Aerospace and Defense Future48 Workforce Accelerator Announcement

Arizona’s latest #Future48 Workforce Accelerator will fast track students for high-quality careers in the the state’s booming Aerospace and Defense sector. @chandlergilbertcc maricopacolleges https://www.instagram.com/p/DHZMUqfBZu2

Plug and Play accelerateAZ Aerospace Innovation Day showcased Arizona’s growing A&D industry and featured pitches from exciting aerospace startups! @Plugandplaytc, #BlackStarOrbital, Lundasonde, FreeFall Aerospace, ParamiumTech, #ColliMateSpace, #getmaxspace https://www.instagram.com/p/DHY9dkkJAiS

AI is evolving beyond passive tools into intelligent agents that can reason, plan, and act independently. Join us this Thursday for our AI Workshop Series where Danny Robles and David Bess will provide a foundational understanding of Agentic AI—what it is, how it works, and how it can drive efficiency and innovation in your business. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHY76fOS-zc

Join us this Thursday for the next CleanTech & Sustainability Night at Venture Café Phoenix with Lynne Nethken and Manas Pathak! This session, Meeting Energy Demand: Technology + Finance, will explore how advancements in energy generation and energy storage are shaping the future of power supply, while also examining the critical role of finance in driving investment and deployment. As energy demand rises across Arizona and the Southwest, this discussion will bring together industry experts, investors, and innovators to examine the challenges and opportunities in scaling clean energy solutions. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHY2jOjpsoQ

This Thursday, join Atlas Handcrafted founder Logan Glennie as he shares his journey of launching a fashion show and shares his mission to foster a thriving creative community. Learn how Atlas is connecting designers, makers, and fashion enthusiasts through curated events that celebrate craftsmanship and innovation. This session will explore their vision for the future of fashion in Phoenix and how you can get involved in shaping the local industry. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHWiIgRzoHC

This Thursday, we sit down for an intimate fireside chat with a successful designers, Jayce Candrea and Logan Glennie as they share their journey from concept to runway. Hear firsthand about the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned in building a fashion brand, along with insights into the evolving industry landscape. Whether you're an aspiring designer or a fashion enthusiast, this conversation will offer inspiration, wisdom, and a deeper look at the creative process behind design success. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHUJEVbTCRe

Join us this Thursday for an engaging panel discussion featuring the designers from our networking showcase. Hear their perspectives on creativity, craftsmanship, and the realities of building a fashion brand in today’s industry. From sourcing materials to finding inspiration and overcoming challenges, this interactive Q&A is your chance to ask questions and gain insider insights from the minds shaping the future of fashion. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHT8zRMS4eA

TechFocus Member Spotlight is back for 2025! Kicking off this season, we’re featuring Mary Darling, CEO of @darlinggeomatics, as she shares insights on leadership, innovation and the exciting world of geospatial tech. 🌍✨ Shoutout to our new show sponsor @padtinc and host @emillerphx for bringing fresh energy to the series! 🎧 Listen now: Link in Bio! #TechFocus #AZTechCouncil #Innovation #GeospatialTech https://www.instagram.com/p/DHTvlKZPSAo

March 2025 Community Roundtable Conversation

Last night we brought together entrepreneurs, creatives, and branding experts to explore the power of events and digital media for growing a business. Here’s what went down: Women Entrepreneur Network - Using Events to Scale Your Business: Venture Café's own Event and Experience Director, Alex Koupal, shared game-changing insights on leveraging events to grow your brand. From choosing the right gatherings to maximizing networking opportunities, attendees walked away with actionable strategies to turn every event into a lead-generating powerhouse. Navigating the Waters of Digital Branding: Juan Montoya, Sheila Castillo, Melissa Farley, and Stephanie Arbaugh helped attendees sail through the complexities of digital branding, offering guidance on finding the right platforms and strategies to make a lasting impact. No more drifting—just clear direction toward personal brand success! Think Before You Film: 5 Steps for Video Success: Thomas Machowicz broke down the five must-ask questions before hitting record. Attendees left with a solid blueprint for creating compelling, results-driven video content. 1:1 Mentor Hours with Business Law Expert Brian J. Burt: Entrepreneurs had the opportunity to get direct legal insights on business structure, contracts, and more—valuable advice for any growing brand! A huge thank you to all our speakers, attendees, and mentors for making this event a success! 🙌 If you joined us, drop your biggest takeaway in the comments below. ⬇️ https://www.instagram.com/p/DHL47B6paKe

