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DTSTART;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260915T120000
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CREATED:20250829T035114Z
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UID:10000015-1789473600-1789477200@akew.org
SUMMARY:Lunch and Learn - Sources of Funding
DESCRIPTION:[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” admin_label=”Hero” _builder_version=”4.16″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_stops=”#ffffff 0%|#e7edf9 100%” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”#e7edf9″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”100px||100px|” custom_padding_tablet=”130px||130px|” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row admin_label=”title and illustration” _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#4646c4″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”2px” _builder_version=”4.16″ max_width=”90px” max_width_tablet=”12%” max_width_last_edited=”off|desktop” custom_margin=”|||” animation_style=”flip” animation_delay=”50ms” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_font_size=”20px” text_line_height=”1.8em” custom_margin=”25px|||” animation_style=”flip” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”100ms” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] \nAn event connecting\nentrepreneurs\,\nsupporting organizations\nand investors. \nInformal\, honest\, insightful conversations around some good food. \nAs part of Alaska Entrepreneurship Week\, join Tech Wildcatters at 12:00 PM at Cowork by RSD for lunch and discussion about available sources of funding for startups nationwide and in Alaska. \nJoin Tech Wildcatters to learn more about available sources of funding for startups. \nHope to see you there! \n  \nRegistration and additional information HERE (Comming soon!) \n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Speakers” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”90px||90px|” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”10%” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3\,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”40px|0px|40px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Ricky-Tejapaibul.png” title_text=”Ricky Tejapaibul” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”90px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” always_center_on_mobile=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_social_media_follow _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_orientation=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”linkedin” url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/rickyteja/” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#181819″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]linkedin[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#7e7f93″ text_font_size=”18px” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4646c4″ header_3_font_size=”36px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” link_option_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/allancarraway/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] \nRicky Tejapaibul\nManaging Partner and CEO – Tech Wildcatters \n[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] \nRicky Tejapaibul is the Managing Partner and CEO of Tech Wildcatters\, a venture capital firm headquartered in Dallas and one of the first 15 startup accelerators in the world.\nRicky has been active in Alaska’s startup ecosystem for the past 4 years and now leads Tech Wildcatters’s expansion into Alaska. He has been on the planning committee for Alaska Entrepreneurship Week for the past 3 years. Ricky is an active angel investor\, entrepreneur\, startup mentor\, and has worked in various roles including management consulting\, investment banking\, and corporate finance for companies in the Fortune 500. Ricky earned multiple master’s degrees from Carnegie Mellon University including an MBA and is a Chartered Financial Analyst. \n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3\,2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”40px|0px|40px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Alexa.jpg” title_text=”Alexa” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”90px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” always_center_on_mobile=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_social_media_follow _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_orientation=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”linkedin” url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexa-bagamian/” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#181819″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]linkedin[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#7e7f93″ text_font_size=”18px” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4646c4″ header_3_font_size=”36px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” link_option_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/allancarraway/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] \nAlexa Bagamian\nAssociate\, Senior Financial Analyst – Tech Wildcatters \n[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”] \nAlexa