Startup Wildcats

09/10/2025

We’re excited to announce that Startup Wildcats has transitioned our student entrepreneurship programs from Tech Launch Arizona to the McGuire Center for Entrepreneurship! This strategic move consolidates curricular and co-curricular efforts to better serve undergraduate entrepreneurs at the The University of Arizona.

There is NO disruption to Startup Tree or Student-Made Arizona. Also, Julie Barbier Bularzik has joined the McGuire Center full-time to lead co-curricular programming. For questions, please contact her directly.

We’re proud of our journey and excited for what’s ahead. Thank you for supporting student innovation at U of A!

🔗 https://bit.ly/465FgiR

06/09/2025

Happy Monday! Meet our Associate Director, Paul Valdez! Paul works closely with students pursuing non-profit ventures, offering guidance, resources, and support. If you're looking to explore or grow your non-profit idea, Paul is your go-to mentor!

Sign up on the Startup Wildcats Platform today to schedule a mentor meeting with Paul!

👉https://bit.ly/4dPvrb0

06/03/2025

Meet Yona Kleinerman and Jacob Diermayr, two of the three co-founders of Lynnapse! 🧪

Their startup bridges the gap between students, professors, and universities by connecting aspiring researchers with the right opportunities. The idea was born out of their time together in the Department of Surgery’s Lab for Fetal Regenerative Biology, and now, they’re making research easier for everyone. 🔬

05/30/2025

📰 We're keeping the newsletters coming all summer long! Stay updated with the latest student success stories, valuable entrepreneurial tips and tricks, and exciting upcoming events and opportunities.

Sign up now!🔗 https://bit.ly/4kyW9a1

05/26/2025

Exciting news for Zane Hasan!🎉

Zane, one of our dedicated student assistants, has been featured as a U of A Outstanding Student on KGUN 9 News. Now a finance and MIS grad, his impactful work at Startup Wildcats and his passion for entrepreneurship continue to inspire us all.

We can't wait to see the amazing things he will achieve in the future!

Read more:

The University of Arizona’s Commencement is this Friday, May 16. Ahead of that, we’re highlighting a few graduates who are getting ready to start their lives at the top of their field.

05/21/2025

Congratulations to Neha Gupta! 🎉

Neha Gupta, a Chandler grad, has overcome incredible challenges to earn her master's degree in business analytics from the University of Arizona.

She pitched at our first-ever Startup Night and won $250 to put towards her business, Playfection, which designs inclusive family entertainment centers. Neha's journey is truly inspiring, and we're so proud of her accomplishments!

Read more about her amazing story and her next chapter:

For a newly single mother supporting two teenage daughters, going back to school wasn't easy, but 46-year-old Gupta will graduate next week with a master's degree in business analytics.

05/16/2025

Big congrats to Natalie Rawlings for being featured in this article about her Recharge Room project! This innovative space in the Health Sciences Library will offer students VR experiences, ambient lighting, and more to help them unwind. 🔋

She won $2,950 at the last Startup Night, and we can’t wait to see the room come to life this fall! Check out the full story:

Being a college student can be overwhelming. Many students are away from home for the first time, learning how to be independent and manage their time. The new responsibility can be stressful. And some students don’t have great ways to cope, said Natalie Rawlings, a UA junior who is trying to tack...

05/13/2025

🎓 Celebrating graduating senior, Zane Hasan!

Zane left his mark on Startup Wildcats as a Student Assistant who brought fresh ideas, a kind spirit, and a strong work ethic to everything he did. We’ll be cheering him on as he takes his next step as an Associate Credit Analyst at the National Bank of Arizona.

Congrats, Zane! 👏

05/08/2025

What is a “happy accident” in entrepreneurship?

John Schmidt from Tech Launch Arizona and Startup Wildcats breaks it down and reminds us of the importance of networking anytime, anywhere. 🤝

05/01/2025

You might be subscribed to the Startup Wildcats newsletter, but do you get the Tech Launch Arizona newsletter? 📰

Check out the latest TLA newsletter for news on World IP Day, the launch of Aspiro Therapeutics out of UA Health Sciences, and more!

🔗 https://bit.ly/436RCFz

04/22/2025

Paul Valdez, our very own Associate Director of Student Ventures, has been honored with this year's prestigious University of Arizona Individual Award for Excellence. So cool and well-deserved! Thanks, Paul, for all you do for U of A students and the Startup Wildcats team.

🔗 Contact Paul if you'd like to chat about your ideas or venture: https://bit.ly/3Gmh4hv

04/16/2025

Last night, we awarded over $5,000 in milestone funding to student founders with big dreams! 🎉 Our final Startup Night of the spring semester was an inspiring evening filled with energy, innovation, and impact.

Congrats to Natalie Rawlings, Arfan Uddin, Cole Withers, Manglam Srivastav, and Becca Sanders for taking the stage and pitching with passion!

Thank you to everyone who came out to support, mentor, and cheer on our student founders. Startup Nights will be back in the fall, and we can’t wait to see what’s next! 📈🚀