PHOENIX, AZ (April 23, 2026) – It’s been an action-packed April for Arizona, marked by the inaugural Arizona Tech Week and, soon after, the state’s first time hosting the Forbes Under 30 Summit in Phoenix. Together, these milestones highlight Arizona’s accelerating momentum and underscore the strength of its growing tech ecosystem. 

 

The first-ever Arizona Tech Week, which was powered by the Arizona Commerce Authority, made a record-setting debut, drawing more than 18,000 attendees to 419 events across the state and becoming the largest inaugural tech week ever held in the United States and internationally. 

 

Communities across Arizona hosted events during the weeklong celebration, underscoring the scale and momentum of the state’s fast-growing technology sector. From Tucson to Flagstaff, Yuma to Sedona, Prescott to Avondale, Miami, Phoenix, Payson, Mesa, Chandler and more – 29 communities across the state hosted events for Arizona Tech Week - highlighting the strength and diversity of Arizona’s innovation economy. 

 

The inaugural event attracted attendees from dozens of U.S. cities and countries around the world, offering a statewide showcase of Arizona’s expanding presence in emerging technologies, entrepreneurship and advanced industries. 

 

Arizona Tech Week by the numbers: 

• 419 events statewide
• 29 participating cities/towns
• 18,000+ attendees
• 39 states and 27 countries represented 

“Arizona Tech Week put the full strength of our tech ecosystem on display,” said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. “From startups to global industry leaders, the level of participation and energy across the state sent a clear message: Arizona is where bold ideas are met with big support. We’re grateful to our sponsors and proud to have partnered with organizations across Arizona to make this inaugural event such an overwhelming success.” 

Watch the Arizona Tech Week highlight video below:

 

 

Sponsored by Honeywell Aerospace, Idealab Arizona and Western Alliance Bank, Arizona Tech Week brought together startups, founders, investors, innovators, industry executives, and community leaders to share insights, make connections and discuss opportunities to advance Arizona’s technology and innovation ecosystem. The event was also organized in partnership with the Arizona Venture Alliance and organizations across the state.  

 

“Arizona Tech Week was an impressive showcase of the energy, talent and collaboration driving innovation across our state,” said Todd Giles, Chief Technology Officer, Honeywell Aerospace. “The week demonstrated the positive impact we can have by bringing all corners of the state’s tech ecosystem together with a shared purpose. Honeywell Aerospace was proud to participate as a Platinum Sponsor and to partner with the ACA and so many committed organizations to help make Arizona’s inaugural Tech Week such a success. The momentum is real, and it’s an exciting time to be building the future of technology and aerospace in Arizona.” 

 

“Our sponsorship of the inaugural Arizona Tech Week underscores our confidence in Arizona’s expanding innovation landscape. This week marks a milestone in the state’s growth, its increasing industry maturity, and the strategic investments that will shape its next decade,” said Jonathan Cohen, Co-Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, Idealab Arizona. 

 

“Arizona Tech Week was a strong signal of Arizona’s growing innovation economy, bringing together more than 400 events statewide,” said Tim Boothe, Chief Administration Officer at Western Alliance Bank. “As Arizona’s largest local bank, we’re committed to supporting Arizona’s businesses and economic growth, and we applaud the Arizona Commerce Authority and its partners for a successful inaugural Tech Week.” 

 

To help streamline the experience for event organizers, the ACA leveraged Partiful, a third-party software that offers event hosts a standardized RSVP management system, free of charge. The tool enables each event host to track, manage, and communicate with event attendees.   

  

View Arizona Tech Week b-roll HERE. 

 

WHAT ARIZONA VENTURE ALLIANCE MEMBERS ARE SAYING: 

 

“AZ Tech Week was a powerful week, full of tech events that will create a lasting impact due to the learning and connections it fostered. I’m certain we are just beginning to see the long-term impact of the inaugural AZ Tech Week, and I’m already looking forward to the 2nd annual AZ Tech Week!” - Clate Mask, CEO, PHX FWD 

 

“As an Arizona investor, Arizona Tech Week captures exactly what makes this state such a powerful place to build and back new companies. The energy across hundreds of events statewide shows just how quickly our innovation ecosystem is maturing. You can feel founders, industry leaders, and investors all pulling in the same direction- creating real momentum, real deal flow and real opportunities. Arizona Tech Week isn’t just a celebration of technology; it’s a clear signal that the future of technology is being shaped right here in Arizona, and investors like us are proud to be apart of that story.”  

- Brad Kotansky, Venture Partner, Copper Sky Capital 

 

“Arizona Tech Week was a defining moment for our ecosystem. The energy was palpable, driven by a surge of genuine Arizona tech pride that is finally matching the caliber of what we’re building here. Seeing world-class investors and brilliant founders converge on our city proved that Arizona is no longer a hidden gem—it’s a primary destination. This momentum is the driver we’ve been waiting for, turning collective energy into the sustained activity required to engineer the next decade of growth in the Arizona.”  

- Aaron Favreau, Executive Director, PHX Angels 

 

“As Arizona’s innovation ecosystem continues to accelerate, activating the entire state during Arizona Tech Week was critical. We’re grateful to the Arizona Commerce Authority for bringing together the people, ideas, and energy that make this possible. It’s not just about showcasing individual companies – it’s about demonstrating that Arizona is emerging as a true leader in technology and innovation on a national stage, driving momentum forward and ensuring this isn’t just a moment, but a movement.”   

- Drew Trojanowski, CEO of Southwest Mission Acceleration Center (SW MAC) 

 

“We’re watching Phoenix—and women’s health—move from emerging to arriving in real time. At Emmeline, we’re excited to be part of that momentum and to help define what this next chapter looks like.” – Azin Radsan van Alebeek, GP, Emmeline Ventures 

 

“Our inaugural year of Arizona Tech Week exceeded every expectation. Not only did we expand and activate our ecosystem, we also hosted a series of international clients that showcased Arizona’s growing strength and competitiveness in global markets.”  

- Scarlett Spring, Executive Director, Phoenix Bioscience Core 

 

“For years this ecosystem yearned for a marquee event. Arizona Tech Week delivered just that. The entrepreneurial energy, buzz, and excitement that swept over the state was palpable and really elevated the tech scene in Arizona to the next level. Plug and Play accelerateAZ is proud to have played a small role in making the inaugural Arizona Tech Week an undisputed success and we’re looking forward to getting started on AZTW27!” 

– Frederick Bohn, Senior Director, Supply Chain, Logistics & Advanced Manufacturing, Plug and Play 

 

“Today’s Arizona is an emerging tech-centric giant. Tech Week 2026 was a celebration and a spotlight on what we do, how we do, and where we do.”  - Charles Chadwell, PHD, Dean of Engineering, NAU

Media Contact

Alyssa Tufts, Arizona Commerce Authority, [email protected]

About the Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is the state's leading economic development organization with a streamlined mission to grow and strengthen Arizona's economy. The ACA uses a three-pronged approach to advance the overall economy: attract, expand, create - attract out-of-state companies to establish operations in Arizona; work with existing companies to expand their business in Arizona and beyond; and help entrepreneurs create new Arizona businesses in targeted industries. For more information, please visit azcommerce.com and follow the ACA on X @azcommerce.