Bagamian is an Associate at Tech Wildcatters\, a venture capital firm headquartered in Dallas and one of the first 15 startup accelerators in the world. \nShe has been on the planning committee for Alaska Entrepreneurship Week for the past 2 years. \nAlexa has an extensive background in financial analysis and modeling\, budgeting\, forecasting\, and marketing in the defense\, financial services\, and technology industries with Raytheon\, Merrill Lynch\, and Dun & Bradstreet. Alexa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from Northwestern University. \n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3\,2_3″ admin_label=”Calvin” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_padding=”40px|0px|40px|0px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Calvin-C.-Headshots-0139_websize-1.jpg” title_text=”Calvin C.” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ custom_margin=”|||” custom_margin_tablet=”90px|||” custom_margin_last_edited=”off|desktop” always_center_on_mobile=”off” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_social_media_follow _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_orientation=”center” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_social_media_follow_network social_network=”linkedin” url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/calvinkcchang/” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ background_color=”#181819″ global_colors_info=”{}” follow_button=”off” url_new_window=”on”]linkedin[/et_pb_social_media_follow_network][/et_pb_social_media_follow][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#7e7f93″ text_font_size=”18px” header_font=”||||||||” header_3_font=”Merriweather|700|||||||” header_3_text_color=”#4646c4″ header_3_font_size=”36px” header_3_line_height=”1.4em” link_option_url=”https://www.linkedin.com/in/allancarraway/” link_option_url_new_window=”on” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”] \n[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]
URL:https://akew.org/event/lunch-and-learn-2
LOCATION:RSD Co-Work\, 911 W 8th Ave #101\, Anchorage\, 99501\, United States
CATEGORIES:1. Idea,2. Pre-Profit,3. Profit,4. Growth,5. Exit,Creative & Experiential,Funding,In-Person,Inspiration & Stories,Networking & Community,Networking, Mixers & Social,Panels & Fireside Chats,Storytelling & Founder Journeys
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/TechW.png
ORGANIZER;CN="Tech Wildcatters":MAILTO:info@techwildcatters.com
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260915T153000
DTEND;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260915T170000
DTSTAMP:20260809T004026Z
CREATED:20260809T004026Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260809T004026Z
UID:10000482-1789486200-1789491600@akew.org
SUMMARY:Emotional ROI: A workshop on emotional intelligence for entrepreneurs.
DESCRIPTION:This 90-minute workshop looks at the four things that quietly drive every business decision: self-awareness\, self-regulation\, reading people\, and managing relationships. Through a hands-on “Emotional ROI Audit\,” you’ll map a real recent decision\, spot where the emotional signal got missed\, and leave with something you can actually use in your next hard conversation. Built for entrepreneurs\, small business owners\, and anyone building something of their own\, a practical look at the skill nobody puts on a pitch deck. \nAsk any founder how their revenue’s doing and they’ll rattle off numbers without blinking. Ask how they’re actually doing\, how they handled that blowup with a cofounder\, or the moment they almost fired someone out of frustration\, and you’ll get a shrug. We track financial ROI obsessively and ignore the emotional one completely. That’s a problem\, because the emotional side is usually what determines whether the financial side even survives. In this workshop\, we’ll dig into your own recent decisions in small groups\, spot where the emotional signal got missed\, and walk out with something you can actually use next time you’re in a hard conversation. If you’ve ever made a call you regretted because you were tired\, defensive\, or just not paying attention to what was really going on\, this is for you.
URL:https://akew.org/event/emotional-roi-a-workshop-on-emotional-intelligence-for-entrepreneurs
LOCATION:Alaska\, AK\, United States
CATEGORIES:In-Person,Workshops & Trainings
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Emotional-ROI.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Cura Counseling and Consulting LLC":MAILTO:Morgan@curacounseling.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260917T080000
DTEND;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260917T170000
DTSTAMP:20260811T215419Z
CREATED:20260811T215419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T215419Z
UID:10000485-1789632000-1789664400@akew.org
SUMMARY:AKMA Manufacturing Mixer
