PHX Startup Week is returning to an in-person event this year after it was held in a hybrid format in 2022.
The event, consisting of five days with speakers, panel discussions and happy hours, kicks off April 24 with opening remarks from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs. It will be held at ASU 365 Community Union, 500 E. Veterans Way in Tempe.
“We are very excited to be fully back in person,” said Kate Rogers Sieker, executive director of PHX Startup Week.
This year, each day of the event will focus on specific topics, including sustainability, mentorship, advanced technology, health and medical technology and software-as-a-service.
Panel participants include best-selling authors, founders and executives from Waymo, Nxu Inc. — formerly Atlis Motor Vehicles — Plug and Play Tech Center, ListenUp, JamPad, Navi Nurses, OnePointOne and many more.
PHX Startup Week is organized by a group of volunteers. This year, the event is expected to draw between 300-500 attendees, Rogers Sieker said.
“The special part about PHX Startup Week is it has been running for nine years and it’s run by all volunteers," she said. "Every year, it looks and feels a little bit different because it’s a different crew."
Last year, the event was held in-person and virtually with events streaming online for remote audiences.
Because of the event’s longstanding presence in the startup community, there’s been somewhat of an evolution of attendees. Some may have attended the event several years ago to showcase their companies and oversee venture capital funds following successful business exits, Rogers Sieker said.
“It’s just an act of love and it's for the community by the community, so there’s a special vibe in the air because of that,” she said of PHX Startup Week.
An all-week pass costs $100 and in-person tickets cost $28 per day. Click here for more information.
“It’s a great event for networking,” Rogers Sieker said. “If people have moved here from other locations, it’s a great way to get connected and really experience our community.”
