Discover TENWEST 2027
Welcome to your guide for all things TENWEST 2027. Check back as we announce more speakers and sessions.
Haven’t bought your Pass yet?
Shape Your Path at TENWEST 2027
TENWEST honors the swerves and squiggles that make up your business or creative pursuit. And TENWEST 2027 is the place for founders and creatives like you to shape it into what you want it to be.
At TENWEST 2027, you’ll hear from people who have built something worth learning from. Dig into the work alongside other builders. Make meaningful connections over coffee, lunch and happy hour. Cheer on emerging founders. And experience Tucson through food, film, music, comedy and unexpected collaborations.
30+ Speakers and sessions
Ideas, stories and practical insights from founders, creatives, investors and leaders.
Three Ways to Connect Every Day
Start the morning together, gather at Nosh & Network, and keep the conversation going at TENWEST Connects.
Experience Downtown Tucson
Move through Downtown Tucson for sessions, meals, gatherings and special events at some of the city’s most iconic places.
Enjoy IdeaFunding
Watch emerging Arizona founders pitch their big ideas and compete for funding live at TENWEST.
What Makes TENWEST Unique?
TENWEST 2027 Speakers
Leah Solivan, Friday Keynote
Founder of Taskrabbit | Investor | Author of Breaking Precedent
Before the gig economy had a name, Leah Solivan founded Taskrabbit and helped pioneer an entirely new way for people to work and build businesses.
Today, she brings that founder experience to the other side of the table as an investor and advisor to the next generation of entrepreneurs.
Leah comes to TENWEST to share lessons from building a category-defining company, seeing opportunities others don’t yet see and navigating the uncertainty that comes with building something new.
Steve Kamb, Opening Speaker
Founder of Nerd Fitness | Bestselling Author
Steve Kamb turned a personal blog into Nerd Fitness, a global community that has helped millions of people rethink change, failure and progress.
He’ll open TENWEST with a conversation about what happens when the path doesn’t go according to plan and why learning how to try again may be one of the most important skills we can build.
More Featured Voices
Meet founders, creatives and leaders who are building businesses, shaping industries and creating new possibilities.
Jared & Brianne Mees
Co-Founders, Tender Loving Empire
Entrepreneurs at the intersection of independent retail, music, art and creative community, Jared and Brianne built Tender Loving Empire into a platform for artists, makers, musicians and small businesses.
Shyla Sheppard
Owner & CEO, Bow & Arrow Brewing Co.
Shyla brings a background in social impact investing and entrepreneurship to Bow & Arrow Brewing Co., the country’s first and only Native American woman-owned breweries.
Check Back for More Speaker Announcements!
Explore the TENWEST Conference
TENWEST Conference
With more than 30 sessions across three days, the conference is the core learning experience of TENWEST.
Move between keynotes, conversations, panels and hands-on sessions. Come ready to ask questions, meet people and find ideas you can put to work.
tenwest hq
The reimagined TENWEST HQ is the festival’s second home, offering workshops, office hours, hands-on activities, and even more ways to connect.
In 2027, we’re transforming TENWEST HQ into an experience of its own. It’s a continuously active festival space filled with hands-on programming, workshops, conversations, activations and unexpected opportunities to participate.
See Arizona’s Next Big Ideas on Stage At IdeaFunding
IdeaFunding
IdeaFunding brings emerging founders from across Arizona together to pitch, compete and connect with the people who can help move their ventures forward.
On Thursday, founders take over Hotel Congress for the first round of competition. The finalists advance to the Rialto Theatre Friday afternoon, where they’ll pitch live for funding and recognition in front of the TENWEST community.
Whether you’re a founder, investor, mentor or someone who just loves a great idea, IdeaFunding is your chance to see what Arizona is building next.
Applications open December 1
More Ways to Go Deeper
Indigenize TENWEST
Elevating Indigenous entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership.
Indigenize TENWEST brings Indigenous founders, business leaders and voices into the TENWEST experience through dedicated programming, conversations and opportunities for connection.
Rather than a separate event, Indigenize TENWEST is woven into the broader conference — creating space to celebrate Indigenous entrepreneurship, learn from Indigenous leaders and strengthen connections across Arizona’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Indigenize TENWEST programming is part of the TENWEST Conference and included with regular conference admission.
The Growth Summit
Ready to grow? Let’s work on what comes next.
The Growth Summit is a dedicated experience for founders and creatives who have moved beyond the earliest stages of building and are ready to focus on what it takes to grow.
The Growth Summit is a special add-on experience with limited capacity. Participation requires an application and separate add-on Growth Summit ticket.
Applications open in early 2027.
TENWEST AFter Hours
Wednesday Night
Trees: A Live Cinema Experience
A TENWEST xEvent in partnership with Arizona Arts Live
TENWEST heads to the Rialto Theatre for a special screening of TREES, presented in partnership with Arizona Arts Live.
Join fellow TENWEST attendees for a night where film, art and the conversations we’re having throughout the festival meet on the big screen.
Thursday Night
TENWEST Unscripted
Some of the best founder stories are the ones you usually only hear after the meeting is over.
At TENWEST Unscripted, founders share their funniest, wildest and most “how did that actually happen?” moments. Then Tucson Improv Movement’s Soapbox turns those true stories into live, completely unscripted comedy.
No scripts. No pitches. Just real stories and big laughs.
Friday Night
at the Rialto
TENWEST is teaming up with Arizona Arts Live and the Tucson Folk Festival for a special Friday night collaboration at the Rialto Theatre.
Music, creativity and one more reason not to make Friday dinner plans just yet.
More coming soon.
Find Your Way Into TENWEST
Choose the pass that works best for your schedule, goals and budget.
Want the Full TENWEST Experience?
Go Insider. Get everything included with the Conference Pass, plus TENWEST after hours, exclusive speaker gatherings and Insider-only perks.
Here for Strong Sessions and Speakers?
Choose the Conference Pass. Get three days of speakers and sessions plus TENWEST HQ, IdeaFunding, the Mega Mixer and daily opportunities to connect.
Want the flexibility to pop in?
Community Passes are coming in early 2027. Experience TENWEST HQ and some of the festival’s biggest moments on your own schedule.
Focusing on Your Business Growth?
Apply for the Growth Summit. Accepted participants can add this dedicated, hands-on growth experience to their TENWEST plans with a separate Growth Summit add-on ticket (not available for individual purchase).
TENWEST is Getting Ready For You.
Join founders, creatives, and innovators as we shape our paths, together.