DESCRIPTION:This event is an opportunity to celebrate Mountain Dog\, the 2025 Made in Alaska Manufacturer of the Year\, while connecting with manufacturers\, makers\, entrepreneurs\, suppliers\, and industry partners from across the state. You’ll hear Mountain Dog’s story\, get a behind-the-scenes look at where the magic happens\, and meet others who are passionate about building and making products in Alaska. \nWhether you’re an established manufacturer\, just getting started\, or simply curious about Alaska’s manufacturing community\, we’d love to have you join us. \nWhat to Expect\n🤝 Connect with Alaska’s manufacturing community\n🎤 Hear Mountain Dog’s story\, learn from their journey\, and tour their facility\n💬 Build new relationships with fellow makers\, manufacturers\, and industry partners \nVenue: Mountain Dog\nBusiness Showcase: TBD \nRegistration\nIn celebration of Alaska Entrepreneurship Week\, this event is free and open to everyone!\nRegistration is still required so we can plan for attendance. \nInterested in Sponsoring an AKMA Mixer?\nSponsoring a mixer is a great way to connect with Alaska’s manufacturing community while supporting the growth of local industry.\n👉 To learn more or reserve a future mixer\, contact us at connect@akmfg.org
URL:https://akew.org/event/akma-manufacturing-mixer/2026-09-17/1
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Email-Banners-Presentation-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Alaska Manufacturing Association":MAILTO:connect@akmfg.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260917T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260917T190000
DTSTAMP:20260811T215419Z
CREATED:20260811T215419Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260811T215419Z
UID:10000486-1789660800-1789671600@akew.org
SUMMARY:AKMA Manufacturing Mixer
DESCRIPTION:This event is an opportunity to celebrate Mountain Dog\, the 2025 Made in Alaska Manufacturer of the Year\, while connecting with manufacturers\, makers\, entrepreneurs\, suppliers\, and industry partners from across the state. You’ll hear Mountain Dog’s story\, get a behind-the-scenes look at where the magic happens\, and meet others who are passionate about building and making products in Alaska. \nWhether you’re an established manufacturer\, just getting started\, or simply curious about Alaska’s manufacturing community\, we’d love to have you join us. \nWhat to Expect\n🤝 Connect with Alaska’s manufacturing community\n🎤 Hear Mountain Dog’s story\, learn from their journey\, and tour their facility\n💬 Build new relationships with fellow makers\, manufacturers\, and industry partners \nVenue: Mountain Dog\nBusiness Showcase: TBD \nRegistration\nIn celebration of Alaska Entrepreneurship Week\, this event is free and open to everyone!\nRegistration is still required so we can plan for attendance. \nInterested in Sponsoring an AKMA Mixer?\nSponsoring a mixer is a great way to connect with Alaska’s manufacturing community while supporting the growth of local industry.\n👉 To learn more or reserve a future mixer\, contact us at connect@akmfg.org
URL:https://akew.org/event/akma-manufacturing-mixer/2026-09-17/2
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Email-Banners-Presentation-3.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Alaska Manufacturing Association":MAILTO:connect@akmfg.org
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260918T111500
DTEND;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260918T140000
DTSTAMP:20260812T221204Z
CREATED:20260807T120052Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T221204Z
UID:10000483-1789730100-1789740000@akew.org
SUMMARY:Alaska Entrepreneurship Future: 2026 Candidate Forum
DESCRIPTION:Public Leadership Perspectives on Strengthening Alaska’s Entrepreneurial Fabric\n  \nWhat does Alaska’s entrepreneurial community need from public leadership\, and what can government realistically do?\nEntrepreneurs and small businesses do not operate in isolation. Their ability to start\, grow\, hire\, invest\, innovate\, commercialize new ideas\, and remain in Alaska is influenced by public policy\, regulation\, infrastructure\, workforce development\, education\, research\, procurement\, taxation\, access to capital\, public investment\, and economic-development priorities. \nThat makes public leadership an important part of Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. \nSession I of the Alaska Entrepreneurship Week Finale brings together current elected officials and candidates for elected office for a structured\, nonpartisan conversation focused specifically on entrepreneurship\, small business\, innovation\, and Alaska’s economic future. \nThe purpose is not simply to hear campaign positions. The purpose is for candidates to express their point of view regarding entrepreneurship and how they look to implement changes if they are elected. \nThe central questions\n\nWhat is government seeing from its side of the entrepreneurial ecosystem?\nWhat can public institutions realistically do to strengthen entrepreneurship and small business?\nWhat can they not do?\nWhere do statutory\, budgetary\, regulatory\, administrative\, or institutional constraints limit progress?\nWhich existing policies\, programs\, or approaches should be reinforced?\nWhat should change?\nWhat approaches do Alaska’s current and prospective public leaders believe should be pursued next?