The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) has teamed up with the Town of Sahuarita and Freeport McMoRan to sponsor up to three promising startup teams with resources, facilities, services, and expert guidance to grow their businesses. The six-month program will also foster networking opportunities for its participants.
In alignment with its mission to serve as a business incubator and fuel Arizona’s economy through startup support, UACI seeks collaborations with other regional organizations. Last year the Town of Sahuarita collaborated with UACI to successfully launch a pilot program called BizLaunch for pre-startup businesses. Building on the momentum and interest of entrepreneurs who live in the Town of Sahuarita, the two organizations decided to enhance the program this year.
The enhanced program will offer customized business support to ensure startups have successful launches through a structured business development program. The incubator helps entrepreneurs develop a business plan, identify target markets, refine the prototype, prepare a business pitch presentation, secure investment, and successfully launch into the market. UACI provides dedicated space for startups where they can work alongside other entrepreneurs in a fast-paced environment.
Application submissions open on June 3 and close on June 31. After a review and interview process, the winning teams will be announced on July 12. The winning teams will then go through the incubation program on August 1 through January 30, 2021.
Applicants must meet certain qualifications including having a startup team that lives or operates in the Town of Sahuarita (or benefits the Town and its residents) and is looking to make a significant difference in the local and global community through innovation.
For more information and to apply here.
As a region, Southern Arizona has recently experienced an increased interest in entrepreneurship, and the business ecosystem is ripe with educational offerings and promising locations for startup ventures. Sahuarita’s steady population growth and potential for geographic expansion make it particularly attractive to venture capital. It is especially so for scalable ventures and innovative technologies.
The program is made possible by financial support from Freeport-McMoRan, which has operations in the Town of Sahuarita and is a major supporter of economic development. As a company utilizing leading-edge technologies within an otherwise traditional industry, Freeport-McMoRan is keenly aware that supporting innovation, entrepreneurs, and startups is key to economic growth in the region.
About the Town of Sahuarita
Incorporated in 1994, the Town of Sahuarita is the fifth youngest town in the State with a median age of 34 and a significant number of retirees. Residents are active, highly-educated, and enjoy the abundant outdoor opportunities afforded by the town’s natural surroundings.
