This story originally appeared in ARIZONA'S FAMILY.

The University of Arizona has a special program, Native Forge, investing in Native American entrepreneurs. This year, they’re mentoring five small businesses in Fort Yuma.

Are you a student with entrepreneurial ideas?  Do you feel overwhelmed and are looking for community + resources to help you get your ideas off the ground?  FORGE has a resource to help called, Support + Share and it provides student entrepreneurs with the resources they need to succeed. 

Knowing about entrepreneurship can provide students with a wealth of incredible possibilities. The University of Arizona FORGE created the Impact CATS program to provide greater access to equal opportunities without restrictions.

Five entrepreneurs from the Fort Yuma Quechan Tribe make up the new cohort of Native FORGE, a University of Arizona program that supports entrepreneurs from federally recognized Native American tribes in Arizona.

Three remarkable college students seized a unique opportunity to cultivate entrepreneurial skills while securing their academic futures. In a new initiative from the University of Arizona FORGE, the students received Biomedical Entrepreneur scholarships that enabled them to work on their startup concepts in exchange for tuition. University of Arizona undergraduate students Sydney Arriaga, Abhiman Gupta, and Isaac Kailat took part in an intensive summer program that helped them take their startup concepts from idea to pitch ready.  

University of Arizona FORGE Student Venture Pathways has a powerful new resource to guide students toward their goals, unlock their potential, and accelerate their success: one-on-one coaching and consulting.  

The SVP Peer Venture Coaching/Consulting program offers one-on-one coaching - allowing students to reach their full potential. Students work with different Peer Venture Coaches and SVP staff to develop their ideas into businesses or impact organizations.  Whether you already have a clear idea for a venture, or are just seeking guidance in identifying the perfect opportunity, this program is tailored to meet your needs.

University of Arizona FORGE and Tucson City of Gastronomy (TCOG) are bringing back the popular speaker series “The Business of Heritage Foods”. The series provides resources for building and sustaining heritage food-based businesses in Southern Arizona.

Part of "Thursdays at FORGE", “The Business of Heritage Foods” takes place every second Thursday from 9-10 a.m. at FORGE at Roy Place, 44 N. Stone Ave. It is open to the public and free to attend. This year, in addition to inviting local food entrepreneurs to share knowledge, the series will include live chef demos.

The University of Arizona FORGE proudly announces the inaugural cohort of Crucible. The Crucible at FORGE program accelerates the growth of advanced startups and enhances their commercialization and investment readiness. The eight-week journey for these five companies begins September 12th at the FORGE at Roy Place entrepreneurial hub in Tucson, Arizona. The five companies selected for the Fall 2023 Crucible cohort are Better Than Provisions, Marro Technologies Inc., SEEOP Corporation, Suncliffe and Wander Health. 

We are very pleased to introduce new roles and new faces to our Student Venture Pathways team this semester!  In addition to bringing on additional team members, we have added new roles for Student Venture Pathways. This semester we are adding a Venture Development Assistant, Peer Coaches, and a Playshop Facilitator to our team. No matter where your entrepreneurial journey is headed, we have staff available to help.  Drop by one of our outreach events to meet them and learn how they can help you FORGE Your Future!

From climate change to planetary defense, and disease prevention to artificial intelligence, today’s most pressing and complex global challenges demand that our students are trained as bold, forward-thinking problem solvers. At the University of Arizona, we are preparing our graduates to enter the workforce with the experiences, skills, and entrepreneurial mindset that will allow them to stand out and to thrive.