\n\nMore Than a Candidate Forum\nThe 2026 election creates an important opportunity to hear from candidates\, but the value of Session I goes beyond the election. \nCurrent elected officials are also being invited whether or not they are seeking reelection. Their experience in the Alaska House\, Alaska Senate\, municipal assemblies and councils\, and other public bodies provides insight into how government actually works\, including: \n\nWhat government has authority to change\nWhat requires legislation\nWhat can be addressed administratively\nWhat requires appropriations or additional funding\nWhat local government can address that state government cannot\nWhere federal requirements limit available options\nWhich policies or programs have already been attempted\, what worked\, and what did not\nWhy seemingly straightforward solutions sometimes become difficult to implement\n\nThis Is Not a Campaign Rally\nSession I is a nonpartisan civic and economic-development discussion. The purpose is not to promote candidates\, political parties\, or electoral outcomes. It is to understand how current and prospective public leaders view entrepreneurship and small business in Alaska. \nParticipants will be encouraged to move beyond general statements about “supporting small business” and discuss the actual conditions affecting entrepreneurs. The objective is not to determine who “wins” the conversation. It is to provide useful information\, institutional context\, policy perspectives\, and potential solutions that Alaska’s entrepreneurial community can carry forward into the afternoon Community Stakeholders Session. \n  \nThe Conversation\nDiscussion may include entrepreneurship and small-business formation and growth\, access to capital and investment\, early-stage and growth-stage financing\, innovation and technology commercialization\, workforce development and talent retention\, rural entrepreneurship and economic development\, infrastructure and connectivity\, healthcare innovation\, energy and emerging industries\, regulation and administrative burden\, state and municipal procurement\, government contracting opportunities for Alaska businesses\, research and university-industry collaboration\, economic diversification\, business attraction and retention\, entrepreneurial education\, public-private collaboration\, and Alaska’s economic competitiveness over the next decade. \nThe discussion will focus not only on proposed solutions\, but also on implementation realities. A policy idea may require legislation. A program may already exist but be difficult to access. A regulatory barrier may originate at a different level of government than expected. A funding source may have restrictions that make an otherwise attractive solution impossible. A successful program may need reinforcement rather than replacement. Understanding those distinctions is part of the purpose of the session. \n  \nWhy Attend\nEntrepreneurs and small-business owners hear directly how public leaders understand the barriers encountered when starting\, operating\, and growing businesses in Alaska. \nInvestors and lenders gain insight into public-policy priorities that may influence investment\, capital formation\, regulation\, infrastructure\, workforce availability\, and business growth. \nInnovators and researchers hear how current and prospective public leaders approach commercialization\, research\, emerging technologies\, public-private partnerships\, and innovation-driven economic development. \nEconomic development and support organizations better understand the capabilities and limitations of public institutions and where stronger coordination with government may be possible. \nGovernment and public-sector participants hear directly from entrepreneurs and ecosystem partners while contributing institutional knowledge that is difficult to obtain through traditional policy channels. \n  \nEvent Schedule\n11:15 AM to 12:00 PM. Doors Open and Pre-Event Networking. Meet entrepreneurs\, business leaders\, investors\, public officials\, candidates\, economic-development organizations\, support organizations\, and other members of Alaska’s entrepreneurial community. \n12:00 PM to 12:10 PM. Welcome and Context. AKEW organizers introduce the objectives of the day\, explain the role of public leadership within Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem\, and establish the ground rules for the discussion. \n12:10 PM to 1:30 PM. Public Leadership and Candidate Forum with Buffet Lunch. Current elected officials and candidates participate in a moderated conversation focused on entrepreneurship\, small business\, innovation\, investment\, workforce\, commercialization\, public-policy capabilities and constraints\, and Alaska’s long-term economic competitiveness. \n1:30 PM to 2:00 PM. Closing\, Networking\, and Transition. The formal Session I discussion concludes and the conversation transitions toward the afternoon Community Stakeholders Session. \n  \nWho Is Being Invited\nCurrent elected officials\, including members of the Alaska House\, Alaska Senate\, municipal assemblies and councils\, and other relevant public bodies. \nCandidates for elected office\, including candidates for Governor\, Lieutenant Governor\, Alaska House\, and Alaska Senate. \nCurrent officials do not need to be candidates for reelection to participate. Their relevance comes from the