NAU Giving Day 2025

NAU Venture Studio is empowering the Next Generation of Innovators through the Lean Startup Semester Series

At Northern Arizona University, we believe that innovation thrives at the intersection of knowledge, purpose, and action. The NAU Venture Studio is the engine driving this belief forward—an immersive, hands-on environment where students don’t just learn about entrepreneurship—they live it.

Our Lean Startup Semester Series is a transformative, semester-long experience that gives students the tools, mentorship, and resources to tackle complex challenges and launch mission-driven ventures. These are not simulations or case studies—these are real-world projects grounded in human-centered design and entrepreneurial action.

The Opportunity

Through the Lean Startup Semester Series, students move through a structured arc of:

Problem Discovery & Validation

Customer and Stakeholder Interviews

Rapid Prototyping and MVP Development

Testing, Iteration, and Launch

Demo Day and Real-World Implementation

Each project team is supported by experienced mentors, industry experts, and faculty leaders, and guided by proven methodologies from the Lean Startup movement. Every milestone in the journey is an opportunity for students to grow their confidence, apply their learning, and create real-world impact.  None of this is possible without YOUR support!

Your Impact

Your gift directly fuels student innovation by supporting:

Student Fellowships so students can commit time to their projects without financial strain.

Field Research Travel to conduct stakeholder interviews and test ideas in real-world settings.

Prototyping and Tech Tools to rapidly design, test, and refine solutions.

Mentorship & Workshops that bring in world-class entrepreneurs, founders, and community leaders.

Demo Day Showcases that provide visibility, validation, and the potential for follow-on support.

This is more than project funding. It’s an investment in a student’s sense of agency, in their capacity to lead, and in their ability to shape a future filled with purpose and innovation.

Why Now

As we expand the Venture Studio and launch the next wave of student-led initiatives in affordable housing, rural healthcare, workforce development, and beyond—your support ensures that every student with a bold idea has a platform, a team, and a path to launch.

NAU President José Luis Cruz Rivera has committed matching funds for sponsored student projects—doubling the impact of your investment TODAY!

Join Us

We invite you to be part of this extraordinary journey. When you support the Lean Startup Semester Series, you're not just funding student projects—you’re igniting the entrepreneurial spirit that will define the next generation of leaders in Arizona and beyond.

Let’s make NAU a hub for purposeful innovation—together!