PHOENIX – October 28, 2026 -- Freeway will host its sixth Tech Talent Summit on Friday, Nov. 6, in downtown Phoenix with more than 40 speakers, including Mayor Kate Gallego and, by video link, Social Capital CEO Chamath Palihapitiya. This year's theme, The Performance Economy, covers how teams build, hire, scale and lead in the age of AI.
Summit has drawn more than 3,500 attendees over three years
Freeway reports that attendees rate the event 9.1 out of 10. The spring edition, a flagship of the inaugural AZ Tech Week in April, drew about 600 people. The one-day event runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 625 S. 5th St. Tickets cost $27 through Oct. 31, $34 from Nov. 1 to 5 and $49 on the day.
Land dealmaker with $1.5 billion in AI data center transactions delivers the keynote
Anita Verma-Lallian, founder and CEO of Arizona Land Consulting, has closed more than $1.5 billion in land deals tied to the AI data center boom. She will argue that Arizona is where AI gets built, in a fireside conversation with Chris Richardson. Richardson is a Freeway founding advisor and a member of the Governor's AI Steering Committee.
Gallego, Arizona Commerce Authority President and CEO Sandra Watson, and Phoenix Suns and Mercury executive vice president and chief business officer Dan Costello will open the day. Palihapitiya will discuss investing in Arizona.
Panels put AI agents, revenue teams and industrial jobs on the agenda
Founder Daniela Santangelo said the summit responds to questions founders keep raising, including "When do you hire a person, and when do you bring in a tool?"
Panel lineup:
- AI agents and the new org chart: Kate King of terramtech, Edward Wu of Side and Chris Ronzio of Trainual. Sequoia PeopleLoop CMO Michele Floriani moderates.
- AI-native revenue team: Heidi Jannenga of WebPT, Jess Berger of Bundle x Joy and Rob Nicoletti of create human / HALO.
- Investor session on current bets: Glenn Lurie of Stormbreaker Ventures, Azin Radsan van Alebeek of Emmeline Ventures and Justin Gray of InRevenue Capital.
- Physical AI and industrial jobs: Cognite's Mayur Patel and Nader Salman, Ph.D.
Sequoia PeopleLoop President Kathy Ross is also among the executives taking the stage.
Afternoon Talent Match sets up timed speed rounds between candidates and employers
Talent Match pairs selected candidates with hiring founders and employers for face-to-face rounds hosted by The Intersect Group and Brainbox. Startups and companies can also reserve exhibitor tables to meet candidates on the floor.
Player 15 Group sponsors venue as four cities back the event
Player 15 Group is the venue sponsor, and the Arizona Commerce Authority is presenting breakfast. Ecosystem partners include The Intersect Group, Sequoia PeopleLoop, Brainbox, Cognite, Stormbreaker Ventures, Elevest Capital, Center Court Group, Empire Scottsdale, CommLoan, OpenCubby and Coppersmith Brockelman. Phoenix, Scottsdale, Tempe and Mesa are city partners.