institutional experience and perspective associated with the offices they currently hold. Confirmed participants will be added to this page as participation is finalized. \nFor participation information: contact@akew.org \n  \nSession I and Session II Are Designed to Work Together\nSession I: Public Leadership Perspective. Current elected officials and candidates provide input from the governmental and public-policy side of Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. \nSession II: Community Stakeholder Integration. The afternoon brings entrepreneurs\, investors\, lenders\, educators\, researchers\, nonprofits\, government representatives\, economic-development organizations\, advisors\, business leaders\, and other stakeholders together to combine that input with the community’s own experience. \nSession I provides input. Session II integrates it. \n  \nRegistration\nIn-person seating is intentionally limited. Advance registration is required. Only 40 community registrations are available for the in-person program. \nSession I and Buffet Lunch\, $50 per person\, includes admission to Session I\, buffet lunch\, pre-event networking\, post-session networking\, and access to participating public leaders and Alaska’s entrepreneurial community. \nFull Friday Program\, $75 per person\, includes Session I\, buffet lunch\, the Session II Community Stakeholders Session\, dinner\, and networking throughout the day. To register for the full day\, add both the Session I and Session II registrations to your cart and the $25 Full Friday saving is applied automatically at checkout. \nRegistration deadline: Monday\, September 7\, 2026\, or before available community registrations are filled\, whichever occurs first. \nParts of the program will also be accessible remotely through Google Meet. A free virtual registration is available below. \nAll registrations are final. No refunds are offered. \nAttend virtually for FREE: \n\n\nVideoconference:\nmeet.google.com/kxc-nspp-bjf \nID: kxc-nspp-bjf\n\ntel.meet/kxc-nspp-bjf\nPin: 7899601984545\n\n(US) +1 617-675-4444\nPin: 7899601984545\n\n\n\n  \nSponsor-Supported Tickets\nThanks to AKEW sponsors\, a limited number of complimentary registrations are available for members of Alaska’s entrepreneurial community for whom registration cost would otherwise create a barrier. Sponsor-supported registration may be requested for Session I\, Session II\, or the full Friday program. An application is required. Availability is limited\, and submitting an application does not guarantee a ticket. \nApply for a sponsor-supported registration \nThe application is deliberately demanding and takes most people twenty to thirty minutes to complete. It cannot be saved and resumed. Organizers review each application individually and may request more information before deciding. Applying does not guarantee a registration. \n  \nThank You to Our Sponsors\nAKEW’s September 18 programming is made possible with support from organizations investing in Alaska’s entrepreneurial community. \nTech Wildcatters\nAK Coffee Company\nREFocus \nSponsorships Are Still Available\nOrganizations interested in supporting Alaska’s entrepreneurial community can still participate as sponsors. Sponsorship can also help expand access by providing sponsor-supported registrations for entrepreneurs and community members who otherwise may not be able to participate. \nSponsorship does not provide influence over candidate invitations\, questions\, moderator selection\, speaking opportunities\, or forum content. \nBecome a sponsor. Email contact@akew.org \n  \nNonpartisan Forum Notice\nAlaska Entrepreneurship Week is presenting Session I as a nonpartisan civic and economic-development forum. AKEW does not endorse\, support\, oppose\, or recommend any candidate or political party. The appearance\, participation\, absence\, statements\, biography\, or identity of a candidate or public official should not be interpreted as an endorsement or preference by AKEW\, its organizers\, sponsors\, participating organizations\, or event host. \nCurrent elected officials are invited because the governmental offices they hold provide relevant institutional knowledge and perspective concerning Alaska’s entrepreneurial environment. Candidates participate to explain their approaches to the same entrepreneurship and economic-development issues. \nNo political fundraising\, solicitation of campaign contributions\, or campaign advocacy is permitted as part of the forum. Questions will be moderated by AKEW organizers and focused on entrepreneurship\, small business\, innovation\, economic development\, and related public-policy issues. Views expressed by participants are their own. \n  \nAbout Alaska Entrepreneurship Week\nAlaska Entrepreneurship Week is a statewide\, volunteer-led initiative designed to spotlight\, support\, and strengthen entrepreneurship across Alaska. AKEW brings entrepreneurs\, small-business owners\, mentors\, investors\, educators\, support organizations\, government partners\, and other members of Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem together through events\, conversations\, shared promotion\, and statewide coordination. \n  \nEncourage   –   Leverage   –   Connect.
