Innovation Bonds Grow Between Phoenix And Mexico

Chris Camacho from Greater Phoenix Economic Council (G-PEC) participated in late 2017 at IncMty, Mexico's largest startup and innovation event, in Monterrey, Mexico.
Rodrigo Cervantes - KJZZ
By Rodrigo Cervantes
February 19, 2018

About 10,000 people are expected at Phoenix Startup Week, an event full of conferences, networking and workshops for entrepreneurs. Five of the visiting startups are from Mexico

Phoenix will host its Startup Week from Monday through Friday.

The event will bring together entrepreneurs from all over the world, including a committee from Mexico, as the city continues its efforts to partner with the neighboring country.

“Startup Week is an entire week long celebration for entrepreneurs and by entrepreneurs,” said Stephen Viramontes, an entrepreneur and chief organizer of the Phoenix Startup Week.

The startups coming from Mexico were sponsored by the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (G-PEC), and INCMty, the largest innovation festival in Mexico.

G-PEC participated last year at Monterrey’s festival. Now it’s INCMty’s turn to visit.

“The partnership between Monterrey and Phoenix or Arizona and Mexico is critical for both of our economies,” Viramontes said.

Just like Viramontes, Josué Delgado, the CEO of INCMty, thinks both sides of the border will benefit.

“The bridge now is going to be built with a direct flow of communications through
startups, investors and mentors," Delgado said.

Delgado explained that around 70 startups from Mexico competed to be at Phoenix Startup Week. The selection committee chose five based on their diversification.

The projects oriented in a variety of things, such as construction technology, financial technology and service apps.

Viramontes - known as “V” among colleagues and entrepreneurs - said his life-long goal is to help others and that’s why he is doing the event - and his job - for free.

"Technology and innovation transcends political and cultural issues,” Viramontes said.