TiE PHOENIX GALLERY
Our community in pictures
Founders, mentors, investors and partners at TiE Phoenix events across the Valley.
HIGHLIGHTS
Featured moments
A few favorite shots from 2026: our first-anniversary celebration, the TiE Women finals, a policy panel and a partner event at ASU.
One Year Stronger: Celebration of Startups
TiE Phoenix marked its first year with a Celebration of Startups at AZ Startup Week. The ASU panel, moderated by Raghu Santanam with voices from ASU’s venture studio, SkySong tech transfer and qBotica, kept returning to one message:
“Inventing is not the hard part. Scaling is.”
What closes the gap between a lab bench and a market, according to the panel:
- Experienced operators: fractional talent and seasoned founding team members
- Support networks that stick around: sustained mentorship and warm introductions to capital
- A culture that celebrates commercialization, not only publishing
The Policy Playbook: Shaping Arizona’s Entrepreneurial Future
Startups grow within a framework of policy, funding and strategic vision. TiE Phoenix brought together Michael Hammett (Director, Office of Innovation, City of Phoenix), Steven Zylstra (President & CEO, Arizona Technology Council) and Melissa Lamson (EVP, Venture Development & Innovation Strategy, Arizona Commerce Authority), moderated by TiE Phoenix board member Mark Weathers.
AI Innovation Playbook Series at ASU W. P. Carey
TiE Phoenix is proud to partner with the ASU W. P. Carey School of Business on the AI Innovation Playbook Series. Board member Asha Patki represented the chapter and shared its mission of Fostering Entrepreneurship. Featured speaker Tony Ambrozie (SVP & Digital Technology and Information Officer, CVS Health) shared what it takes to lead in an AI-first world.
MORE FROM 2026
Event highlights
Posters from our other 2026 events. Were you there? Send us your photos and we may feature them here.
Sounding Board: A New Kind of TiE Phoenix Session
Three Associate Member startups each shared their business and their biggest challenge, then the room dug in with live feedback, ideas and connections.
Founder’s Journey: Lessons Learned on the Way to Exit
Tom Sullivan, Founder & COO of AIR2O, shared his journey from the military to successful founder, and how he now supports founders on theirs.
Investor Relationship-Building & Skysong Innovations at ASU
Proven strategies for connecting with investors, and how ASU Skysong Innovations shares IP and co-founder opportunities, with Jerry Heikens, Jovan Heusser and Ross Lemire.
TiE Women 2026
Our first TiE Women program: women founders pitched, refined and showcased their startups. Kelsey Denham represented TiE Phoenix at the TiE Women North America & Europe Regional Finals.
GET INVOLVED
Were you at a TiE Phoenix event?
Email your photos to [email protected] and we may feature them in the gallery.