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
Powered by: Serpico AI Learning Center, Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation and Alimental Business
Arrive early to Venture Café Phoenix for your chance to connect with Robert Theobald, Senior Vice President of Small Business for the Arizona Commerce Authority . Come gain insights on all of the pgorams ACA can offer your business.
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.
Arrive early to Venture Café Phoenix for your chance to connect with Noree Scheu, Director of Venture Programs for the Arizona Commerce Authority . Come gain insights on Networking for Impact.
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 this session of Capital Raising 101, we will focus on the foundational legal documents and structures you need in place in order to successfully raise capital. We will review the different business structures that exist and which is ideal for raising capital for a startup, the core agreements that need to be in place to protect both your equity holders and your IP, and how these pieces form the foundation of your data room.
For the past 6 months, the Circular Earth team has been evaluating a model for new waste systems built with and for local businesses. We spoke to owners and managers to learn what they actually need, what’s in their way, and where the demand exists. Our research answered questions about Arizona retailers like:
What materials are businesses purchasing the most of, and from who?
What are the largest shared waste streams?
How can businesses work together to save money and create more effective waste infrastructure?
Come not just data- but a story of resources, resilience, and trust as we sat with business owners across the Valley.
Join David Baxter and Shannon Baxter for a candid conversation on building mission-driven companies at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and community impact. This fireside chat explores the real founder journey behind purpose-led ventures, from rethinking waste streams to creating circular systems that turn everyday materials into new opportunities.
Hear the lessons learned, pivots made, and partnerships formed while scaling ideas that challenge traditional industries and create measurable environmental impact. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, innovator, investor, or sustainability advocate, this conversation offers an inside look at what it takes to build companies designed for both business growth and long-term change.
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
Powered by: Serpico AI Learning Center, Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation and Alimental Business
Arrive early to Venture Café Phoenix for your chance to connect with Robert Theobald, Senior Vice President of Small Business for the Arizona Commerce Authority . Come gain insights on all of the pgorams ACA can offer your business.
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.
Arrive early to Venture Café Phoenix for your chance to connect with Noree Scheu, Director of Venture Programs for the Arizona Commerce Authority . Come gain insights on Networking for Impact.
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 this session of Capital Raising 101, we will focus on the foundational legal documents and structures you need in place in order to successfully raise capital. We will review the different business structures that exist and which is ideal for raising capital for a startup, the core agreements that need to be in place to protect both your equity holders and your IP, and how these pieces form the foundation of your data room.
For the past 6 months, the Circular Earth team has been evaluating a model for new waste systems built with and for local businesses. We spoke to owners and managers to learn what they actually need, what’s in their way, and where the demand exists. Our research answered questions about Arizona retailers like:
What materials are businesses purchasing the most of, and from who?
What are the largest shared waste streams?
How can businesses work together to save money and create more effective waste infrastructure?
Come not just data- but a story of resources, resilience, and trust as we sat with business owners across the Valley.
Join David Baxter and Shannon Baxter for a candid conversation on building mission-driven companies at the intersection of sustainability, innovation, and community impact. This fireside chat explores the real founder journey behind purpose-led ventures, from rethinking waste streams to creating circular systems that turn everyday materials into new opportunities.
Hear the lessons learned, pivots made, and partnerships formed while scaling ideas that challenge traditional industries and create measurable environmental impact. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, innovator, investor, or sustainability advocate, this conversation offers an inside look at what it takes to build companies designed for both business growth and long-term change.