Grow your start-up with Arizona's best accelerators & incubators

This flagship program, part of the Mayo Clinic and Arizona State University Alliance for Health Care, focuses on accelerating early-stage medical device and health care technology companies. Lasting for an intensive 6 months, the accelerator accepts up to 12 startups per cycle and offers mentorship from a network of over 300 experienced mentors. The program aims to equip startups with the tools necessary to attract investments and specializes in medtech and health care innovations. Startups in the accelerator have access to industry experts, entrepreneurs in residence, and ASU's Rapid Startup School. Key figures like George Poste, Gregory Rodriguez, and Jeff Cunningham are among the founders of the institution. Distinguished medical mentors provide guidance, while the curriculum focuses on practical skills for successful commercialization. The program likely encompasses medical devices, diagnostics, digital health solutions, and more. Notable features include a trusted medtech entrepreneurship curriculum, insights from experienced entrepreneurs, mentors, and physicians. The MedTech Accelerator has a mission to advance patient care and improve the science of health care delivery.

Arizona State University- Med Tech Accelerator's Website

The University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI) is a critical startup incubator network in Southern Arizona, founded in 2003. With over 120 companies directly served and a significant impact on entrepreneurs, it aims to cultivate scalable startup ventures that drive the Arizona economy. The program provides crucial access to mentors, education, and physical spaces like offices, labs, and meeting rooms, essential for startup growth. The support structure includes mentorship, connections to service providers, industry groups, and potential partners, emphasizing technology-driven ventures. Led by founders Benn Konsynski and Wendell Gibby, the institution specializes in nurturing companies in sectors such as Edtech and General Tech. Accepted startups benefit from the University of Arizona's resources, internship opportunities, and industry-specific support, positioning them for success. Overall, Arizona Center for Innovation stands as a pillar of innovation, empowering entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into thriving businesses, thus positively impacting the local and global entrepreneurial landscape.

Arizona Center for Innovation's Website

SEED SPOT, an accelerator based in the USA, is dedicated to supporting impact-driven entrepreneurs who aim to address social problems. The Impact Accelerator is an eight-week virtual program, offering participants expert training, personalized coaching, and tools to enhance revenue growth and investment readiness. Benefits include tailored mentorship, pitch coaching, business leadership skills, and networking opportunities within a supportive community. Noteworthy alumni outcomes of SEED SPOT ventures encompass $399 million in revenue, $196 million in funding, and over 9,700 jobs created. Founded by Courtney Klein, SEED SPOT specializes in ventures with a social impact mission across various domains. Additional perks for participants include lifetime alumni benefits, a national network, and access to potential partners and investors. The accelerator is committed to empowering entrepreneurs to make a difference and achieve significant success in their ventures.

Seed Spot's Website

This prominent accelerator is dedicated to empowering impact-driven entrepreneurs across the United States. Focused on ventures that tackle social challenges, it provides an eight-week immersive Impact Accelerator program. The next cohort will run from August 5 to September 27, 2024. The initiative emphasizes entrepreneurship in sectors such as education, healthcare, sustainability, and community development. Since its inception, the organization's alumni ventures have collectively raised $196 million in funding, created 9,719 jobs, and generated an impressive $399 million in revenue over the last decade. Founders benefit from an extensive network of mentors, industry leaders, and potential investors, ensuring they are well-equipped to scale their ventures. The program offers lifetime alumni benefits including ongoing mentorship, access to funding resources, and specialized training tailored for investment readiness. Courtney Klein is among the key figures behind this mission, fostering a community where entrepreneurs are supported and inspired to create meaningful solutions. Through expert training and personalized support, the institution not only accelerates business growth but also fosters a collaborative environment that nurtures innovation and positive change.

SEED SPOT's Website

This prominent initiative of Arizona State University (ASU) is organized by the Entrepreneurship + Innovation @ Fulton Schools. It aims to foster entrepreneurship among students by enabling them to validate or disprove demand for their prototyped solutions. The program unfolds over three phases: starting with over 30 challenge teams receiving $1,000 to validate their business models, followed by teams that advance competing for an additional $5,000 to enhance market traction, and culminating in the selection of twelve founders for an all-expenses-paid innovation field trip. Participants can earn up to $6,000 in seed funding, with additional financial support from the Accelerator available for selected teams. Open to all ASU students, the program encourages collaboration across various departments and disciplines, fostering multidisciplinary teams. Notable founders involved with the initiative include George Poste, Gregory Rodriguez, and Jeff Cunningham. This challenge not only enhances entrepreneurial experience and networking but also contributes to the ASU Innovation Open, aimed at supporting student-led startups addressing global challenges. It spans multiple industries, including education technology, reflecting a commitment to diverse entrepreneurial ventures.

