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University of Arizona entrepreneurship

Review the documented university identity, entrepreneurship programs, and sources connected to University of Arizona.

Founded
1885
Rankings that list it
4 of 13 tracked

Online destinations

Find University of Arizona online

Where to find this organization online, grouped by who runs each page. A link here does not mean the organization controls it.

Official links

Pages the organization runs itself.

Startup and research standing

Where University of Arizona stands

in PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders
#80
2026
alumni founders, 288 companies
303
2026
raised by those companies
$14.4B
2026
university rankings list it
4 of 13
Rankings ledger
Rankings that list University of Arizona
RankingEditionPositionSince last editionTrustWhat it measures
PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders2026#80Down 7BActivity, Talent, Ecosystem
CWUR World University Rankings (Global 2000 List)2026#105No prior editionBResearch, Prestige, Talent
Nature Index Research Leaders2026#206No prior editionBResearch
Academic Ranking of World Universities2026151 to 200No prior editionAResearch, Prestige
Positions come from each publisher's edition. Open a ranking for its method and trust notes, or an edition for the full list.

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Connected organizations

Around University of Arizona

  1. 01Research

    Faculties, labs and teams

  2. 02Community

    Student and founder groups

Overview

The University of Arizona has a vibrant startup and venture capital ecosystem driven by initiatives such as Tech Launch Arizona (TLA). TLA is the university's technology commercialization unit, which assists researchers' transition to entrepreneurship and helps get innovations to the market.

Since its inception in 2012, TLA has helped launch over 80 companies and secured millions in capital. An example is FreeFall Aerospace, a startup that's revolutionizing antenna technology for satellite communications. It was founded by Dr. Chris Walker, a University of Arizona professor.

The McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship at the University's Eller College of Management is also a key part of the ecosystem. The center provides a range of programs and support for aspiring entrepreneurs, including a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree with a major in entrepreneurship.

Another significant component of the startup culture at the university is the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), an initiative that offers startup incubation programs. UACI has fostered many success stories such as Reglagene, a biotech firm that fights cancer by "turning off" cancer-causing genes, and Avery Therapeutics, a biotech company that develops advanced therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

One notable alumnus is Bob Diener, the co-founder of Hotels.com and Getaroom.com, who received his Bachelor's degree from the University of Arizona. Another success story is Anthony Watson, a venture capitalist and the CEO of Uphold, a digital money platform. Watson studied at the university and has since been named in Fortune's 40 Under 40 list.

The University of Arizona also encourages student entrepreneurship through the New Venture Development Program. This initiative gives students an opportunity to gain real-world experience in launching startups, providing them with the necessary skills to succeed in the entrepreneurial world.

These initiatives and success stories highlight the University of Arizona's strong commitment to entrepreneurship and venture capital activities. This commitment has seen it continuously evolve into one of the leading universities supporting startups and innovation.

Ranked near University of Arizona in PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders

Similar universities

University of Arizona compared with universities ranked near it
#UniversityFoundersCompaniesRaisedRaised per company
75Trinity College Dublin334310$8.2B$26.5M
76University of Melbourne323297$11.1B$37.4M
77Boston College321305$11.9B$39.0M
78Queen's University319292$11.9B$40.8M
79Texas A&M University317295$9.8B$33.2M
80University of Arizona, TucsonThis page303288$14.4B$50.0M
81California Polytechnic University300282$9.7B$34.4M
82Emory University297290$9.1B$31.4M
83London School of Economics296284$9.7B$34.2M
84State University of New York (SUNY)293290$8.7B$30.0M
85Imperial College London284271$9.4B$34.7M
PitchBook University Rankings: Undergraduate Founders, 2026. Raised per company is total raised divided by companies.

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