Sponsored by Legacy Sponsor: The City of Phoenix
This summer at Venture Café Phoenix, we’re inviting you to go on a journey with us, into the real, unfiltered stories of entrepreneurship.
Launching June 25th and running weekly through September 3rd, our Founder Journeys Summer Series will feature a different founder from our community each week in an intimate fireside chat format, moderated by the Venture Café Phoenix team.
Together, we’ll explore how they got started, the challenges they’ve faced, where they found funding, and what they’re building next. But beyond the startup story, we’ll go deeper, into the role community has played in shaping their path.
We’ll ask founders how engaging with Venture Café has impacted their journey, where they are today because of those connections, and what support has mattered most along the way. And just as importantly, we’ll explore how they want to give back, how they can support the broader ecosystem as it continues to grow.
This series is designed to be a two-way conversation between founders and community: learning from those building in real time, and strengthening the network that helps them (and all of us) move forward together.
Sponsored by: Extraordinary Network
In Partnership with Club Lumen and The Morning Rave™
Sponsored by Legacy Sponsor:
This LEGO® Serious Play® workshop is designed for business leaders seeking innovative decision-making approaches through hands-on building and storytelling. The neuroscience-based method combines analytical thinking with intuition, using 3D models and metaphors to help participants discover authentic solutions during pivotal organizational moments. You'll build models representing your challenges, share stories through your creations, and connect with fellow participants in new ways. This immersive experience unlocks innovation and hidden insights by tapping into knowledge you didn't know you had. No special skills required—just bring curiosity and experience how simple bricks can unlock extraordinary ideas through serious fun.
How do humans, systems, and capital localize in Arizona to enable building for billions backed by Venture Capital? Join Seann Richardson and Eric Eskey for an authentic and candid conversation about what’s working, what’s not, and where the massive emerging opportunity exists for founders and investors in Arizona.
In Partnership with Evolution Accelerator and Ascentria Search Partners
Arrive early for your chance to connect with Evita Montore, Founder of Luvion Media. These mentor hours will focus on branding, paid media & systems automation for founders.
Mentor Hours meetings begin at 4:30pm and run in 15-minute slots.
Please note: Mentor Hours are first come first served and must be done on-site at the event. A sign-up sheet will be located at the room where the mentor is stationed, so be sure to stop by early to secure your spot.
In partnership with Resolution Resource Group
Arrive early for your chance to connect with Jamme Alexander-Collins, Founder and CEO of Engineering Women. These hours will focus on answering your questions around drones including rules, regulations and your path to becoming an FAAA Part 107 Pilot.
Mentor Hours meetings begin at 4:30pm and run in 15-minute slots
Please note: Mentor Hours are first come first served and must be done on-site at the event. A sign-up sheet will be located at the room where the mentor is stationed, so be sure to stop by early to secure your spot.
In partnership with Resolution Resource Group
Join us in the lobby as FBK, a local guest DJ with a variety of sounds, curates the music experience for the Venture Café Phoenix community.
Sponsored by: Lumen Artists (Club Lumen)
Join us for some light bites, provided by JP's Catering
Please help us provide much-needed school supplies to the students at the Phoenix Bioscience Highschool. The following items are in needed:
Items can be dropped off at Venture Café Phoenix registration between 4:30-7pm on Thursday, August 6th.
Kicking off Venture Café Phoenix's 200th Gathering Celebration is one of our own, independent singer-songwriter Shawn Sinohui. A longtime member of the Venture Café Phoenix community, Shawn's music reflects his passion for storytelling, connection, and authentic expression.
Shawn's family name comes from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, honoring his mother's maiden name and the rich heritage it represents. Born in Los Angeles and now based in Phoenix, Shawn has become known for his heartfelt songwriting and engaging live performances that blend indie influences with genuine emotion.
To help us celebrate this incredible milestone, Shawn will open the evening with a special live performance, setting the tone for a night dedicated to 200 Gatherings of innovation, community, and meaningful connections. Join us as we celebrate our past, present, and future with music from one of the talented artists who makes our Venture Café community so special.
