Thank you to our partners, sponsors, attendees, volunteers and speakers this year who have showed up, built with us, and are helping grow the collective startup ecosystem! Freeway builds the infrastructure that helps Phoenix founders, operators, and companies grow — faster and more sustainably. We reduce barriers, expand access, and craft community-first experiences that accelerate ecosystem growth.

2025 was a year of building real bridges across our tech community founders, operators, employers, students, civic partners, and investors all finding their lane and getting plugged in.

Together, we saw growth across every major indicator that matters for a thriving ecosystem participation, visibility, retention, and readiness.

And most importantly, we did it with a community-led approach.

• 750+ people joined us across Tech Talent Summits
• 71% growth in dashboard users — founders are finding real value
• 52% increase in newsletter subscribers
• Launch of Tech Arizona Advocates, connecting Phoenix to 44 global cities.
• A community Vibrancy Score of 9.1/10 — a powerful signal for retention

(source: dealroom.co)

Arizona continued to mature as a venture ecosystem in 2025:

Major raises from companies like Bonus, Solera Health, GT Medical Technologies, Jocasta Neuroscience, and evolvedMD signal increasing investor confidence in Phoenix-built companies.

More people than ever are discovering opportunities through the Freeway platform.

The takeaway?
People know where to go now to plug into Phoenix tech.

In 2026, we’re focused on turning this momentum into durable infrastructure — making Phoenix tech easier to navigate, easier to access, and easier to grow within.

✔ Build the front door to the ecosystem
A consistent place to get plugged in, stay connected, and find the right rooms year-round.
👉 Attend the next Freeway On-Ramp to get further plugged in.

✔ Expand access through partnerships
Deeper collaboration with cities and sponsors to remove friction and increase opportunity.
👉 We’re grateful for our anchor partner City of Phoenix — along with Scottsdale, Avondale, and now Tempe.

✔ Invest in talent visibility + pathways
Clearer lanes for job seekers and operators — and stronger hiring outcomes for founders and employers.
👉 Job seekers: Join the Talent Network.

✔ Support founder well-being alongside performance
Because sustainable success requires both business traction and personal resiliency.

✔ Grow Membership & Sponsorship
We’re inviting Founding Members and Sponsors to co-build the next chapter with us.
👉 Schedule a call to share your goals — and how Freeway can support them.

We’d love to know what you want more of next year, what you need support with, and what you’re most curious about as Phoenix tech keeps growing. Your input will directly shape our priorities for 2026.

The next few weeks include a mix of meetups, workshops, and curated gatherings across Phoenix.

Whether you’re looking to meet other founders, explore new ideas, or get more plugged in locally, these events offer opportunities to connect beyond online channels.

We aim to create more pathways of accessibility for talent to not be hidden and more effectively connection opportunity to innovation.

Job seekers, join the talent network

Thank you for being part of this journey!

Let’s make 2026 the year where Phoenix becomes the national model for sustainable tech ecosystem growth - proving that when talent, capital, and community work together, everyone grows.

Have a happy, healthy and safe New Year!

With gratitude,

Your friends at Freeway PHX ❤️

You are on this list because you're a big part of the Phx Tech Startup community, and we thought you would enjoy updates on the pulse of the startup tech ecosystem. We are an independent, public/private initiative that’s community-led, providing greater access and vibrancy - we appreciate your support!

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