Highlights

TENWEST 2026: A Week of Big Ideas, Bold Conversations & Community

March 30, 2026   (Tucson, Ariz,)—  On March 26, Southern Arizona’s largest and longest continuously running pitch competition, IdeaFunding, awarded over $50,000 to Arizona-based startups. Co-led by Startup Tucson and the University of Arizona Center for Innovation (UACI), this year’s competition featured two distinct tracks designed to support a broader range of innovators: the Creative and Innovation Community Track, sponsored by Arizona Arts, and the Tech Track, sponsored b

Ever leave an event thinking, “I met my people”? Yeah, that’s TENWEST! We’re giving you 10 reasons why you shouldn't miss this year's fest: 1. You’ll have space to ask real questions This isn’t “sit back and take notes” learning. TENWEST is built for lifelong learners who want frameworks, clarity, and room to dig deeper. 2. We talk about tech, but we’re not a tech conference Innovation is bigger than buzzwords. We focus on how technology, creativity, and community actually sh

Startup Tucson is proud to announce that HUSTL, a digital credit union designed for freelancers, solopreneurs, gig workers, and entrepreneurs — and a division of Vantage West Credit Union — has joined as the title sponsor of the 11th annual TENWEST Festival.