URL:https://akew.org/event/candidateforum
LOCATION:Petroleum Club of Anchorage\, 3301 C St.\, Ste. 120\, Anchorage\, AK\, 99503\, United States
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Session-I_small.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260918T150000
DTEND;TZID=America/Anchorage:20260918T220000
DTSTAMP:20260812T221316Z
CREATED:20260809T001342Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260812T221316Z
UID:10000484-1789743600-1789768800@akew.org
SUMMARY:Alaska Entrepreneurship Community Stakeholders Session
DESCRIPTION:From Assessment to Action: Strengthening Alaska’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem\nFriday\, September 18\, 2026\nPetroleum Club of Anchorage\n3301 C Street\, Anchorage\, Alaska \nSession I brings the public-leadership perspective into the conversation. Session II brings the whole entrepreneurial ecosystem to the table.\nThroughout Alaska Entrepreneurship Week\, entrepreneurs\, business owners\, investors\, lenders\, educators\, researchers\, economic development organizations\, nonprofits\, government representatives\, advisors\, and other members of Alaska’s entrepreneurial community will have exchanged ideas about what is working\, what is changing\, and where barriers remain. \nEarlier on Friday\, Session I adds another important perspective. Current elected officials and candidates discuss entrepreneurship and small business from the public-policy side of the ecosystem: what government can do\, what it cannot do\, what has already been attempted\, what institutional or policy constraints exist\, and what approaches they believe could strengthen Alaska’s entrepreneurial environment. \nSession II brings those perspectives together. This facilitated working session combines what was heard during Session I with the experience accumulated by Alaska’s entrepreneurial community throughout the week\, throughout the year\, and through the direct experience of the people building\, funding\, supporting\, regulating\, researching\, educating\, and advising Alaska businesses. \nThe objective is to develop a more complete picture of where Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem stands today and determine what should happen next. \n  \nThree Questions\nWhere are we now?\nWhat is actually working? Where are entrepreneurs and small businesses struggling? Where are resources reaching businesses effectively\, and where are they not? Where are organizations collaborating successfully? Where are gaps\, fragmentation\, unnecessary complexity\, or duplication creating problems? \nWhere should we be?\nWhat should a stronger entrepreneurial ecosystem in Alaska actually look like? What capabilities should exist? What should entrepreneurs be able to access more easily? What existing programs\, relationships\, policies\, organizations\, or resources should be reinforced? What is missing? \nHow do we get there?\nWhich problems can realistically be addressed? What should be improved\, reinforced\, connected\, built\, simplified\, or reconsidered? And\, most importantly: who is willing and able to take the next step? \n  \nThis Is a Working Session\nThis is not another panel. It is not an organizational showcase. It is not a political debate. And it is not intended to produce another general conclusion that Alaska needs “more collaboration.” \nParticipants will be encouraged to identify specific problems\, challenge assumptions\, contribute direct experience\, examine why existing approaches succeed or fail\, and develop practical next steps where possible. \nThe objective is not artificial consensus. Different parts of Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem see different pieces of the same system\, and those differences are valuable. An entrepreneur may experience a problem one way. A lender may see a different constraint. An investor may identify a different risk. A government official may know that a proposed solution requires statutory authority. An agency representative may know that funding already exists but cannot legally be used in the proposed manner. A university or researcher may identify capabilities that businesses do not know exist. An economic development organization may see the same problem occurring repeatedly across dozens of businesses. \nThe purpose of putting these perspectives together is to understand the system\, not simply the individual pieces. \n  \nWhat Will We Examine?