In true Startup Champions Network(SCN) fashion we descended on Phoenix ready to learn and experience the Arizona ecosystem. Hosted by SCN Board member Jenny Poon and her two companies, Co+Hoots and Huub, this Summit brought us lessons in cultural collaboration, creative funding, and having a local first mindset. This Summit’s theme was Resilient Horizons: A Journey Towards Economic Agility and Intersectional Entrepreneurship
Here are a few highlights from #SCNPhoenix.
Placekeeping
We opened the Summit with an eye-opening and informative land acknowledgment from Anthony Thosh Collins, Board Member and Senior Trainer of the Native Wellness Institute. Thosh shared about the various Nations in Arizona and the history of the land. It was truly a gift to learn about the rich and diverse communities in the area and take back lessons on how to properly honor and appreciate Indigenous culture.
We heard from many Indigenous voices throughout the summit who shared their perspectives, experiences, and wisdom around community building, placemaking, placekeeping, and reclamation. The idea of placekeeping - the preservation of a place’s people, purpose, and meaning was reiterated throughout the summit as these lands and spaces were already established and then stripped from the native community.
Attendees who went on our walking tour got to visit Cahokia, the first Indigenous led space in the U.S., where Melody Lewis and her team placekeep for the Indigenous community to create, collaborate, and work together in the arts district in Phoenix.
We hope attendees take back all of the cultural knowledge they were bestowed by the Indigenous community, who is often left out of the picture. Indigenous people exist in every ecosystem. They’ve been cultivating community, creating sustainable models, and supporting their entrepreneurs for thousands of years. If we want true collaboration and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems, their voices, systems, and community stewardship need to be included.
Local first mindset
The Phoenix/Mesa ecosystem is fiercely supportive of local, small businesses. Summit sponsor Local First Arizona has been pivotal in leading the charge to ensure small businesses start, grow, and flourish - offering access and opportunity in multiple ways like retail and food business support initiatives, micro-loans, and other initiatives.
On our walking tour, we learned about the role of Local First but also ecosystem builders in fighting gentrification and corporate creep into the Arts & Innovation District - a district that was revitalized by artists originally who were then priced out of the neighborhood.
We were also honored to hear from the Mesa Mayor John Giles and learn about the progressive and supportive nature of the City of Mesa. Thank you, City of Mesa for sponsoring the summit. You can read more about their work supporting entrepreneurs here.
Ecosystem Builder Month
We’re also excited to have the first city proclaim the month of October as Ecosystem Builder Month! During our Tuesday Night Dinner with Locals, we were joined by a representative from the Mayor’s office to announce the proclamation. We’re so grateful for the City of Phoenix, who happily granted us the opportunity and also sponsored the summit. Read more about their work supporting entrepreneurs here.
CofounderOs
Ecosystem Builder Month wasn’t the only thing to be announced at SCN Phoenix. Summit sponsor, Make Startups officially launched their new software platform, Cofounder Os. Longtime members Grace Belangia and Eric Parker brought their team and some fun swag to share to celebrate.
CoFounder Os is a new platform to help access #workforce dollars and get more #founders connected to best fit funding. It offers entrepreneurs and ESOs real-time support, dynamic analysis, and access to capital – all in one powerful platform. Key Features include a simplified and automated application screening, cohort management, and progress monitoring, automated impact reporting for metrics required by state and federally funded grant programs, and patented ABI scores.
Stay tuned! Make Startup is working on a new SCN Challenge for members.
Buddy system 2.0
We’re always trying to improve upon the Summit experience, which is why we changed up our usual buddy system with a group scavenger hunt. Upon arrival, attendees were split up into groups, mixing locals, members, and nonmembers together for a three day challenge. The Experience PHX Scavenger Hunt was sponsored by EcoMap and included a series of challenges for teams to complete. The challenges ranged from learning a song in a different language from a local to recreating a historical moment. Part exploration, part silly, part getting out of your comfort zone to connect. The teams all did a great job and earned fun prizes in exchange for indulging us. Check out some of their submissions here.
EcoMap
On the more serious side, we took time before Roses & Thorns to honor Pava LaPere with a special ceremony. We heard from EcoMap head of business development, Kevin Carter, who shared a few words about Pava. Attendees were given flash paper and instructed to write down an intention or wish for their ecosystem. One by one we set our intentions out into the world by putting them into the flame.
We want to thank Kevin, Sherrod, and Eden for being in community with us during this difficult time. We also want to express our deep appreciation for their continued support and sponsorship. For more on honoring Pava’s legacy, please check out the In Memoriam page on EcoMap’s website.
Much love to our Summit Hosts
We had so much fun getting to know locals, new members, and hopefully soon-to-be members! We want to thank our amazing summit host team for being so welcoming, creating a great experience, and sharing so much with attendees. We are impressed by the work these ecosystem builders have done to create such a vibrant and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Summit Photo Album
Thanks to Richard of Agora Media, as well as the Summit team for capturing all the greatness of #SCNPhoenix! Click below to see the Flickr album. Feel free to download and share any photos or videos!
Spring 2024 Summit
We’re so excited to share that our next Summit (Spring 2024) will be in in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, Virginia! Our longtime members, Debbie Irwin and Anika Horn, along with their incredible team at Shenandoah Community Capital Fund (SCCF), will be hosting this enriching experience. The Shenandoah Valley is known for sweeping mountain ranges, a rich history, thriving downtowns, cultural offerings, and over 3,000 farms in the 11 counties that stretch along I-81 from Winchester all the way to Buena Vista. Family farms and independent vineyards dot the scenery as you travel through the Valley, and charming downtowns invite visitors to stay, stroll, shop, and dine locally. At the heart of these bustling towns are hundreds of local businesses – the makers, dreamers, doers, and tinkerers that make the Shenandoah Valley unique.
Join SCN: Become a Member
Not a member and want to be? Join us intentional community of inclusive ecosystem builders. Members get summit discounts, access to our forums, the ability to post jobs, access to member-only programming, and storytelling opportunities. Learn more and join here.
Thank you, again to our sponsors and community partners who made this summit happen!
