Leader of University of Arizona Tech Parks Appointed to the Desert Angels Board of Directors

Carol Stewart, Associate Vice President of Tech Parks Arizona for the University of Arizona, has been appointed a seat on the Desert Angels Board of Directors. Desert Angels™ is a Tucson-based private investors group formed in 2000 and has since then grown to become one of the country’s leading angel investor groups and most active in the nation. The non-profit organization of accredited investors seeks opportunities to invest in a startup or early-stage companies based in the Southwest region.

The organization has over 105 members, many of whom have invested in a significant portfolio of companies. They have helped financially support 100+ companies that are screened and selected to present business pitches.  On average, the board reviews over 300 applications per year.  In addition to screening and investing in companies, members hear from nationally recognized speakers including successful entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and thought leaders in the angel investment community.

“I am thrilled to join the board at such a pivotal time. Innovation is what will rebuild our economy. I have been exposed to many different innovation hubs throughout the years and was part of the pioneers that built the entrepreneurial ecosystem from the ground up in Waterloo, Canada. I plan to take the best practices developed in the community to ignite and foster the innovation boom we experienced in Waterloo and apply it to Tucson’s innovation horizon,” shared Carol Stewart, Associate Vice President of Tech Parks Arizona. 

Stewart’s expertise in university research parks spans decades and nations.  She was instrumental in enhancing the entrepreneurial culture of Canada through the Canadian Industrial Innovation Centre (CIIC) and the globally awarded Waterloo Accelerator Centre. With more than 20 years of experience working with research parks, technology commercialization, business incubation, university-based economic development, governmental relations and business development, she brings a proven track record of excellence to all her endeavors.

Carol Stewart, a long-standing authority on research parks, currently advances the University of Arizona’s Tech Parks.  Mrs. Stewart leads the UA Tech Park at Rita Road and is developing the UA Tech Park at The Bridges. She also serves as President of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, a business incubator network with outposts across southern Arizona.

“We are pleased to have Carol Stewart serve on our Board of Directors. She brings to the team a unique economic development perspective along with a commitment to further advancing our regional ecosystem. We look forward to working with her as we continue to move the Desert Angels forward to serve both our community and our members,” stated Jeffrey S. Lang, Chairman of the Board for Desert Angels.

About the Desert Angels

The Desert Angels is a Tucson-based non-profit organization of accredited investors that seeks opportunities to invest in Southwest regional startup and early-stage companies. Angel investing strengthens these startup companies, which in turn leads to new jobs, new resources, and economic growth in our region. The Desert Angels have been consistently recognized nationally as a top-ranked angel group and represent a network of active angel investors who have invested about $61 million into over 120 companies and 10 Sidecar funds over the past 20 years. The Desert Angels is a charter member of the Angel Capital Association, which is the trade association of angel investment groups in North America and today represents over 240 angel investor groups and funds.

About Tech Parks Arizona

Tech Parks Arizona creates the “Interactive Ground” that generates, attracts, and retains technology companies and talent in alignment with the research, mission and goals of the University of Arizona. Tech Parks Arizona directs the UA Tech Park, the UA Tech Park at The Bridges, and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation, placing the highest priority on recruiting companies desiring connectivity to the University of Arizona.