New programs, events and opportunities at FORGE!
New UArizona center to support Native American entrepreneurs
The University of Arizona has received a five-year, $500,000 matching grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to establish a new center to support economic growth in tribal communities in Arizona.
Native FORGE will provide and facilitate high-quality entrepreneurship development and support services to underserved communities in Tucson and the 22 federally recognized Native American nations in Arizona.
"Native FORGE leverages this grant funding to build upon our success working with student and community entrepreneurs and expand this to Arizona's tribes and Native American entrepreneurs," said Brian Ellerman, founding director of Arizona FORGE. "The program will work with tribal nations and American Indian-owned businesses to develop economic-based initiatives aimed at progressive growth while adhering to traditional cultures."
Meet our Student Venture Pathways Team
Our Student Venture Pathways team has been having a great time meeting new students at Destination Arizona, Touch of Tucson, Bash at the Rec, and the UA Mall. At FORGE, we have a lot of exciting information to share about our FORGE Student Venture Pathways programs that leverage University and community resources to offer ongoing entrepreneurial education, mentoring, and coaching. Discover how our Venturing 101 mini-courses can help you learn to start a venture through mini-courses with short activities, videos, examples, self-assessments, and reflection prompts.
Check out exciting upcoming activities like the Venture Valley Tournament and Expo and find out how you can become a part of FORGE through assistant and ambassador opportunities. If we didn't catch you yet, we hope to see you soon at one of our next events!
Apply to be a FORGE Ambassador
FORGE has great opportunities for students to get involved. Only want to get involved for a few hours each week? Check out our FORGE Ambassador positions! These are volunteer opportunities to share personal entrepreneurial knowledge and experiences and generate visibility of FORGE through meeting with students, presenting to student groups and organizations, staffing tabling events, posting on social media, and representing FORGE at other outreach events as needed. Ambassadors will be supported by FORGE staff and receive professional development, use of FORGE facilities, entrepreneurial knowledge, and access to FORGE mentors. FORGE Ambassadors will also receive a non-academic badge to document their experience. Apply HERE.
Have more time to give and looking for a paid position? Student Venture Pathways Assistants are part time positions that help with FORGE programs and staff FORGE events and office locations.
Application deadline: August 26th
Welcome Wildcats!
Welcome students, old and new. This year, the University of Arizona welcomed its largest, most diverse, and most academically prepared incoming class in university history. Here at FORGE (Finding Opportunities and Resources to Grow Entrepreneurs), we are all about helping build an entrepreneurial mindset in every student, no matter what major. Having entrepreneurial mindset skills is essential to success in our 21st-century innovation economy and our FORGE programs are here to help all students build their vision and skills for a successful future.