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™
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.
In Partnership with Evolution Accelerator
Arrive early for your change 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: AZCollab
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.
Phoenix ENRG (Entrepreneurial Network Resource Group) is part of a national community built on a “Help First” mindset, bringing entrepreneurs, visionaries, and integrators together to collaborate, grow, and support one another. Participation is always free and values driven.
Join EOS Implementer Rick Benton, on the first Thursday of the month for a 75-minute session with other business leaders who want to solve real issues, learn practical tools, and walk out with action oriented solutions. The focus is simple tools and habits that help you run your business with more clarity, focus, and the chance to reclaim your time.
Bring your biggest business challenges. As a group we will collectively find the root cause, work through possible solutions, and create an actionable to-do that you can walk out with.
Objective:
To solve participants most pressing business issues
To network and meet new people
To have fun while doing so
Phoenix ENRG (Entrepreneurial Network Resource Group) is part of a national community built on a “Help First” mindset, bringing entrepreneurs, visionaries, and integrators together to collaborate, grow, and support one another. Participation is always free and values driven.
Join EOS Implementer Rick Benton, on the first Thursday of the month for a 75-minute session with other business leaders who want to solve real issues, learn practical tools, and walk out with action oriented solutions. The focus is simple tools and habits that help you run your business with more clarity, focus, and the chance to reclaim your time.
Bring your biggest business challenges. As a group we will collectively find the root cause, work through possible solutions, and create an actionable to-do that you can walk out with.
Objective:
To solve participants most pressing business issues
To network and meet new people
To have fun while doing so
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.
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™
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.
In Partnership with Evolution Accelerator
Arrive early for your change 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: AZCollab
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.
Phoenix ENRG (Entrepreneurial Network Resource Group) is part of a national community built on a “Help First” mindset, bringing entrepreneurs, visionaries, and integrators together to collaborate, grow, and support one another. Participation is always free and values driven.
Join EOS Implementer Rick Benton, on the first Thursday of the month for a 75-minute session with other business leaders who want to solve real issues, learn practical tools, and walk out with action oriented solutions. The focus is simple tools and habits that help you run your business with more clarity, focus, and the chance to reclaim your time.
Bring your biggest business challenges. As a group we will collectively find the root cause, work through possible solutions, and create an actionable to-do that you can walk out with.
Objective:
To solve participants most pressing business issues
To network and meet new people
To have fun while doing so
Phoenix ENRG (Entrepreneurial Network Resource Group) is part of a national community built on a “Help First” mindset, bringing entrepreneurs, visionaries, and integrators together to collaborate, grow, and support one another. Participation is always free and values driven.
Join EOS Implementer Rick Benton, on the first Thursday of the month for a 75-minute session with other business leaders who want to solve real issues, learn practical tools, and walk out with action oriented solutions. The focus is simple tools and habits that help you run your business with more clarity, focus, and the chance to reclaim your time.
Bring your biggest business challenges. As a group we will collectively find the root cause, work through possible solutions, and create an actionable to-do that you can walk out with.
Objective:
To solve participants most pressing business issues
To network and meet new people
To have fun while doing so
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.