Join Kaitlyn Fitzgerald, Founder of Majic Branding, for an engaging conversation on the power of authentic storytelling, strategic branding, and building businesses that resonate with customers. As an entrepreneur and creative leader, Kaitlyn has helped companies transform their identities, clarify their messaging, and create brands that inspire trust and lasting connections.
This fireside chat explores what it takes to stand out in a crowded marketplace, from developing a compelling brand strategy to fostering meaningful customer relationships and sustainable growth. Hear insights on entrepreneurship, creative problem-solving, and how intentional branding can become one of a company's greatest competitive advantages.
Every business has issues. Every business leader has issues. Let’s get together and collectively solve them. Join EOS Implementer Rick Benton for a productive hour of solving your issues using a proven process to identify the real root of the challenge, discuss solutions without judgement, and creating actionable solutions to make the issue go away for ever. Come with an issue, help your peers find the right path forward, and leave with a breakthrough.
Joey Palomarez, founder of JP's Catering, The Spaghetti Shack, and Tita's Tacos, for an inspiring conversation on building a hospitality business rooted in quality, community, and relentless execution. A second-generation restaurateur, Joey has transformed his passion for food into a growing portfolio of brands that serve everything from neighborhood diners to major corporate events, proving that great businesses are built one satisfied customer at a time.
This fireside chat explores what it takes to grow from a single concept into a multi-brand food business while staying true to your mission and your customers. Joey will share lessons on identifying market opportunities, scaling operations, creating memorable guest experiences, and building systems that allow multiple brands to thrive under one vision. He'll also discuss the power of community partnerships, the realities of entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry, and why serving people goes far beyond the meal itself. Whether you're launching your first venture, growing a consumer brand, or looking to scale a service-based business, you'll leave with practical insights on turning passion into a sustainable, purpose-driven enterprise.
Sponsored by Legacy Sponsor: The City of Phoenix
This summer at Venture Café Phoenix, we’re inviting you to go on a journey with us, into the real, unfiltered stories of entrepreneurship.
Launching June 25th and running weekly through September 3rd, our Founder Journeys Summer Series will feature a different founder from our community each week in an intimate fireside chat format, moderated by the Venture Café Phoenix team.
Together, we’ll explore how they got started, the challenges they’ve faced, where they found funding, and what they’re building next. But beyond the startup story, we’ll go deeper, into the role community has played in shaping their path.
We’ll ask founders how engaging with Venture Café has impacted their journey, where they are today because of those connections, and what support has mattered most along the way. And just as importantly, we’ll explore how they want to give back, how they can support the broader ecosystem as it continues to grow.
This series is designed to be a two-way conversation between founders and community: learning from those building in real time, and strengthening the network that helps them (and all of us) move forward together.
Sponsored by: Extraordinary Network
In Partnership with Club Lumen and The Morning Rave™
Sponsored by Legacy Sponsor:
This LEGO® Serious Play® workshop is designed for business leaders seeking innovative decision-making approaches through hands-on building and storytelling. The neuroscience-based method combines analytical thinking with intuition, using 3D models and metaphors to help participants discover authentic solutions during pivotal organizational moments. You'll build models representing your challenges, share stories through your creations, and connect with fellow participants in new ways. This immersive experience unlocks innovation and hidden insights by tapping into knowledge you didn't know you had. No special skills required—just bring curiosity and experience how simple bricks can unlock extraordinary ideas through serious fun.
How do humans, systems, and capital localize in Arizona to enable building for billions backed by Venture Capital? Join Seann Richardson and Eric Eskey for an authentic and candid conversation about what’s working, what’s not, and where the massive emerging opportunity exists for founders and investors in Arizona.
In Partnership with Evolution Accelerator and Ascentria Search Partners
Arrive early for your chance to connect with Evita Montore, Founder of Luvion Media. These mentor hours will focus on branding, paid media & systems automation for founders.
