Join us at FORGE at Roy Place to discover how Growth Partners Arizona uplifts local businesses & nonprofits. Don't miss the 2024 kickoff event from Growth Partners!

Hear the story of how Yadi Wang and Oatman Farms are making a difference for people, products and planet and get to taste Oatman Farms products!
Oatman Farms™ is a fearless food company with a mission to revitalize and sustain family farms in hot and dry desert environments, including our own Oatman Flats Ranch, the Arizona farm that has been family owned for four generations. To preserve and steward the land, the owners of Oatman Flats Ranch are committed to using regenerative, organic farming practices, growing heritage crops adapted to our soil and climate, and working with chefs and bakers to craft delicious products. Eat Fearlessly™! Inspired by the farming lifestyle of his extended family, Yadi Wang was determined to become a farmer after receiving his doctoral degree in environmental science and years as a chemical and process engineer. As a first-generation farmer, he is one of the pioneers on developing large scale weed mitigation and integrated pest management methodologies using multi-species cover crops, chemical (pesticide, herbicide, fungicide, etc.) free and intensive managed sheep rotational grazing to steward the land at Oatman Flats Ranch, in the hottest and driest environment in the US Southwest.

This event features Tyler Thorp, Program and Community Manager at Startup Tucson. Tyler developed SoAZ Made, a virtual marketplace for local food artisans, and created websites for local food entrepreneurs. The vision for the SoAZ Made program, in partnership with Visit Tucson, Startup Tucson, and the Tucson City of Gastronomy, is to create a thriving local food economy in Southern Arizona, where local artisans and entrepreneurs can showcase their unique products and experiences to a wider audience. By supporting these businesses, we can help preserve the rich culinary heritage of the region, and promote a stronger sense of community and connection among local consumers.

The goal is to foster a sustainable and equitable food system, where everyone has access to fresh, locally-sourced and locally-made products, and where food entrepreneurs are able to build successful and fulfilling careers doing what they love. SoAZ Made envisions a Southern Arizona where the local food scene is vibrant and diverse, and where consumers are proud to support the artisans and entrepreneurs who make it all possible.

Two startups go head to head in presenting their concepts. Witness the excitement as new entrepreneurs showcase their innovative ideas and ventures. Each company will give its pitch and then answer questions from our moderator and the audience. As part of the audience, you play a crucial role in voting on which one of these startups is most likely to scale.

For The Hustle Hour, September 2023, our panel topic will be Coaching, Consulting, and Mentoring with:
Fabiola Bedoya, Jessica Carr, Michael Tucker, Eric Franco, Christin Marvin

This month's event features Barbara Eiswerth the Executive Director and Founder of Iskashitaa and Chef Devon Sanner, TCOG Chef Ambassador, co-founder of GUT (Gastronomic Union of Tucson), award-winning chef, and co-owner of Zio Peppe restaurant.

Join FORGE founding director Brian Ellerman and his guests, every third Thursday, for a lively conversation about programs and ideas that are growing entrepreneurship in our community.

This interview will take place virtually on Zoom, but all are welcome to join us for a live viewing downtown at the FORGE HUB.