At a recent ceremony, @csrdatasu honored Matthew Earl Jones, Director of Film and Digital Media at the ACA, as a 2025 Architect of Change honoree. Matthew is an accomplished director, producer, entrepreneur, and more. Congratulations, Matthew! #filmanddigital #ASU #Arizona #Arizonacommerceauthority #CSRD #Award #architectofchange https://www.instagram.com/p/DHJdNWdON_T

JOBS ANNOUNCEMENT🔋Eternity Technologies will establish its North American HQ and battery manufacturing facility in Phoenix, creating 50 new jobs! #Arizona #Eternitytechnologies #Battery #Announcement #Businessdevelopment #Economy #economicgrowth #Newjobs #manufacturing #Phoenix https://www.instagram.com/p/DHJb1-ROd8Z

🎤 Announcing our Opening Keynote Speaker for TechFusion! We’re excited to welcome Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes (@azsecretary) to the stage on March 25. In 2024, he brought together experts to address the growing role of AI in election security—now, he’s bringing those insights to TechFusion! 🔥 You won’t want to miss this! Secure your spot today at the link in bio! #TechFusion #AI #Cybersecurity #AZTechCouncil #TechConference https://www.instagram.com/p/DHG_birSAnO

12 News: Sandra Watson on Arizona becoming the epicenter of North America

Join us at Venture Café Phoenix on March 13th from 4:30-5:30 PM for an inspiring session with @alexkoupal a seasoned event strategist and community builder. In "Using Events to Grow Your Business," Alex will share expert insights on how to leverage events—whether trade shows, retreats, or networking meetups—to elevate your brand, expand your network, and drive business growth. With her experience leading global trade shows, high-impact retreats, and the weekly Venture Café networking events, Alex knows how to turn an event into a powerful business tool. Don't miss this opportunity to gain practical strategies and insider tips! Where: Venture Café Phoenix When: Thursday, March 13 | 4:30-5:30 PM Come ready to learn, connect, and grow! See you there! #Entrepreneurship #BusinessGrowth #Networking #EventsThatMatter #WomenEntrepreneurs #VentureCafePhoenix https://www.instagram.com/p/DHGyCZBODWK

Small Business Boot Camp Session 357 - Identifying The Target Market

📣@startup_az applications open for the next cohort! Join an incredibly supportive community as you take your startup to the next level. 🌵🚀Link to apply in stories. ➡️ ### **Selection Criteria** We look for the following characteristics in a founder and their startup: **Growth Mindset** - We like lifestyle businesses but it is a different experience when you’re doubling or tripling in size every year. Having a high-growth company building mindset is key. **Business Model** - We look for scalable business models - SaaS, Tech enabled services, Large-market CPG, Large market DTC - Sector agnostic **Traction & Validation** - We like the startup to be in revenue at or approaching $500,000/ARR but have accepted founders who are earlier. **Product Market Fit** - Finding PMF is a variable KPI but we expect to see some clarity on what the path looks like for your company. **Funding Characteristics** - While we like bootstrapped startups with meaningful traction, we look for venture quality startups even if the company has not taken institutional capital. - In terms of funding rounds, we typically select founders just before or right after closing their Seed round. Many founders stay engaged through their Series B. **Authentic & Vulnerable** - The humanness in company builders is the hardest thing to measure but perhaps the most important trait to giving and getting the most value out of the experience. **Committed** - Your time is your most valuable commodity. We respect yours and expect you to respect others. #startups #phx #founder #tech #yesphx https://www.instagram.com/p/DHERJpMJ5Dm

