Building a strong future for innovation and entrepreneurship in Flagstaff
The Steve Sanghi College of Engineering recently hosted an Innovation and Entrepreneurship workshop, bringing together leaders from across the university and the Flagstaff community to tackle a pressing challenge: how to make Flagstaff a more welcoming environment for start-ups, patents, and entrepreneurial growth.
While NAU graduates bring energy, creativity, and technical expertise to the workforce, many find it difficult to build new ventures locally. The workshop served as a forum for key stakeholders to unite around the shared vision of strengthening Flagstaff’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, ensuring that students and innovators alike have the resources, support, and opportunities they need to thrive right here in northern Arizona.
Scott Hathcock, President and CEO of Moonshot, described the event as a critical step in setting the foundation for lasting progress. “The recent Innovation and Entrepreneurship conversation reinforced that we’re at an exciting foundational stage—a pivotal building year,” he said. “This presents a tremendous opportunity to establish robust processes, develop strategic pathways, and create frameworks that will effectively serve Flagstaff, NAU, and our broader community’s economic development goals.”
For the City of Flagstaff, the workshop also underscored the power of collaboration. Heidi Hansen, Economic Vitality Director, noted how meaningful it was to gather so many organizations in one space. “I feel there is now a new momentum on how what we all do plays a role in our community and how imperative it is that we keep going,” she said. “I also hope to grow this sector so that many more will want to take their idea from incubation to acceleration to commercial space, helping us grow our workforce.”
For NAU, this initiative reflects a long-term commitment to supporting students beyond the classroom. Charles Chadwell, dean of the Sanghi College of Engineering, emphasized that the university’s role is to help students see a future for themselves in Flagstaff. “We must create a pathway forward to build and sustain businesses in our community so our amazing students can stay here after graduation and contribute to a thriving local economy,” he said.
The workshop was not an end but a beginning. With the support of NAU, Moonshot, the City of Flagstaff, and many other partners, there is now a collective drive to turn dialogue into action—cultivating an environment where innovation can flourish, entrepreneurs feel empowered, and graduates envision Flagstaff as the place to launch their future.
Feeling inspired and want to get involved with this initiative? Send us an email at SCE@nau.edu to get started.