eSeed Challenge's Website

The Emerge Accelerator, operated by the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) in collaboration with the SoftBank Vision Fund and Speedinvest, strives to advance diversity in tech and entrepreneurship by supporting underrepresented founders. The accelerator's goal is to establish partnerships with universities to create dual-use ventures that address critical technology needs of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) as well as commercial markets. By facilitating connections between DoD mission partners and emerging technology teams from research universities, the program provides funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities. To qualify for the program, teams should have a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of 4 or higher, specializing in areas such as artificial intelligence/machine learning, deep tech, autonomy, and cybersecurity. The 12-week program consists of virtual sessions, an in-person orientation week, and a final showcase event. Selected ventures have the chance to secure non-dilutive funding, and participants benefit from interactions with SoftBank professionals, industry experts, and VC networks. In essence, the Emerge Accelerator plays a vital role in promoting innovation and technology transfer by bridging academia, government, and industry to serve the interests of national security and business sectors. Notable alumni- Credrails, Shyft, Juli.

Emerge (Accelerator)'s Website

Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) is an accelerator initiative affiliated with the University of Arizona, a public research university offering various degree programs. It aims to maximize the impact of university research, intellectual property (IP), and technological innovation by facilitating the movement of inventions into the marketplace, creating lasting social and economic effects. They have helped 130+ companies till date. The accelerator provides a comprehensive range of services, resources, and experienced mentors to assist UArizona inventors in launching startups based on their inventions. TLA has supported numerous start-ups, facilitated funding for UArizona spin-off companies, and collaborates with investors and industry partners for commercialization. They cover diverse domains such as technology, life sciences, and engineering, focusing on translating research innovations into practical applications. In addition to mentorship and resources, TLA celebrates inventors through events like World Intellectual Property Day, recognizing their patents. Notable figures involved with TLA include founders Benn Konsynski and Wendell Gibby. While TLA bridges academia and industry, fostering innovation, the AZ TechCelerator, another Arizona-based business incubator, focuses on technological ventures.

Tech Launch Arizona's Website

The McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship stands out as a top-tier entrepreneurship hub with a mission to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset in students to drive societal progress. Through its New Venture Development Program, open to students from all fields, it guides participants in transforming early-stage ideas into viable ventures, with an impressive 29% of students eventually launching their startups. The center focuses on areas like New Venture Development, Social Innovation, and Small Business/Economic Development, collaborating with various local entities. It provides comprehensive entrepreneurship education for students at all levels, including undergraduates, MBA candidates, doctoral students, and community members. Additionally, it offers launch resources such as startup workspaces, legal assistance, and innovation events, contributing to the community's growth. The McGuire Center has earned accolades, ranking #6 for its public graduate entrepreneurship program and #8 for its undergraduate program. Founded by Benn Konsynski and Wendell Gibby, the center's commitment to fostering innovation and community collaboration cements its reputation as a global leader in entrepreneurship education.

University of Arizona - McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship's Website

Black Dog Venture Partners is a business accelerator that provides venture capital consulting, corporate finance, and business development services to disruptive companies. The organization offers access to funding through a network of 13,000 investors and business development via 40,000 partners. Additionally, they provide sales/marketing and executive coaching services. The company hosts VC Fast Pitch Events, connecting startups with top investors. Founded by Scott Kelly, this institution specializes in domains not explicitly detailed on their website but focuses on supporting disruptive companies. They offer various benefits like mentorship, networking opportunities, and guidance on business scaling. Known for its valuable investor and business partner networks, Black Dog Venture Partners is a go-to resource for entrepreneurs seeking funding and business development support.

Black Dog Venture Partners's Website

Seedscout is a professional network company founded in 2019 by Mat Sherman. The organization aims to help startups raise capital by connecting them with investors. The platform has assisted 1,067 startups in raising capital and has a network of over 800 investors actively seeking opportunities to meet founders. Seedscout allows startups to request introductions to investors, facilitating connections that can lead to successful funding rounds. It caters to a broad spectrum of startups globally. Testimonials attest to the platform's efficacy in helping founders secure pre-seed capital and expand their networks. Overall, it stands out as an accelerator platform that streamlines the fundraising process for founders, offering a valuable resource to those looking to raise capital and make meaningful investor connections. Notable alumni- Hyperwrite, Autio.

