2025 IdeaFunding pitch competition now accepting applications
University of Arizona Center for Innovation and Startup Tucson
Applications for the 2025 IdeaFunding pitch competition are now live. Entrepreneurs and early-stage Arizona companies must submit applications by 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 14, 2025. Companies that have less than $500,000 in funds raised or received in the form of a loan/grant and fewer than 10 full-time employees qualify as early-stage companies for the competition.
IdeaFunding is Southern Arizona’s largest and longest entrepreneurial conference and pitch competition, where this year over $50,000 in prizes will be awarded to Arizona-based companies on March 27, 2025, as part of the 2025 TENWEST Festival. IdeaFunding is co-led by Startup Tucson and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation and presented by the Arizona Commerce Authority.
Other opportunities to participate in TENWEST are also now open, including a call for speakers and partners that also closes on the same day and time.
Founded in 2015, TENWEST is celebrating 10 years in Tucson. The festival showcases the connectivity between technology, entrepreneurship, creativity, culture and impact, uniting attendees to gain the knowledge and inspiration needed to innovate their careers and communities.
This year’s pitch competition will support startups with a wide variety of available prizes valued from $1,000 to $25,000 which include a mix of cash and services. Main-stage first and second-place prize winners will receive a sponsored year in the University of Arizona Center for Innovation incubator program, a prize valued at $10,000. There will also be four vertical stages, each awarding prizes, along with specialty prizes like the Adelante Arizona prize for diverse founders sponsored by Community Investment Corporation.
About the U of A Center for Innovation
The University of Arizona Center for Innovation is a startup incubator network with outposts across the Southern Arizona region. For over two decades, the program has directly served 300 companies, impacting thousands of entrepreneurs who have attracted $105.8M in capital. This is done by providing access to people, programming and places that help entrepreneurs take their companies from idea to market. With the mission to fuel the Arizona economy, the center works to help scale science and tech-based startups under the scope of Tech Parks Arizona creating university-based economic impact. Tech Parks Arizona directs the UA Tech Park, the UA Tech Park at The Bridges and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation.
About Startup Tucson
Startup Tucson is 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to transform the region’s economy through entrepreneurship and education. Startup Tucson executes this mission by providing education and culture building programs and events to grow a high-impact entrepreneurial and innovative ecosystem. You can find information about the organization and upcoming opportunities to engage at www.startuptucson.com. For questions or comments, please reach out to Liz Pocock directly at liz@startuptucson.com