Mentor Hours meetings begin at 4:30pm and run in 15-minute slots.
Please note: Mentor Hours are first come first served and must be done on-site at the event. A sign-up sheet will be located at the room where the mentor is stationed, so be sure to stop by early to secure your spot.
In partnership with Resolution Resource Group
Arrive early for your chance to connect with Jamme Alexander-Collins, Founder and CEO of Engineering Women. These hours will focus on answering your questions around drones including rules, regulations and your path to becoming an FAAA Part 107 Pilot.
Mentor Hours meetings begin at 4:30pm and run in 15-minute slots
Please note: Mentor Hours are first come first served and must be done on-site at the event. A sign-up sheet will be located at the room where the mentor is stationed, so be sure to stop by early to secure your spot.
In partnership with Resolution Resource Group
Join us in the lobby as FBK, a local guest DJ with a variety of sounds, curates the music experience for the Venture Café Phoenix community.
Sponsored by: Lumen Artists (Club Lumen)
Join us for some light bites, provided by JP's Catering
Please help us provide much-needed school supplies to the students at the Phoenix Bioscience Highschool. The following items are in needed:
Items can be dropped off at Venture Café Phoenix registration between 4:30-7pm on Thursday, August 6th.
Kicking off Venture Café Phoenix's 200th Gathering Celebration is one of our own, independent singer-songwriter Shawn Sinohui. A longtime member of the Venture Café Phoenix community, Shawn's music reflects his passion for storytelling, connection, and authentic expression.
Shawn's family name comes from the Pascua Yaqui Tribe of Arizona, honoring his mother's maiden name and the rich heritage it represents. Born in Los Angeles and now based in Phoenix, Shawn has become known for his heartfelt songwriting and engaging live performances that blend indie influences with genuine emotion.
To help us celebrate this incredible milestone, Shawn will open the evening with a special live performance, setting the tone for a night dedicated to 200 Gatherings of innovation, community, and meaningful connections. Join us as we celebrate our past, present, and future with music from one of the talented artists who makes our Venture Café community so special.
Join Kaitlyn Fitzgerald, Founder of Majic Branding, for an engaging conversation on the power of authentic storytelling, strategic branding, and building businesses that resonate with customers. As an entrepreneur and creative leader, Kaitlyn has helped companies transform their identities, clarify their messaging, and create brands that inspire trust and lasting connections.
This fireside chat explores what it takes to stand out in a crowded marketplace, from developing a compelling brand strategy to fostering meaningful customer relationships and sustainable growth. Hear insights on entrepreneurship, creative problem-solving, and how intentional branding can become one of a company's greatest competitive advantages.
Every business has issues. Every business leader has issues. Let’s get together and collectively solve them. Join EOS Implementer Rick Benton for a productive hour of solving your issues using a proven process to identify the real root of the challenge, discuss solutions without judgement, and creating actionable solutions to make the issue go away for ever. Come with an issue, help your peers find the right path forward, and leave with a breakthrough.
Joey Palomarez, founder of JP's Catering, The Spaghetti Shack, and Tita's Tacos, for an inspiring conversation on building a hospitality business rooted in quality, community, and relentless execution. A second-generation restaurateur, Joey has transformed his passion for food into a growing portfolio of brands that serve everything from neighborhood diners to major corporate events, proving that great businesses are built one satisfied customer at a time.
This fireside chat explores what it takes to grow from a single concept into a multi-brand food business while staying true to your mission and your customers. Joey will share lessons on identifying market opportunities, scaling operations, creating memorable guest experiences, and building systems that allow multiple brands to thrive under one vision. He'll also discuss the power of community partnerships, the realities of entrepreneurship in the hospitality industry, and why serving people goes far beyond the meal itself. Whether you're launching your first venture, growing a consumer brand, or looking to scale a service-based business, you'll leave with practical insights on turning passion into a sustainable, purpose-driven enterprise.