University of Arizona FORGE is excited to announce Yuma’s first Venture Valley Tournament, sponsored by the Singleton Foundation for Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship. On February 21st from 1-5 pm, students are invited to compete in the tournament held at Arizona Western College during the Southwest AG Summit.

Students 16 years and older can play for a chance to win $2,000, $1,000, $500, $100, or $50 cash prizes.  All majors and backgrounds are encouraged to compete and no prior business knowledge is required.  Students can register here to secure their spot in the tournament. There is no cost to participate and the tournament will include snacks, giveaways, and more.

Calling Arizona Wildcats with entrepreneurial fire in their bellies! Look no further than Support + Share, a one-stop shop for forging connections and fueling venture dreams. This University of Arizona program welcomes student founders at any stage of their journey, from brainstorming to polishing prototypes ready for pitch night.

Every other Tuesday during the semester, this vibrant community convenes on campus, armed with shared experiences, expert guidance, and Wildcat spirit. For students wrestling with value propositions or prepping for crucial investor meetings, Support + Share has resources.

Learn what makes Support + Share the ultimate launchpad.

College isn't just exams and textbooks. It's an incubator for big ideas, audacious dreams, and the ideal time to unlock entrepreneurial potential. But where to start when the spark of an idea turns into confusion and self-doubt? Enter the journey of entrepreneurial mindset and venture development coaching with FORGE, a secret weapon for turning sparks into bonfires. At FORGE (Finding Opportunities and Resources to Grow Entrepreneurs), we empower entrepreneurial spirit. Whether you're a student brimming with new ideas or already building a venture, our Student Venture Pathways peer coaching program is here to fuel that journey.

We are very pleased to introduce new faces to our Student Venture Pathways team this semester! 

In the dynamic landscape of being a successful entrepreneur, the key to sustainable growth lies in both innovating and seamlessly connecting with the market to create a profitable venture. At FORGE (Finding Opportunities and Resources to Grow Entrepreneurs), we understand and support the critical steps that founders must take to navigate this journey successfully. We proudly introduce the newest additions to the FORGE Venture Advisors Residency program.

The Residency at FORGE is a 12-18 month "prove-out" program for startup companies seeking to transition from product-market fit to profit-market fit. These companies have already validated an investable market, if not a profitable business model, and are working toward moving beyond early adopters. Meet the newest Resident Startups.

Student Venture Pathway Assistant Destiny Velez is a senior majoring in Business Management at Eller College of Business. Originally from Long Island, New York, Velez spent her freshman year at Arizona State University before transferring over to the University of Arizona. As the semester winds down, Velez reflected on what it was like to leave home to find her footing in Tucson.
“University of Arizona has this sense of community and care for the academics that really mattered to me,” said Velez. “It also helped that there wasn’t snow and gloomy weather like in New York.”

Taking the leap to the University of Arizona also led her to connect with FORGE where she took on a role with the Student Venture Pathway’s staff.

“I became an SVP assistant to help connect students, faculty and staff with resources meant for them,” explained Velez. “I found the job on handshake, and I didn’t know it would change my life the way it did.”

For this year’s Native FORGE Conference, the theme was “From the Ground Up” highlighting the spirit of grassroots learning, growth, and building a solid foundation to servefuture generations.  Held in partnership with the University of Arizona Office of Native American Advancement & Tribal Engagement, entrepreneurs from the newest cohort from the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe were joined by past cohort members from the San Carlos Apache Tribe as well as entrepreneurs from the Tohono O'odham Nation and Pascua Yaqui Tribe at the conference. Gathering together in downtown Tucson at FORGE at Roy Place, the event provided valuable entrepreneurial resources as part of the U.S. Economic Development Administration University Center program to bolster Indigenous entrepreneurship.

As the semester moves toward Fall Commencement, some of our Student Venture Pathways seniors will embark on new journeys.  They offered reflections on how FORGE has impacted their time at the University of Arizona.

Peer Venture Coach Lucas Lauricella is a senior majoring in Business Management at the Eller College of Business. As a student founder, Lucas had to balance his academic goals with his entrepreneurial ventures and leadership roles. In addition to his academic achievements, Lucas has shown a passion for innovation and a commitment to his communities.

 New venture founders selected for the Crucible program gain the tools needed to become investment-ready. The program provides access to a network of specialists and mentors to support and assist founders as they hone their messaging, more effectively promote their products, and position their companies for growth.  The capstone of the program, “F23 Demo Day,” offers founders the opportunity to pitch their businesses and demonstrate their products to investors, potential employees, industry mentors, and fellow entrepreneurs.

We asked FORGE Lead Mentor in Residence Brian Ellison to tell us about Crucible and the upcoming F23 Crucible Demo Day event. Brian Ellison headed up programming and training for the new FORGE Crucible accelerator, where he worked hand in hand with four startup companies: Better Than Provisions, Marro Technologies, Suncliffe Gin, and Wander Health.