Signals from the Field
Last week was a reminder of something we don’t talk about enough:
Ecosystems don’t grow quietly. They grow because people collide.
If you were at the Waste Management Open, you felt it.
Yes, it’s a sporting event but it’s also a $450M annual economic unlock powered almost entirely by relationships. Conversations that turn into hires. Intros that turn into deals. Deals that turn into companies.
And then came Manifest West. Where Defense, Capital, and Execution Converged.
Manifest West was one of those rare gatherings that felt less like a conference and more like a working session for America’s next industrial era. Powered by SW Mac Accelerator, AZ-VC and many more.
Across two days in Phoenix, leaders from government, venture, and defense tech came together to talk about what actually matters right now: rapid experimentation, mobilizing capital, and scaling mission-critical technologies.
Manifest West Conference at Dillon Aero
James Crowell, CEO of Crow Industries with the Fenris robotic system.
Words Matter. So do Partnerships.
As Freeway enters Year 3, I’ve become even more intentional about language because language shapes behavior.
We don’t use the word sponsors anymore.
We work with partners.
What we’re building is not transactional. It’s not event-based. And it’s not about logos.
It’s year-round, people-first, global and positive-sum game oriented aligned with partners who value community, continuity, and compounding impact. We are grateful for the 100+ individuals and organizations that have leaned in.
That mindset shift is already paying off.
We’re preparing for Tech Talent Summit 5.0 and quietly crossed 70+ people on the waitlist before any formal announcement. And all of this is rolling directly into one of the biggest weeks Arizona has ever had for innovation.
Arizona Tech Week Is About to Change the Game
April 6–12, 2026
20,000+ people. Hundreds of events. One statewide moment.
Arizona Tech Week is a decentralized showcase of the people, companies, and ideas shaping Arizona’s future — powered by the Arizona Commerce Authority and happening immediately after the NCAA Women’s Final Four lands in Phoenix.
Freeway will be powering 2 events that week, one with the City of Avondale at the Phx Raceway on 4/7 and the 5th Tech Talent Summit 4/10. Be sure to save the date!
How to Plug In
Build Your Own Experience
The AZ Tech Week calendar goes live February 13. Filter by industry, topic, or city and design the week you want. 👉 Stay in the loop, when the events drop.
Host Something That Matters
If you’re building, investing, hiring, or innovating — hosting an event puts you at the center of the conversation. 👉 Host an Event
Talent: Who’s Hiring in Phoenix
Source: PHX FWD Jobs
Startups are growing and scaling, in partnership with Phx FWD we are happy to feature 2 companies with mission critical roles:
Startup Spotlight # 1
Role:
Why It Matters:
We are here to transform the way parts buyers and sellers connect. Our mission is to disrupt and innovate the automotive space by creating the most active parts network in North America. This momentum has helped 2,500+ dealerships unlock new revenue streams while reducing operational complexity. By making it easy to list more inventory across more channels, including eBay Motors, Amazon, and branded webstores, RevolutionParts empowers dealers to move inventory faster, reduce obsolescence, and grow online parts sales with confidence.
Company Spotlight # 2
Rivia Health
Roles:
Why it matters: Rivia Health, streamlines billing workflows, enhances the patient experience and accelerates payment collections. The company sits at the intersection of health outcomes, data, and care team enablement, making talent a strategic advantage rather than an afterthought. As Rivia grows, they’re building a team that understands both clinical nuance and scalable systems, which is exactly the kind of healthtech talent Arizona needs more of.
Do you have a role that you’d like amplified? Reply to this email
Capital: Arizona Funding Activity
Source: Startup Ecosystem Dashboard
Funding Round Highlight:
Company: Oats Overnight. Tempe AZ
Stage / Amount: Growth Equity — $45M
Why it matters:
Phoenix-based Oats Overnight, a rapidly growing, direct-to-consumer breakfast brand, secured a $45 million growth equity investment from Austin-based Asto Consumer Partners. Founded in 2016, the company achieved over $200 million in revenue in 2025 and is using the funds to accelerate retail expansion, boost product innovation, and automate facilities.
Key Details of the $45M Investment:
Investor: The investment was led by Asto Consumer Partners (Managing Partner Clayton Christopher), a firm known for backing high-growth consumer brands.
Transaction Type: The investment came via a secondary offering, purchasing stakes from early investors.
Company Growth: Oats Overnight experienced massive growth, with revenue increasing 536% from 2022 to 2024, and surpassed $200 million in revenue by 2025.
Market Position: The brand has over 300,000 active monthly direct-to-consumer subscribers and is expanding into over 12,000 retail doors.
Use of Funds: Capital will support increased manufacturing efficiency, marketing, and expansion of their "better-for-you" grab-and-go oatmeal shakes.
Supported by: City of Phoenix, City of Tempe
Community: What’s happening around Phoenix
Phoenix’s strength continues to be its people-powered, relationship-driven ecosystem.
This week we’re keeping an eye on:
Upcoming founder, operator, and talent events across the Valley
Community organizations focused on workforce development, founder readiness, and ecosystem connectivity
Cross-sector collaboration between startups, cities, and institutions
If you’re building, hiring, investing, or simply looking to get more plugged in this is a moment to lean into community, not retreat from it.
Upcoming Events
2/19 Financial Wellness Series #2 Smart Financial Strategies
2/26 Tech Women AZ Launch @ GCU Special Guest Rebecca Clyde
4/6-4/12 AZ Tech Week (Join the waitlist for 4/10 Tech Talent Summit 5.0)
If you’re interested in partnering with Freeway:
Closing thoughts
Our vision is to make Phoenix the national model for sustainable tech ecosystem growth proving that when talent, capital, and community work together, everyone grows.
That work doesn’t happen through headlines or one-off wins. It happens through consistent alignment, shared ownership, and people showing up week after week to build something durable. We’ll keep doing our part to connect the dots, surface what matters, and make the ecosystem more accessible for everyone moving through it.
If you’re building, hiring, investing, or looking for your place in this community, you’re in the right room.
With gratitude,
Your friends at Freeway PHX ❤️
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