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London Tech Week Was All About Connection (Plus We Soft Launched FreewayX 🙌)

London Tech Week was 🔥! It brought together global founders, builders, and thinkers, spotlighting cross-border innovation at its peak. We were proud to represent Arizona’s growing tech influence and connect with incredible voices shaping the future, including (pictured above) Jen Wong (Tech Arizona Advocates Group Leader), Ryan Moorehouse (CTO, Ruck), Sara Ameli, PhD (Founder, Haus of Confidence), and Rebecca Clyde (Co-Founder & CEO, Botco.AI). Here’s our hot take on London Tech Week with our notes from the field.

We also had the privilege of soft-launching FreewayX, Freeway’s new global division in partnership with Global Tech Advocates (GTA). We are proud to launch the 45th chapter with GTA to create Tech Arizona Advocates, together with FreewayX will act as a cross-border connector between Arizona’s innovation economy and global tech hubs through mentorship opportunities & access to experiences around the world.

Want to join us at future international tech weeks? Share your interest in Tech Arizona Advocates.

In case you didn’t hear this live at the last Tech Talent Summit, we wanted to publish the words to share!

Reid’s Real Estate Corner: Scottsdale, AZ Ranks #1 For Millionaire Growth

by Reid Simpson, REALTOR® & Team Lead GolfCourseHomes.com

Zooming out to the national scale, in 2024 alone, the United States saw a positive inflow of 3,800 new resident millionaires. Globally, the US is in second place while the UAE led this category with 6,700 new millionaires relocating there in 2024.

Finally, how does Scottsdale, AZ, compare to all cities worldwide at 125% growth in millionaires between 2014-2024? The only city with a higher growth rate was Shenzhen, China, at +142%.

Intel’s $10B Play for Post-Silicon AI. Inside the Chandler lab, shaping next-gen chips

Intel just broke ground on a $10 billion advanced packaging facility in Arizona — the largest of its kind in the U.S. But this isn’t just about manufacturing. It’s about who controls the next layer of AI hardware.

🔍 Why it matters

This lab will focus on chiplet-based architecture — think modular silicon for faster, cooler, and more flexible AI systems. It’s a major move in the post-Moore’s Law race, and Arizona is quietly becoming the proving ground.

📊 Key Stat

Over 3,000 high-tech jobs projected — many tied to ASU and local R&D pipelines.

🧪 Who to watch:

• Dr. Bertan Bakkaloglu (ASU): Expert in chiplet thermal systems

• Terepac: Arizona startup focused on low-power edge AI design

Tucson’s Carbon Tech Raises $8M

Carbon Ridge is building direct air capture for the real world

Arizona startup Carbon Ridge just secured $8 million in seed funding to scale modular carbon capture systems. Designed for industrial sites such as cement plants and mines, this technology is built to deploy quickly and widely across the West.

🔍 Why it matters:

Climate tech funding is often stuck in R&D. Carbon Ridge is building systems that plug into heavy emitters, and they are doing it today. Plus, Tucson’s land costs, permitting speed, and access to solar make it a climate tech dark horse.

📊 Key Stat:

Arizona ranks top 5 nationally in solar potential and reclaimed water systems — both critical for DAC.

🧪 Who to watch:

• Founder Casey Luo: Former MIT engineer focused on carbon monetization

• Salt River Project: Early-stage utility partner for DAC energy supply

Lucid’s SUV Plant Expansion Is a Quiet Supply Chain Revolution

Seven hundred new jobs signal a broader shift toward electric vehicles in Arizona.

Lucid Motors is doubling down on its Casa Grande EV campus, expanding production of its first electric SUV, and hiring 700+ new workers. But the real story? Lucid’s building an entire U.S.-based EV ecosystem — without China.

🔍 Why it matters:

From rare earth magnets to thermal management and sensor stacks, Lucid is threading together a domestic, desert-based supply chain. That’s a big geopolitical bet — one that the U.S. government is quietly supporting through incentives.

📊 Key Stat:

Production capacity at Casa Grande will increase by 85% by Q2 2026.

🧪 Who to watch:

• Sanjay Mehta, VP Supply Chain: Architect of Lucid’s post-China strategy

• CMC Magnetics (Tempe): Rare earth supplier in early talks with Lucid

💸 27 Funding Rounds in 2025 💸 

🗓️ Save the Date: Fall Tech Talent Summit + Startup World Cup 2026 🏆️ 

November 6 - 7, 2025

Want to participate in the 4th Tech Talent Summit + Startup World Cup?

We are currently seeking planning committee members, speakers, and sponsors. Reply to this email if you want to get involved!

Thank you for reading and hope you’re gearing up for a great Summer! ☀️ 

From the Freeway Team

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