Having a supportive ecosystem can make a world of difference for budding startups. While a good idea can go a long way in the business world, startups need funding, mentoring, and support throughout the growth of the company. And if you think they’re coming up with all that on their own, you haven’t seen a Startup Week in action.
This week at Phoenix Startup Week powered by Chase for Business, the beautiful desert city will play host to a bevy of startup founders, entrepreneurs, and local influencers in hopes of spurring innovation. Participants will be fortunate enough to enjoy a jammed packed schedule filled with informative talks, enlightening mentor sessions, and more startup knowledge than the average entrepreneur will be able to handle.
In addition, Chase Basecamp, the hub for activities at Phoenix Startup Week, will be held across five different locations this year:
- On Monday, Feb. 20th, the fun will take place at Galvanize.
- On Tuesday, Feb. 21st, you can find Startup Week activities at Grand Canyon University
- On Wednesday, Feb. 22nd, you’ll head over to the Arizona Science Center or the University of Arizona College of Medicine
- On Thursday, Feb. 23rd, you’ll want to check out The Quad
- You’ll round out your Startup Week activities on Friday, February 24th at the Arizona State University Tempe Memorial Union.
What a week! With such a full schedule, it can be hard to decide what you’re going to do. Fortunately, we’ve put together a comprehensive list of some of the hottest events of the week. Check them out below and get your schedule set for this incredible week of startup excitement:
Monday, February 20th – Keynote at Galvanize
The first keynote speech of Phoenix Startup Week will discuss how to build a fortune 500 company. Moderator Zach Ferres, CEO of Coplex, will sit down with Tim Crown, cofounder of Insight, and Mike Guggemos, CIO of Insight, to discuss Crown’s startup experiences and highlight essential technology lessons from Guggemos, which can help startups scale their businesses.
Afterwards, feel free to drop by Happy Hour at the hip downtown coworking space The Department to network and relax with those from your ecosystem.
Tuesday, February 21st – Sale or Scale?: Lessons from Entrepreneurs on the Decision to Sell or Scale Up
Join Jeff Katz, cofounder of Mercury Payment Systems, and Mitch Foster, cofounder of Excelsius Surgical, as they discuss how they wrestled with the issue of whether to sell or keep scaling up their companies. Included in this session will be lessons learned in the sale vs. scale decision and tips on overcoming obstacles associated with rapid growth. Michael Hool, founder of T minus 6 and managing partner at Hool Coury Law, will moderate this conversation.
Afterwards, make sure to stop by the Keynote at Grand Canyon University to see Ernie Garcia, the CEO of Carvana.
Wednesday, February 22nd – Street Pitch
Phoenix Startup Week is shutting down an entire DTPHX street so that 10 startups can compete for the chance to win a $50,000 investment in their business. This brand new PHX Startup Week event will see ten startups will present in front of a panel of judges with a rapid-fire 5 minute “Shark Tank” like pitch competition.
But before that, check out Build Up Your SaaS Organization, a talk hosted by Dan Tyre, the sales director of HubSpot, to learn actionable steps for SaaS sales.
Thursday, February 23rd – Keynote at The Quad
In this keynote chat, Michael Hool, founder of T Minus 6 and managing partner of Hool Coury Law, will have a fireside chat with Tim Draper, legendary venture capitalist and founder of Draper University, to share early funding stories, his vision for transforming entrepreneurial education, and his passion on building founders and their great companies. This session will be packed with inspiring content and wisdom for all entrepreneurs, not only about early-stage funding, but becoming successful in the entrepreneurial journey.
Afterwards, you can learn about the venture capital scene in the area with a fireside chat with local VCs. Prior to all that, be sure to head over to Bootstrapped Without Being Strapped to learn from entrepreneurs about successfully building a company on a shoestring.
Friday, February 24th – Keynote at Arizona State University Tempe Memorial Union
This talk will resonate with startup founders looking to amplify their brand. Kara Goldin, founder of San Francisco based HINT Inc., will take you through her personal story, the origin story of HINT, and share successes and challenges she encountered along the way.
Also, don’t forget to stop by Growing Up: How Tuft & Needle Scales While Maintaining Company Culture with Emily Gaxiola, Amy Lopez, Julie Salamone, Amber Scott, and moderator Steven Totten.
Phoenix Startup Week
If you’re interested in attending the Phoenix Startup Week festivities, check out this link to attend. You won’t want to miss out on all the entrepreneurial spirit flowing through this stunning Arizona city from February 20th to February 24th.
Photo: Flickr / Jerry Ferguson
This article is part of a Startup Week content series brought to you by CHASE for BUSINESS. Startup Week is celebration of entrepreneurs in cities around the globe. CHASE for BUSINESSis everything a business needs in one place, from expert advice to valuable products and services. Find business news, stories, insights and expert tips all in one place at Chase.com/forbusiness. Read the rest of our Startup Week series.