\nThe discussion may include entrepreneurship and small-business formation and growth\, access to capital and investment\, early-stage and growth-stage financing gaps\, innovation and technology commercialization\, workforce development and talent retention\, rural entrepreneurship and regional access to resources\, infrastructure and connectivity\, government procurement and contracting\, regulation and administrative barriers\, research and university-industry collaboration\, healthcare\, energy\, technology and emerging industries\, entrepreneurial education and mentorship\, business assistance and technical support\, coordination among entrepreneurship-support organizations\, resource visibility and accessibility\, economic diversification\, attracting and retaining entrepreneurs and businesses\, the roles of state\, federal\, municipal\, private-sector\, university and nonprofit actors\, and opportunities for stronger collaboration across the ecosystem. \n  \nWho Should Participate?\nSession II is intended for people who actively participate in some part of Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. That includes entrepreneurs and small-business owners who experience the system directly\, investors and lenders who understand the realities of capital deployment\, risk\, and business readiness\, government officials and public-sector professionals who understand governmental authority\, policy\, programs\, implementation\, procurement\, regulation\, funding\, and institutional constraints\, economic development and entrepreneurship-support organizations that work directly with businesses and communities\, universities\, researchers\, educators\, and commercialization professionals\, nonprofit and community organizations\, and advisors\, mentors\, professional-service providers\, and industry leaders. \n  \nParticipation Is Based on Stakeholder Role\nThe afternoon session is not a candidate forum. Participation is based on the experience\, expertise\, or stakeholder role a participant brings to Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. \nIndividuals who are also candidates for elected office may participate when they independently hold a relevant role within Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Candidate status is not a basis for participation in Session II. \nCampaign advocacy\, electoral appeals\, political fundraising\, requests for political support\, comparisons between candidates\, or statements intended to promote or oppose a candidate are outside the scope of this session. Policy disagreement is welcome. Political campaigning is not. \n  \nRules of Engagement\nProblems before promotion. This is not an opportunity to deliver an organizational sales pitch. Programs and organizations should be discussed when they are relevant to understanding a problem\, resource\, solution\, gap\, or opportunity. \nExperience before generalization. Specific examples\, evidence\, observed patterns\, and direct experience are more useful than broad assumptions. \nUnderstand before solving. Some apparent problems are symptoms of something else. Before proposing another program\, funding source\, organization\, or initiative\, the session will seek to understand what is creating the underlying problem. \nStrengthen what already works. Not every solution requires something new. Where things are working\, the question becomes how they can be reinforced\, expanded\, connected\, or made easier to access. \nIdentify duplication and gaps. Alaska may simultaneously have multiple resources addressing one need while another need remains largely unserved. The session should make both visible. \nPolicy disagreement is welcome. Substantive disagreement can improve the analysis. The objective is a better understanding of the available choices\, constraints\, and consequences. \nDiscussion should lead somewhere. Where practical\, significant issues should conclude with something more specific than “we should work together.” \n  \nSession Schedule\n3:00 PM to 3:15 PM. Welcome\, Objectives\, and Ground Rules. Framing of the session\, how Session I input will be used\, and how the working discussion will run. \n3:15 PM to 4:30 PM. Where Are We Now. Facilitated assessment of current ecosystem conditions\, what is working\, and where entrepreneurs and small businesses are struggling. \n4:30 PM to 4:45 PM. Break. \n4:45 PM to 6:00 PM. Where Should We Be. What a stronger Alaska entrepreneurial ecosystem should look like\, which capabilities should exist\, and what is missing. \n6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. How Do We Get There. Priorities\, practical next steps\, what can be started now\, what requires longer-term work\, and who is positioned to help. \n7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. Dinner and Continued Conversation. The formal working session transitions into dinner and networking\, providing additional time to continue conversations\, develop connections\, and explore potential collaborations identified during the afternoon. \n8:30 PM to 8:45 PM. Closing. Commitments\, synthesis\, and what happens next. \n8:45 PM to 10:00 PM. Optional Networking. The venue remains open until 10:00 PM. \n  \nWhat Should Come Out of the Session?