Seedscout's Website

The institution is a prominent business incubator located in Phoenix, dedicated to fostering economic growth through the support of tech-based startups, particularly in the medical device, biotech, renewable energy, edtech, and healthcare tech sectors. Since its inception in 2013, it has empowered over 80 startups, helping them generate a total of $160 million in sales revenue and secure more than $117.5 million in equity capital. Its contributions to the local economy are substantial, with 764 jobs created by its clients. Resources offered by the organization include business coaching, mentorship, and access to training through its CEI LabForce, focusing on workforce development. They equip startups with the tools and connections necessary to accelerate their journey to market, establishing itself as a crucial component of the Phoenix startup ecosystem. With a commitment to innovation and entrepreneurship, the company continues to play a vital role in advancing the potential of emerging technologies and businesses in Arizona.

Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation's Website

The Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator is a Seed/Series A Impact Fund dedicated to investing in emerging technology-related companies, particularly those with gender-balanced C-level executive teams. With a commitment to sustainability, it focuses on diverse industries including Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Food and Beverage, and Logistics and Supply Chain. Its portfolio companies are required to have at least 50% women in their executive teams and implement sustainable operations in their business models. The accelerator emphasizes a gender-balanced approach, enhancing company culture and contributing to improved revenues. Founded by Barbara Bickham and Jessica Contreras, the organization provides global acceleration and mentorship, along with shared workspace and business finance to expedite growth. It plays a pivotal role in cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors, while fostering innovation and sustainability within the tech sector.

Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator's Website

Skysong Innovations, the accelerator associated with Arizona State University (ASU), is an intellectual property management and technology transfer organization. They aim to rapidly disseminate ASU's discoveries and inventions into the marketplace. Established in 2003 as an Arizona Limited Liability company (formerly known as AzTE), Skysong Innovations has launched 180 start-ups. These start-ups have collectively created more than 1,100 local jobs and generated over $108 million in state revenue. The accelerator specializes in various sectors such as Information Technology, Software, Agriculture, and Healthcare. Testimonials from industry experts like Ross DeVol and Stuart Lindsay highlight ASU's strong tech transfer capabilities. Skysong fosters a collaborative environment for cutting-edge companies worldwide, with a focus on healthcare innovation and medical education transformation. Overall, it plays a pivotal role in ASU's innovation ecosystem. They drive innovation impact productivity and benefit the local community and marketplace.

Skysong Innovations's Website

5Lights Group partners with innovators to create iconic companies, embodying a hands-on approach and a true partnership philosophy. With a focus on sustained growth and value creation, they emphasize five vital factors ('five lights') that unlock a company's potential. Specializing in transforming great ideas into fast-growing ventures that make a positive impact, the organization collaborates closely with growth companies, offering fee-based, equity-based, or hybrid engagements for capital strategy and exit planning. Embracing new inventions and discoveries, They extensively work with university researchers to commercialize unique opportunities. The accelerator boasts an experienced team including entrepreneurs, data scientists, and domain experts, with Sherry Hoskinson, recognized for her leadership in university entrepreneurship for over two decades. The company distinguishes itself by actively collaborating with partners, seeking those with a compelling advantage in products, services, or technology. Founded by Charlie Horn, the accelerator positions itself not as Angels or Sharks, but as genuine partners fostering the growth of standout companies.

5Lights Group's Website

This investment firm is dedicated to supporting for-profit companies committed to making a positive impact, with a primary focus on Arizona's tech ecosystem. They invest across three stages of startup development. For early-stage startups, commitments typically range between $100,000 and $500,000 to up to 20 companies annually that exhibit promising ideas and prototypes. For companies that have achieved product-market fit with early customer success, approximately $100,000 is allocated per company, funding five such startups each year. In the final stage, aimed at firms with proven revenue growth and scalability potential, investments of around $250,000 are made in up to four companies annually. The organization specializes in several domains, including Software, Hardware, and Biotech, emphasizing innovative solutions in these fields. In addition to financial support, it offers mentorship and resources to facilitate startup success. While the specific duration of their programs is not detailed, accelerators usually provide extensive support over several months, aiding startups through networking opportunities and guidance. This structured approach ensures that selected startups are well-equipped to thrive within the competitive tech landscape.

AZ Disruptors's Website

Yoo & Co accelerator is designed for those driven to pave their own path by bringing transformative products and services to market, focusing on ventures in healthcare and life sciences. Led by founder Chris Yoo, it offers targeted support to startups in health-related fields. The accelerator provides resources essential for establishing a strong foundation for rapid scaling, including access to legal, operational, sales, and marketing advisors, along with a network of dedicated investors. The program aims to create a supportive ecosystem fostering growth, mentorship, and timely intervention for entrepreneurs looking to make a significant impact in the industry.

Yoo & Co Accelerator's Website