Present at tenwest
THank you for your proposals!
We received a record amount of proposals! Check back for more details on how to vote on your favorite presentations.
Want to learn more before submitting?
Watch our recorded Call for Presenters Info Session to explore Conference and HQ opportunities, what makes a strong proposal, and how the selection process works. Register for access to the recording and slides.
What’s New FOR Presenting at TENWEST 2027
We’re accepting proposals for both the TENWEST Conference and TENWEST HQ.
The selection process will include review by the TENWEST Curator’s Committee and a public voting phase.
Each selected presenter will receive one complimentary Conference Pass, including access to all Conference days and TENWEST Connect events. We are unable to cover travel, lodging, honoraria, or speaker fees.
What Makes TENWEST Unique?
TENWEST welcomes founders, creatives, innovators, experts, community leaders, researchers, storytellers, and others with real-world knowledge or a fresh perspective to share. You don’t need to be a professional speaker but you should have something useful, engaging, and relevant to offer.
Our approach to entrepreneurship and creativity.
TENWEST merges entrepreneurship and creativity together because we feel that’s how it should be. We talk about art and business in equal measure, though we don’t expect every single session to include both.
Our desire for authenticity and connection.
We intentionally bring together people who normally wouldn’t meet to create meaningful connections. That’s why we have a TENWEST Connects every night and have a long lunch — it’s what we learn from each other that moves us forward in our businesses and creative pursuits.
Our preference for the unexpected.
Everything about TENWEST is distinct, from having sessions in bars and restaurants to keynotes having attendees write a haiku based on what they’ve learned. These are the things that attendees remember and we want them to remember you!
Our theme: Shape your path
We are bombarded with ways in which the “lines have been drawn” and there’s nothing that can be done about it. Or we feel there is no path forward. The status quo and disruption can make it hard to find a foothold, let alone grow and thrive.
But entrepreneurship and creativity give us the power to make change. To redo, rebuild and recreate. That’s what it means to break precedent and embrace differentiation.
TENWEST 2027 is the place to shape your path. No business or creative pursuit follows a straight line. We give it form and move it toward what it can be.
Chances to Present at TENWEST 2027
The TENWEST Conference
With more than 30 sessions across three days, the conference is the core learning experience of TENWEST.
The conference is geared toward founders and creatives who want clear insights and support to launch and grow their business, creative pursuit, or other endeavors. We want conference attendees to discover new ideas that may be outside their usual lane and create pathways for a lasting community impact.
Conference presenters share their wisdom and experience in a 45-minute session format. You can propose a solo session or a micro-panel with two or three speakers and one moderator. Presentations usually include Q&A and it’s often the case that attendees want to chat afterward.
If your presentation helps attendees learn something, try something, or rethink something, it probably belongs at TENWEST.
The Reimagined HQ
TENWEST HQ is the festival’s second home, offering workshops, office hours, hands-on activities, and even more ways to connect.
HQ proposals can take many forms, but the key word is experience. We’re looking for interactive ideas that invite people to stop, participate, make, explore, or connect. Experiences may range from 15 minutes to three hours and should be designed for a lively environment where other festival activity may be happening nearby.
What Makes a Great TENWEST Presenter
Our audience responds best to speakers who are:
Engaging & Relatable: Speak like a real human and bring energy.
Tactical: Attendees want tools, tactics, examples, mistakes, and lessons learned.
Interactive: Q&A, conversation, movement, workshops, demonstrations – all highly encouraged, especially in TENWEST HQ.
Cross-Industry Friendly: Even within specialty summits, we value speakers who connect their work to broader trends.
Non-Salesy: No product pitches, recruitment, or disguised marketing.
Diverse in Background & Perspective: Representation across industry, identity, geography, and lived experience.
Comfortable in Nontraditional Venues: Sessions take place in bars, cafes, galleries, coworking spaces. If you present in TENWEST HQ, you’ll want to be comfortable with your attendees paying attention while others are passing through.
Submission & Selection Timeline
Application Deadline: October 4 at 11:59 PM Arizona Time
Curator’s Committee Review: October 5–22
Public Voting: October 23–November 10
Presenter Notifications: Early December
Public Schedule Announcement: Early 2027
Presenter Logistics Packet: March 2027
Questions?
Contact us at info@tenwest.com
Thank you for answering our call for presenters!
Frequently asked questions
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All proposals must be submitted through our online platform, Judgify. The application uses a structured form with specific questions, so you do not need to create or upload a separate proposal document.
You can create an account, save your work as a draft, and return to edit it until the October 4 deadline. Each applicant may submit up to three proposals.
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TENWEST brings together founders, creatives, community builders, second-career entrepreneurs, intrapreneurs, and the simply curious.
In 2026, the Conference welcomed nearly 1,000 attendees, including founders and business owners, creatives, nonprofit and community leaders, educators, and professionals working across technology, culinary, workforce, and other industries. About 25% of attendees came from outside the Tucson region.
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Attendees respond especially well to tactical workshops, candid founder or creator stories, case studies, live demonstrations, and tightly moderated panels. The strongest sessions give attendees useful examples, honest lessons, or tools they can apply to their own work.
Conference sessions are generally 45 minutes and may include a solo presenter or a panel with two or three speakers and one moderator.
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HQ experiences can range from approximately 15 minutes to three hours. The longer option is intended for an ongoing or drop-in experience, not a three-hour lecture. Examples might include a showcase, interactive installation, hands-on lab, office hours, live demonstration, or another activity attendees can join at different points.
HQ is a lively, open environment where multiple activities may happen at once. You may also indicate that your experience could be repeated or offered on multiple days. Final timing and placement will depend on the festival schedule, available space, staffing needs, and the format of the experience.
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Public voting will be open October 23–November 10. To vote, you’ll create a Judgify voter account by either entering your email address and using the verification code sent to you to unlock your ballot, or signing in through Google.
Vote totals alone will not determine which proposals are selected. The TENWEST Curator’s Committee will also evaluate proposals for their relevance, audience value, format, and overall festival fit. Public voting helps inform the final program but does not guarantee selection.
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We expect to notify applicants of final decisions in early December. The public schedule will be announced in early 2027.
Specific presentation dates, times, and venue assignments may still be in development when initial notifications are sent. Selected presenters will receive those details as the schedule is finalized, followed by a complete logistics packet in March.
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Technology will vary by venue and presentation format. Conference spaces will include the basic presentation and audio support appropriate for each room, while technology needs for TENWEST HQ experiences will be reviewed individually.
Selected presenters will receive venue-specific equipment details and instructions for submitting presentation materials in advance. Presentations will generally run from TENWEST equipment, so please do not plan to connect your own device unless arranged with our team.