\nSuccess does not require solving every challenge facing entrepreneurship in Alaska in one afternoon. It requires leaving with a better shared understanding than existed when the session began: what is working and should be reinforced\, what is not working and why\, where entrepreneurs are falling through the cracks\, where resources exist but are difficult to discover or access\, where organizations or programs are duplicating effort\, where meaningful gaps remain\, which barriers are structural and which are operational\, which opportunities could be pursued relatively quickly\, which challenges require longer-term work\, and where stronger connections between stakeholders could produce meaningful results. \nAnd wherever possible: who should do what next. \n  \nRegistration\nIn-person participation is limited. Advance registration is required. Only 40 community registrations are available for the in-person session. \nSession II and Dinner\, $50 per person\, includes participation in the Community Stakeholders Session\, dinner\, and networking. \nFull Friday Program\, $75 per person\, includes the Session I Candidate and Public Leadership Forum\, buffet lunch\, the Session II Community Stakeholders Session\, dinner\, and networking throughout the day. To register for the full day\, add both the Session I and Session II registrations to your cart and the $25 Full Friday saving is applied automatically at checkout. \nRegistration deadline: Monday\, September 7\, 2026\, or before available community registrations are filled\, whichever occurs first. \nParts of the program may also be accessible remotely through Google Meet. A free virtual registration is available below. \nAll registrations are final. No refunds are offered. \nAttend virtually for FREE: \n\n\nVideoconference:\nmeet.google.com/tjr-wqqk-zie \nID: tjr-wqqk-zie\n\ntel.meet/tjr-wqqk-zie\nPin: 1764937666155\n\n(US) +1 617-675-4444\nPin: 1764937666155\n\n\n\nSponsor-Supported Tickets\nThanks to AKEW sponsors\, a limited number of complimentary registrations are available for members of Alaska’s entrepreneurial community for whom registration cost would otherwise create a barrier. Sponsor-supported registration may be requested for Session I\, Session II\, or the full Friday program. An application is required. Availability is limited\, and submitting an application does not guarantee a ticket. \nApply for a sponsor-supported registration \nThe application is deliberately demanding and takes most people twenty to thirty minutes to complete. It cannot be saved and resumed. Organizers review each application individually and may request more information before deciding. Applying does not guarantee a registration. \n  \nThank You to Our Sponsors\nAKEW’s September 18 programming is made possible with support from organizations investing in Alaska’s entrepreneurial community. \nTech Wildcatters\nAK Coffee Company\nREFocus \nSponsorships Are Still Available\nOrganizations interested in supporting Alaska’s entrepreneurial community can still participate as sponsors. Sponsorship can also help expand access by providing sponsor-supported registrations for entrepreneurs and community members who otherwise may not be able to participate. \nBecome a sponsor. Email contact@akew.org \n  \nFrom Session I to Session II\nThe two sessions are designed to work together. Session I provides the public leadership perspective. Session II integrates it with the experience of the broader entrepreneurial community. The objective is not to treat government\, entrepreneurs\, investors\, universities\, nonprofits\, and support organizations as separate conversations. They are different parts of the same entrepreneurial system. \n  \nAbout Alaska Entrepreneurship Week\nAlaska Entrepreneurship Week is a statewide\, volunteer-led initiative designed to spotlight\, support\, and strengthen entrepreneurship across Alaska. AKEW brings entrepreneurs\, small-business owners\, mentors\, investors\, educators\, support organizations\, government partners\, and other members of Alaska’s entrepreneurial ecosystem together through events\, conversations\, shared promotion\, and statewide coordination. \n  \nEncourage   –   Leverage   –   Connect.
URL:https://akew.org/event/alaska-entrepreneurship-community-stakeholders-session
LOCATION:Petroleum Club of Anchorage\, 3301 C St.\, Ste. 120\, Anchorage\, AK\, 99503\, United States
CATEGORIES:Hybrid,Networking & Community,Resources & Ecosystem
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://akew.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Session-II_small.jpg
ORGANIZER;CN="Alaska Entrepreneurship Week Team":MAILTO:contact@akew.org
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