We are here to help entrepreneurs
during all stages of the journey!

Start by looking through our program list here to find the best fit for you, and if you are not sure where to start, reach out to an entrepreneurial fellow at UARF and we can help match you to the program/support that best suits your specifications. 

Starting Line

UARF's pre-accelerator program guides beginner entrepreneurs through a step-by-step process of turning an idea into a business concept by introducing them to customer discovery and the Business Model Canvas. Participants complete the 5-step process to elevate their startup and have an opportunity to win prizes to accelerate them to their business concept to market.

I-Corps

More than 150 entrepreneurial teams and 630 individual participants have completed UARF's 7-week I-Corps program, which focuses on using direct customer interactions to validate a business idea. I-Corps provides training, mentorship and accountability. I-Corps graduates have launched 72 new businesses to date. ​

ARCHAngels

As Akron’s premier platform for presenting new ventures, ARCHAngels brings together entrepreneurs, investors, service providers and students for quarterly events. Since 2005, ARCHAngels has presented more than 175 startups, which has raised $800 million in follow-on funding.

Startup Support

UARF provides more than 4,000 hours of direct startup support services each year, including advice and mentorship by former industry executives known as Senior Fellows, and tactical business and legal support by UARF staff and interns. UARF assists businesses throughout the region with a particular focus on its portfolio companies, which include UA spinouts and I-Corps Site graduates.