over $75,000 at 2023 IdeaFunding Pitch Competition 

IdeaFunding has played a significant role in the entrepreneurial landscape for over 25 years as Southern Arizona’s largest and longest-running pitch competition. Co-led by Startup Tucson and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) and presented by the Arizona Commerce Authority, Tucson’s own “Shark Tank” event is the result of months of preparation and pitching by local founders and supporters from Southern Arizona. IdeaFunding 2023 awarded over $75,000 in cash and prizes ranging from vertical industry prizes to specialty awards.  

The IdeaFunding finals consisted of a day-long conference where over 400 investors, entrepreneurs, startups, and students convened to empower the local startup ecosystem and accelerate entrepreneurship. The day showcased 22 Arizona companies on November 9 where they pitched in the final competition after narrowing from an original applicant pool of 120+ teams, previously facing multiple rounds of judging and completing robust mentorship sessions with UACI. This year’s grand prize winner from the Main Stage, Berry Cultured, received $25,000 awarded by UAVenture Capital and a one-year program sponsorship with UACI.

Native American Heritage Month   

November is Native American Heritage Month. We encourage you to learn more and celebrate the extraordinary contributions and accomplishments of Indigenous people and communities in Tucson. We respectfully acknowledge the University of Arizona is on the land and territories of Indigenous peoples. Arizona is home to 22 federally recognized tribes, with Tucson being home to the O'odham and the Yaqui. Committed to diversity and inclusion, the University strives to build sustainable relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous communities through education offerings, partnerships, and community service.

Tech + Business Expo 

Arizona Tech Council proudly presented the 11th Annual Southern Arizona Tech + Business expo where 400 business leaders learned what’s trending in tech and recognized significant players in the industry. Congratulations to UACI startups Paramium Technology for winning the Innovation Leader of the Year award, TG Companies LLC for the Sustainability Award, and Macula Vision Systems for the Startup of the Year award. 

Happy Thanksgiving! 

This Thanksgiving, our hearts are brimming with gratitude for the incredible journey of entrepreneurship we've been a part of for 20 years. To our fearless founders, visionary collaborators, and the entire startup ecosystem– thank you for embracing innovation and turning passionate dreams into reality. Wishing you a Thanksgiving filled with inspiration and the joy of creating something extraordinary. 

Startup Spotlight:

Desert Pearl Mushrooms

Desert Pearl Mushrooms is a medicinal and gourmet Sonoran Desert mushroom farm dedicated to developing low-water sustainable agriculture for the benefit of the arid American Southwest. In addition to a variety of fresh specialty mushrooms, the product line includes dried, ground or powdered mushrooms, extract tinctures, and an assortment of growing supplies and materials.

Tucson Hispanic Chamber 40 Under 40 Awards

Tucson Hispanic Chamber will celebrate the rising leaders, entrepreneurs, influencers, creators, and contributors that are shaping Tucson’s community during the 40 under 40 awards breakfast on December 8. The 40 Under 40 Awards is focused on leadership as well as on community involvement and the contributions made to moving our community forward. These contributors to the community are selected because of their body of work as selfless stewards and promoters of generosity, of good, and of progress.

Connecting Innovators with

SBIR/STTR Funding

Are you a small business looking to fund your technology innovation? The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program funds a diverse portfolio of startups and small businesses across technology areas and markets to stimulate technological innovation, meet federal research and development (R&D) needs, and increase commercialization to transition R&D into impact. SBIR/STTR are a U.S. government funding program, coordinated by the Small Business Administration, intended to help certain small businesses conduct research and development. The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is planning an event to connect innovators with federal program managers and best practices for securing SBIR/STTR funding. 

Arizona Photonics Days

Arizona Photonics Day returns to the UA Tech Park. Learn about new techniques and processes that expand the scope of optics and photonics technologies in industrial and commercial applications. Connect with your peers and industry leaders for technical presentations, industry trend discussions, and business-building opportunities with global attendees over three days.

Early bird registration ends December 1

STAY CONNECTED WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA and gain insight about the entrepreneurial ecosystem and meet our incredible startups!

LEARN MORE about our startup opportunities and mentorship programs below.

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.