Building your brand in the vastness of the digital marketplace can have you feeling like a sailboat left out to sea. Hoping to catch the right current isn’t a plan optimized for success. Receiving guidance from experienced wayfarers is akin to having your sails adjusted to capitalize on the ever-changing winds, but how do you know where to port? Juan Montoya, Sheila Castillo, Melissa Farley, and Stephanie Arbaugh will help you navigate past well-meaning lighthouses towards those ports essential to your personal brand. Embark on your quest, now. Come sail with us. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHEDhMXuXuW

Before hitting record, you need a clear strategy to ensure your business video is effective. This Thursday Thomas Machowicz will cover the five essential questions that will shape your message, engage your audience, and drive results. Whether you're creating a promo, testimonial, or brand story, thinking before you film will set you up for success. You'll leave with five simple questions to answer before creating your next video, giving you a solid foundation for compelling content. https://www.instagram.com/p/DHBkU-jOCMA

Pumped to be representing #Arizona at SXSW! I’d love to connect with #startups and #Investors interested in our state. Our goals: 1: Support startups raise 1 Billion 10: Cultivate 10 Unicorns 100: Relocate 100 Startups to AZ Interested in learn more about these goals and how Arizona is the best place for growing innovation, let’s chat! Arizona Commerce Authority #yesphx https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7304236412877320193

🎉 Happy International Women’s Day! 💜 At the Arizona Technology Council, we’re proud to recognize the brilliant, bold and inspiring women who make an impact every day! From leadership and membership growth to operations and marketing, their contributions shape the future of Arizona’s tech ecosystem. 👏 Angelica Espinoza – Bookkeeper 👏 Leslie Marquez – Director, Marketing + Communications 👏 Karla Morales – VP, Southern Arizona Regional Office 👏 Jamie Neilson – Director of Operations + Events, Southern Arizona Regional Office 👏 Diana White – Chief of Staff 👏 Deborah Zack – VP, Membership Services Tag a woman who’s making waves in tech! 🌊✨ #IWD #WomenInTech #AZTechCouncil https://www.instagram.com/p/DG8kDNzPGQm

Last night, we tackled the incoming Workforce Tsunami head-on with an incredible lineup of sessions exploring the intersection of AI and workforce transformation! We kicked off with our AI workshop series where Danny Robles gave a deep dive into the AI revolution—unpacking Generative AI, LLMs, and the rise of AI Agents. Attendees walked away with a clearer understanding of AI solutions and how to leverage them effectively. Then we had our Workforce Tsunami – Navigating the Shift. Our expert panel Frank Riggs, Ana Tomboulian and Brady Edwards, moderated by Mike Groeger, explored how an aging workforce, rising healthcare costs, and evolving hiring strategies are reshaping the job market. We finished the night with The Future of Workforce Development & AI session where Aaron Bare, Cailean B., Sherry Kotvis, MS, CAIO, and Gayle Bass discussed how AI is transforming hiring, and what that means for reskilling and workforce planning—and how you can embrace the AI revolution. And we cant forget about our 1:1 mentor hours; Brian J. Burt provided personalized legal insights for entrepreneurs and Tara Bethell provided personalised advice on Recruiting & Interviewing in the Age and how to navigate the new AI market. A huge thank you to @bcbsaz for sponsoring the night in partnership with Arizona Technology Council. Also a big thank you to our speakers, mentors, and engaged attendees for making this event a success! https://www.instagram.com/p/DG5_0QdPlWV

Another standing-room-only FemTech AZ event in #Phoenix and more powerful dialogue on why women's health innovation matters (surprise! it's a trillion $ opportunity). It was a blast moderating a conversation with Brittany Barreto, Ph.D. (author of Unlocking Women's Health) and Melissa Herbst-Kralovetz (researcher and entrepreneur in women's health, vaginal microbiome) - blowing all of our minds on exciting new scientific discoveries and innovation. If you you don't feel up to speed on the opportunity that exists in FemTech, join us at a future event. Sign up for updates: femtechaz.com Mitzi Krockover, MD https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7303803201475006465

Small Business Boot Camp Session 356 - The 2025 Social Media Distribution Roadmap