For Innovation Ecosystem Builders
Building the Tucson Innovation Ecosystem
Tech Startups need a tech hub and ecosystem to accelerate their growth and the region’s economic growth. This community will catalyze workforce development and reduce brain drain.
Programming and events for tech entrepreneurs. More…
TechTALKs, Hacks, and Meetups for techies, nerds, and innovators. More…
University of Arizona Tech Transfer manages university IP licensing to strengthen your startup. More…
SupplyTALKs, Tours, and Meetups for Supply Chain and Logistics Pros. More…
Ecosystem Visioning Workshops
Our ecosystem visioning workshops are key to creating a shared vision and values, acting like a compass for our ecosystems. They keep us aligned and focused on delivering great value for entrepreneurs, even as things evolve. These sessions help us stay on the same page, build a teamwork culture, and tackle challenges together for remarkable outcomes.
Only Trained Mentors Engage in Startup Zones
We train mentors to guide via questions, not advice. Only trained mentors can participate at each of the Startup Zones.
300 Startup Mentors
Mentor Training
Innovation ecosystem builders understand that mentors are the lifeblood of a startup ecosystem. Our mentorship program not only values your expertise (IQ) but also your emotional intelligence (EQ), offering comprehensive training to enhance your mentoring capabilities.
As a mentor, you’ll be at the heart of this transformative journey.
Interested professionals are assessed for readiness based on their level of startup experience prior to commencing training.
The mentors will align with one of three levels:
- Beginner
- Intermediate
- Expert
Growth Connections
Growth Connections
We’re on a mission to map Arizona’s startup ecosystems, aiming to fully grasp their needs and the services available to them. This insight is driving our efforts to create programs that leverage the strengths of each local ecosystem, fostering connections both within and beyond their immediate environments.
Our approach is strategic, designing programs that not only support local ecosystems but also seamlessly integrate into more advanced, statewide initiatives. Here’s how a local innovator’s journey might unfold:
Beginnings: Ideas take root in the local Startup Zone, where foundational concepts are nurtured.
Growth: Innovators advance to programs like the Arizona Commerce Authority’s Virtual Accelerator or a startup incubator, building on the skills developed in the Startup Zone.
Momentum: With a compelling story, startups secure their seed funding and set their sights on achieving product-market fit.
The journey is ongoing, and our dedication is constant. We carefully knit together services and support to chart a clear course for entrepreneurial success.
Joining us means getting in on the ground floor with emerging technologies and brilliant innovators. You’ll network with top professionals from across the state, boost your leadership abilities, and play a vital role in fostering the next wave of entrepreneurial talent.
Workforce Development
Workforce Development
Startup Zones facilitates workforce development by embedding entrepreneurial and intrapreneurial thinking into the local talent pipeline. It empowers individuals to thrive as innovators, whether they launch a startup or innovate from within an existing organization.
Here’s how:
Whether someone is building a business or transforming a department, entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship share the same core mindset: spotting opportunity, taking ownership, iterating fast, and delivering impact.
Startup Zones is the launchpad for that mindset to take root and spread across the local economy, one person, team, and organization at a time.
Startup Zones brings together early-stage entrepreneurs, students, and professionals from larger companies in shared innovation spaces. Through workshops, co-learning sessions, and mentor circles, intrapreneurs see how lean startup methods and agile thinking can apply to internal R&D, new product initiatives, and process innovation.
Startup Zones programs emphasize hands-on, real-world challenges where participants learn by problem-solving, testing ideas, and building solutions. This develops the same mindset used by founders: curiosity, initiative, accountability, and adaptability. These traits are equally vital to intrapreneurs driving change inside corporations.