University Of Alaska Center For Economic Development

What University Of Alaska Center For Economic Development does

The University of Alaska Center for Economic Development (UA CED) is a non-profit, university-affiliated applied research and technical assistance center operating within the University of Alaska system and based in Anchorage. It conducts applied economic research, delivers technical assistance to public and private stakeholders, and runs programs intended to stimulate Alaska's private-sector economy. Its primary constituents include Alaska legislators, tribal councils, state and federal agencies, and entrepreneurs across the state.

UA CED operates several named programs and produces recurring research deliverables. The Upstart Alpha program is an entrepreneurship accelerator for Alaska-based startups; AHIA (Alaska High-tech Angel Conference) is an annual angel investment conference delivered in partnership with the Alaska Small Business Development Center; Upstart Internships places students with Alaska-based employers; the ARCTIC Program is an applied research initiative focused on machine learning and AI for energy and decarbonization, funded by the Office of Naval Research; and Legislative Fact Sheets are district-level economic and demographic analyses produced for Alaska policymakers. The center also conducts bespoke economic studies such as a heat-pump deployment analysis and a nuclear microreactor feasibility study for use by Alaska energy and policy stakeholders. Leadership includes Nolan Klouda (Director and Economic Impact Analyst) and Gretchen Fauske (Associate Director, Programs and Operations).

UA CED's business model is grant-funded and non-commercial. Services and programs are offered to participants at no cost, and revenue is derived from federal, state, and institutional grants and contracts. Documented funding sources include the U.S. Economic Development Administration, the Office of Naval Research, the U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, the State of Alaska, and the University of Alaska. As a unit of the University of Alaska, UA CED does not generate productized revenue or sell goods; it functions as a public-good research and program delivery unit.

Name

University Of Alaska Center For Economic Development

Legal name

University of Alaska Center for Economic Development

Website

https://ua-ced.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The University of Alaska Center for Economic Development is a non-profit, grant-funded research and technical assistance unit within the University of Alaska system that delivers economic analysis, entrepreneurship programs, and applied energy research to Alaska legislators, agencies, tribal councils, and entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary funding from government grants including U.S. Economic Development Administration, Office of Naval Research, U.S. Department of Energy, Idaho National Laboratory, and State of Alaska Division of Economic Development
2. Technical Assistance Services: Customized economic development consulting services for clients including tribal councils, economic development corporations, and government agencies

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

UA CED is the University of Alaska's applied research and economic development arm, delivering cohort-based entrepreneurship accelerators, technical assistance, and policy-relevant research to Alaska's entrepreneurs, communities, tribal organizations, and government agencies. The center funds and supports programs such as Upstart Alpha, the Alaska Healthcare Innovation Accelerator (AHIA), and Upstart Internships, while also producing statewide economic analyses for legislative and community decision-making. Its work is primarily grant-funded by federal and state sources and focuses on building resilient regional economies across Alaska.

Product overview

The University of Alaska Center for Economic Development (UA CED) provides economic analysis, strategy, and development services primarily for the State of Alaska. The organization operates as a service-oriented entity rather than a technology product company. Its portfolio consists of programs (Alaska Healthcare Innovation Accelerator, Upstart Alpha Accelerator, Upstart Internships), research products (Legislative Fact Sheets, Heat Pump Deployment Analysis, Nuclear Microreactor Analysis), and advisory services (Technical Assistance, CEDS planning, Strategic Planning). The programs and services are interconnected, with accelerators feeding into the entrepreneurial ecosystem while research and technical assistance support both public policy and private sector economic development across Alaska.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Alaska Healthcare Innovation Accelerator (AHIA): Cohort-based program for Alaska healthcare innovators, presented by Alaska SBDC and UA CED
• Upstart Alpha Accelerator
• Upstart Internships

Products and services

• Upstart Alpha Accelerator
• Alaska Healthcare Innovation Accelerator (AHIA)
• Upstart Internships
• Technical Assistance Services
• Applied Economic Research
• Legislative Fact Sheets
• Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS)

Quantifiable outcome

• Heat pumps can reduce household natural gas use by approximately 24% compared to furnaces or boilers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Alaska SBDCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presenter of the Alaska Healthcare Innovation Accelerator (AHIA) program alongside UA CED
• Business Enterprise InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCED's parent organization providing organizational support and connections
• University of Alaska AnchoragecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHome institution for CED and base location for Upstart Alpha accelerator program
• Launch AlaskaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlaska startup ecosystem partner that Upstart Alpha cohort members intern with and learn from
• Idaho National LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on nuclear microreactor customer discovery analysis, supported by U.S. Department of Energy
• State of Alaska Division of Economic DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCED led research partnership to highlight and grow four emerging economic sectors: Outdoor Products, Aviation and Aerospace, Renewable Energy, and Boat and Ship Building
• Foraker GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on nonprofit sector research including gender pay gap analysis using Alaska Department of Labor data
• The Nave (Anchorage)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEvent venue for the Alaska Angel Conference organized by CED

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Foraker Group: Alaska-based nonprofit supporting the state's nonprofit and tribal sectors through capacity-building, research, and consulting. Existing research partner (e.g., nonprofit gender pay gap analysis) with directly overlapping Alaska nonprofit/community development focus.
• Alaska SBDC: Alaska Small Business Development Center network. Co-presents the AHIA program with UA CED and provides statewide no-cost business advising to Alaska entrepreneurs — directly overlapping customer base and service model.
• Launch Alaska: Alaska-focused startup accelerator and innovation fund. Closest direct peer: shares the same Alaska entrepreneur pipeline, refers cohort founders back and forth, and complements Upstart Alpha with later-stage capital.

Broad incumbents

• MIT Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship: University-embedded entrepreneurship center offering accelerators, mentorship, and venture support to students and alumni. The closest scaled analog to Upstart Alpha as a university-based entrepreneurship engine.
• University Economic Development Association (UEDA): Membership association of university-based economic development organizations. UA CED is exactly the type of institution UEDA aggregates; membership signals direct comparability of mission and structure.
• Kauffman Foundation (1 Million Cups): Foundation-driven program supporting local entrepreneurship through community events and founder education. UA CED explicitly hosts 1 Million Cups presentations, making it a programmatic peer in community-led entrepreneur activation.
• SCORE: National nonprofit providing free mentorship, workshops, and resources to small business owners. Operates at much greater scale than UA CED with the same free, federally-supported small business advisory model and overlapping entrepreneur audience.

Emerging players

• gener8tor: Operator of multiple cohort-based accelerators for early-stage startups. Comparable to Upstart Alpha in cohort structure, mentorship intensity, and free-to-participant model, though operates across many U.S. geographies.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AlaskaCED

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about University Of Alaska Center For Economic Development