As we step into Year Two of our public-private partnership with the City of Phoenix, we’re filled with gratitude and ambition.
Last year marked a significant milestone in what’s possible when city leadership and founder-led initiatives come together to grow a more inclusive, accessible, and thriving innovation economy. Together, we proved that with the right alignment, community activation can scale, and the ripple effects can shape the future of Phoenix.
Mayor Kate Gallego’s CEO Roundtable
One of our proudest moments was co-hosting a roundtable with Mayor Gallego, where Phoenix-based founders and executives shared real-time feedback on scaling companies in our city. From this session, seven key themes emerged, centered on infrastructure, talent, policy, and innovation that now guide many of our ongoing efforts.
Two Tech Talent Summits
These summits have become high-impact convenings where startups meet talent, corporate leaders connect with innovation, and job seekers explore career paths in sectors like software, healthtech, and defense. They’ve helped demystify what it means to build in Phoenix and opened doors for founders and employers alike.
>> Join the waitlist for the next Tech Talent Summit
Community-Driven Activations
From founder mixers to media campaigns and public storytelling, we’ve kept equity and community at the core. With the City’s backing, Freeway has remained a visible, trusted activation conduit, helping make Phoenix a launchpad for opportunity and global ambition.
At Freeway, we believe cities play a critical role in unlocking growth. The support of local government can directly influence a founder’s ability to find customers, access capital, navigate incentives, and secure the right space to scale.
That’s why we’re so grateful for the leadership of Mayor Kate Gallego, David Drennon, Christine Mackay, Nathan Wright, Bryan Smith, Daniel Benson, and Claudia Whitehead, civic champions who understand that fostering innovation isn’t just about buildings or business licenses. It’s about building relationships and trust between government and the builders shaping our future.
Their ongoing partnership with Freeway has helped bridge the gap between public policy and private enterprise, ensuring that early-stage founders aren’t navigating the system alone.
As we enter the next phase, our shared focus is sharper than ever:
Our partnership with the City of Phoenix is a model of what’s possible when local government leans in with curiosity, care, and action. And we’re excited to keep scaling what we’ve started.
To the City team: Thank you for standing with us.
To Phoenix founders: This partnership is for you.
Let’s keep building!
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