13 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Tucson In 2024: A Complete Guide

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Updated: January 20th, 2022

Are you looking for an accelerator program in Tucson?

Did you know that Tucson city is at the top of “The Next 25 Markets” where big companies are looking for investment opportunities?

If you're starting a startup in Tucson, you might be wondering what startup accelerators or incubators exist in the area. Here's the full list:

Startup Accelerators & Business Incubators In Tucson

#	Accelerator/Incubator	Funding	Location	Apply
1	Go For Vertical	$2500-$10K	Tucson	Apply
2	University of Arizona Center for Innovation	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
3	Cook Tucson	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
4	Startup Tucson	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
5	FORGE	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
6	5 Lights Group	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
7	Women's Business Center (WBC)	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
8	Pima Community College	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
9	Boss Women Unite	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
10	Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
11	Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator (WIF AX)	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
12	McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply
13	Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce	Not Disclosed	Tucson	Apply

13 Best Startup Accelerators & Incubators In Tucson In 2024: A Complete Guide

1. Go For Vertical

Location: Tucson
Industry: Technology and Innovation Businesses
Investment Size: $2500-$10K
Program Length: 3 Months
Equity Taken: No Equity Taken

Go For Vertical runs a business program that supports technology startups and helps them find their first customers and discover pathways and channels for the growth and success of businesses. They follow a hyper-lean approach to help startups develop technology and assist product development through RATs (Riskiest Assumption Tests). These programs also validate, launch, fund, and build startup companies and provide them with business models & strategies to turn their technology ideas into market-driven businesses.

Apply to Go For Vertical, or learn more ➜

2. University of Arizona Center for Innovation

Location: Tucson
Industry: Technology and Innovation Businesses
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

University of Arizona Center for Innovation is a startup incubator program run by the University of Arizona. This program provides science and technology startups with business expertise & mentorship, lab space, networking & connection building opportunities, resources to make scalable, successful, and sustainable business innovations, job creations, business strategies, development of customers, prototype center, and assistance to take business ideas to the market.

Apply to University of Arizona Center for Innovation, or learn more ➜

3. Cook Tucson

Location: Tucson
Industry: Food Businesses
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Cook Tucson hosts a culinary incubator program that offers food businesses the resources necessary to grow and thrive in the industry. They provide food startups with expertise, equipped kitchen space, business development guidance, marketing opportunities, small business tools, licensed workspaces, refrigerator & storage space, and networking opportunities. This program serves food trucks, caterers, food artisans, speciality & gourmet chefs.

Apply to Cook Tucson, or learn more ➜

4. Startup Tucson

Location: Tucson
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Startup Tucson operates a program that supports first-time business founders, small business owners, and scaling business ventures of diverse industries and offers them a customer-centric, goal-driven, relationship-based, and data-driven business series to succeed in the industry. This program also provides them with business education, resources, networking opportunities, access to funding & events, news, and business impact. They run a non-profit program that fuels the growth and economic ecosystem of Tucson.

Apply to Startup Tucson, or learn more ➜

5. FORGE

Location: Tucson
Industry: Technology Industry
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Variable
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

FORGE runs two separate accelerator programs: one is FORGE Ahead, which is a competitive, one-year resident program, and the other is the eight-week Advanced Entrepreneur Program (AEP). Neither is exclusive to students.

FORGE program hosted by the University of Arizona helps student entrepreneurs, inspires and cultivates entrepreneurial thinking in them. They provide students and entrepreneurs with the resources and opportunities necessary to grow in the industry. This program has a team of industry coaches, mentors, and experts that offers hands-on learning experiences and business education to the participants and assists them in the commercialization of technology, business licensing, and solutions to complex business problems.

Apply to FORGE, or learn more ➜

6. 5 Lights Group

Location: Tucson
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

5 Light Group hosts a business program for entrepreneurs and innovators who want to grow their business in the industry. This program follows a five-light program, i.e., Secret, Market, Model, Resources, and Team. They believe in the success of businesses and acts as a partner that selects the right engagements and resources for the business firm. This program follows a unique model that creates unique and powerful commercialization, expansive network, and pathways for making inventions into reality & research for changing the world.

Apply to 5 Lights Group, or learn more ➜

7. Women's Business Center (WBC)

Location: Tucson
Industry: Businesses owned by Women
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 6 Weeks
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Women's Business Center (WBC) program hosted by YWCA South Arizona runs various programs and services to start and grow a business. This program helps startups and small business firms to develop a business plan by providing them business coaching & assistance, step-by-step processes, pathways to reach goals, and networking opportunities.

Apply to Women's Business Center (WBC), or learn more ➜

8. Pima Community College

Location: Tucson
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Pima Community College runs a Business and Industry program that helps entrepreneurs in workforce development, training, and business education and helps them move forward in the industry. This program builds a pipeline of talent by offering members networking opportunities, business development strategy, leadership development, and support to bring innovative business ideas into reality.

Apply to Pima Community College, or learn more ➜

9. Boss Women Unite

Location: Tucson
Industry: Businesses owned by Women
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 6 Weeks
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Boss Women Unite runs a platform for local women entrepreneurs and supports them to showcase their talent and potential to the fullest. This program offers various events, programs, and working spaces to female entrepreneurs essential for managing the business. They empower members by providing them with mentorship, business strategies, tools, peer support, and guidance to reach the economic goals to build a successful business.

Apply to Boss Women Unite, or learn more ➜

10. Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Location: Tucson
Industry: Businesses owned by Hispanic Entrepreneurs
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce helps Hispanic members and the community to move further in the industry. This program works on the mission to advocate and provide business growth and development services to entrepreneurs. They help members write business plans, target competition & market, conduct industry research, and provide them with business finances, legal & technical assistance, insurance, guidance & businesses counselling, and procurement opportunities.

Apply to Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, or learn more ➜

11. Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator (WIF AX)

Location: Tucson
Industry: Technology Industry
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 8 Weeks
Equity Taken: No Equity Taken

Women's Innovation Fund Accelerator (WIF AX) helps emerging tech businesses in the niche of consumer goods, blockchain, AI, Logistics, IoT, AR, and VR. They provide women entrepreneurs of the tech industry with acceleration services, funding, sustainable business operations, mentorship, networking opportunities with peers and investors, interactive business courses, and various business perks. Some of its portfolio companies are; The Labz, Lips, Co2, Fuego Fino, and many more.

Apply to Women’s Innovation Fund Accelerator (WIF AX), or learn more ➜

12. McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship

Location: Tucson
Industry: All Industries
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: 12 Months
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship program, run by the Eller College of Management, collaborates innovation with entrepreneurship to create a next-generation industry. This program focuses on helping students by providing them with an innovative and entrepreneurial mindset, mentorship, resources, business education, and support to turn business ideas into ready-to-launch ventures. They empower and inspire a student to bring changes in society through entrepreneurship and innovative research and education.

Apply to McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship, or learn more ➜

13. Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce

Location: Tucson
Industry: Businesses owned by LGBT Entrepreneurs
Investment Size: Not Disclosed
Program Length: Not Disclosed
Equity Taken: Not Disclosed

Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce runs a business program to connect members with resources and opportunities to find & communicate with customers and succeed in the industry. This non-profit program supports LGBT entrepreneurs through scholarships, programming, and mentorships. They empower the entrepreneurs from the LGBT community by providing them with business education, empowerment, networking, and advocacy.

Apply to Tucson LGBT Chamber of Commerce, or learn more ➜

meet the author

Pat Walls

I'm Pat Walls and I created Starter Story - a website dedicated to helping people start businesses. We interview entrepreneurs from around the world about how they started and grew their businesses.

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