TLA Ambassador Program Established
Tech Launch Arizona Partners with Graduate Students
to Establish Region-wide TLA Ambassador Program
Tucson, Ariz. – New Tech Launch Arizona Ambassadors program encourages local commercialization activities with a primary focus on making staying in Tucson the top choice for UA graduates wishing to pursue career and entrepreneurial opportunities.
Over the last 18 months, Tech Launch Arizona (TLA) has worked to define and promote technology commercialization opportunities and programs at the University of Arizona. As the University of Arizona’s reputation in the region grows as a center for such activity, the local startup and tech communities are also developing programs and organizations that foster local business growth, as well as closer ties with the University.
The last leg of the economic growth formula emanating from UA resources is to focus on the unique needs and opportunities student inventors. The TLA Ambassador program will focus on delivering approachable, accessible, and predictable resources for entrepreneurially minded UA students.
TLA has formally partnered to launch the program concept, developed by two high-performing graduate professional students who have directly contributed to business and economic growth in the Tucson region. Zachary Brooks, Graduate Professional Student Body (GPSC) President and Dominique Villela, CEO of Injected Media(link is external) (A Technology Marketing Company), believe that all students can benefit from the changing culture in Tucson, and can benefit from involvement in start-up and technology growth opportunities — whether in new enterprises, existing companies, or community activities.
Villela has designed his career around technology marketing, with an interest in funding for new ventures. He says: “With the help of the Tech Launch Arizona, our goal is attainable — the goal to amplify marketing of existing student inventor, start-up, and tech growth programs and activities in Tucson and the University of Arizona. Sure, we want to encourage innovation, but we ultimately want to attract new dollars to Tucson and retain our outstanding graduates.”
“Student-centered dimensions of the innovative and entrepreneurial activities born at the University of Arizona are very much in need,” says Brooks, “Students need to be involved to promote local economic growth. A strong relationship between the Graduate and Professional Student Council and Tech Launch Arizona is ideal to make this happen.”
Tech Launch Arizona is fully committed to the new Ambassador program. The ability to attract the University’s high-performing students to careers in the region and be involved in technology company growth is a key component of long-term economic vibrancy and in recruiting top faculty and students to the institution.
About Tech Launch Arizona
The University of Arizona created Tech Launch Arizona to advance UA discoveries into intellectual property, inventions and technology. TLA represents a prioritization, restructuring and resource enhancement of the UA’s technology commercialization and industry-sponsored research efforts. TLA moves knowledge and inventions developed by students and faculty into the market, with the primary goal of unifying UA researchers and the business community to significantly enhance the impact of university research, technological innovation, and technology park assets. By 2020, the University of Arizona through Tech Launch Arizona aims to become a recognized national resource for its role in integrating UA-created knowledge into tangible economic and social benefit.
About the Graduate Professional Student Council (GPSC) at the University of Arizona
The Graduate Professional Student Council (GPSC) exists to promote the academic, economic, and social aims of the graduate and professional students of the University of Arizona. Its programming includes providing travel, research, and technological innovation support for all UA students, especially support for Tucson startups led by UA undergraduate and graduate students.
About Injected Media
Injected Media(link is external) (IM) is a technology marketing company deeply interested in pushing forward Tucson’s technology and start-up community. IM’s mission is to provide emerging technology with attractive design, branding, and market-appropriate coverage across all forms of media. Injected Media’s lead technologist and project manager, Dominique Villela, is both a technology product developer and a Graduate Research student in the College of Engineering at the University of Arizona. Partnered with a strong advisory board of CEOs, engineers, and scientists, Injected Media keenly understands the distinct marketing needs of entrepreneurs and technology product developers.