Special events for businesses planned to commemorate
MBB @ The Studios turning one!
Join us for the one-year celebration of the opening of Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios, a state-of-the-art venue in Downtown Mesa offering access to technology and spaces for training, events, technology, tools, education, and resources for the community.
Starting April 29, presentations and workshops by subject matter experts are scheduled and FREE for entrepreneurs and businesses. Pick one or register for all the following opportunities to learn, connect, and build your business know-how.
Zap the Generational Gap! | Tuesday, April 29 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Do you want to know how to succeed in a multigenerational world? National speaker Meagan Johnson shares an entertaining and inspiring keynote and shares effective communication strategies across age groups, how to build inclusive environments that foster collaboration and innovation and promotes insights for recruiting and retaining top talent. FREE refreshments and networking. Limited seats, REGISTER NOW
Mesa Business Builder Networking Event | Thursday, May 8 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Mesa’s new Mayor Mark Freeman welcomes you to our most popular semiannual event which features updates about the 2025-2026 Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program and other programs to strengthen your business. Visit our first “Mesa Made” Business Marketplace. Enjoy complimentary food, drinks, beer, and wine. Network with your fellow small businesses, MBB vendors, City staff, and community leaders. Seating is limited! REGISTER TODAY
Real Stories, Real Mesa Entrepreneurs – Successes & Lessons Learned | Wednesday, May 14 | 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Are you an entrepreneur looking to scale a startup? Are you looking to raise angel investment, seed funding, or venture capital? This exciting and insightful roundtable is for you! Join our fireside chat with top Mesa entrepreneurs telling their stories of startup, scaling, raising capital, growth, and more. Hear inspiring words of wisdom from David Ly, CEO of Iveda, a global, publicly-traded Mesa company and his journey of starting and growing in Mesa. Listen to Leah Braddell, CEO of DataBiologics, about the company’s journey to scale, from winning major competitions to actively raising funding and growing their sales channels. Hear advice for today’s funding climate. Gain wisdom from Adam Small, a serial entrepreneur, co-founder of Urbix Resources and founder of IP Assets Technology, as he shares his experiences starting, funding, scaling, and growing successful companies. Learn from those who have walked the walk. Registration is FREE. REGISTER TODAY
Inside the Mind of an Angel Investor | Wednesday, May 21 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Join Tom Fulcher, Chair of Venture Madness, one of Arizona’s elite pitch competitions, as he shares the key elements Angel Investors are looking for in startup and early-stage companies that are seeking equity funding to grow. As the founder of The Idea Gardener with a lifetime of experience, you will gain insights from an expert in how Angel Investors evaluate companies as prospects for investment. REGISTER TODAY
SBIR: How to Leverage America’s Seed Fund | Wednesday, May 21 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Fundraising can be extremely challenging in the current environment. The SBIR program is the nation's largest source of early stage/high-risk funding for start-ups and small businesses. This highly competitive program encourages domestic small businesses to engage in federal research and research development that has potential for commercialization. Join us and learn how to fund your innovation-based startup using non-dilutive seed capital provided by the federal government. REGISTER TODAY
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Meet East Valley Urgent Pet Care – a certified Arizona green business!
Starting with a blank office suite, Dr. Megan Usiak and Stacey Brummer teamed up to establish East Valley Urgent Pet Care (EVUPC). Their practice plays a crucial role in veterinary medicine by serving as the middle ground between a general practice veterinarian and an emergency veterinary hospital. EVUPC also prioritizes transparency and education, involving pet owners in the treatment process whenever possible—such as by using microscopes to help owners understand the root causes of anatomical or physiological conditions.
As Earth Day approaches, EVUPC’s journey to becoming a certified green business highlights its commitment to sustainability. From the outset, the practice prioritized energy-efficient equipment, including examination lights, a washing machine, computers, and a variable-speed HVAC system. All water fixtures, including sinks and toilets, are low-flow to maximize conservation. EVUPC also leads in zero-waste medical practices by using KVP Renewables biodegradable gloves and biodegradable medicine bottles from Vet Cove. These sustainability efforts contributed to the business earning its green certification.
Businesses interested in implementing similar cost-saving and environmentally friendly practices can contact Nick Shivka, Senior Manager of Sustainability Initiatives for Local First Arizona, at nick@localfirstaz.com.
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National Small Business Week 2-day virtual summit
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will celebrate National Small Business Week (NSBW) 2025 May 4-10, to officially recognize the hard work, ingenuity, dedication, and critical contributions of America’s entrepreneurs and small business owners to the economy. On Tuesday, May 6 and Wednesday, May 7, a two-day virtual summit will take place featuring educational presentations, exhibit booths, free business resources, multiple peer-to-peer networking rooms, and expert business advice from SCORE mentors. Registration is required to attend this FREE event: Register for the virtual summit (Link is external)
The 2-day event is free to attend, but registration is required to access all the value the virtual event has to offer:
- Action-driven content that can be applied to your business immediately
- Expert business advice to help you navigate your business journey
- Downloadable business resources to collect for future use
- Networking opportunities to connect with business owners from across the country
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Small business tips: spring cleaning
Spring is the perfect time for small businesses to refresh, reorganize, and set the stage for a prosperous warm season. A recent blog post by Acrisure.com, find 8 Tips for Small Business Spring Cleaning. Clear out the old and make room for the new with these activities to refresh your business.
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Mesa Business Builder The Podcast, “Know Before You Grow”
The Know Before You Grow podcast series is launching new episodes. Beginning on March 7, the series will release bi-weekly podcasts featuring discussions with experts across a wide range of topics. Mesa Business Builder project manager Kelley Keffer hosts conversations covering subjects such as banking and finance, legal advice, marketing, branding, technology, and more. Subscribe here.
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Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program updates
The Mesa Business Builder Small Business Assistance Program has closed for applications for the 2024–2025 program year. All participating businesses will be receiving the annual program survey in May. Please take 10 minutes to complete the survey. It provides critical feedback for continued improvements and offerings to provide value based on Mesa’s small businesses and entrepreneurs’ needs.
Mark your calendars, the 2025–2026 program year will open for applications on July 7, 2025.
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In celebration of Women’s History Month, the Office of Economic Development recognized women executives, educators, and small business owners at the Mesa Business Appreciation Event held at Mesa Arts Center’s Brown Sculpture Courtyard. Special acknowledgement goes to Gateway Bank and FiberFirst for sponsoring the hors d’oeuvres and beverages.
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Ditch the Chaos: Master Your Email, Calendar, and Passwords Like a Boss
Wednesday, April 2 | 12 - 1 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
CO+HOOTS | 225 E. Main St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
Overwhelmed by the chaos? Let’s fix that. Does your inbox never stop dinging? Your calendar playing tricks on you? And passwords? Scattered like confetti, leaving you scratching your head? It’s time to break up with the overwhelm. Join us for this practical session followed by a hands-on workshop, giving you the keys to unlock your email, calendar, and password management like a total pro.
It’s time for you to CREATE YOUR Email, Calendar and Password MASTERY! Bring your laptop and be prepared to dive into immediate implementation with hands-on support from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Podcast Studio Training
Monday, April 7 | 5 – 6 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
Would you like to use the podcast studio at Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios? Attend our free Podcast Studio training, presented by Steven Burkhart, to learn how to use the equipment. Training is mandatory before booking the podcast studio.
How an Optimized LinkedIn Profile Can Boost Your Business
Tuesday, April 8 | 9 – 10 a.m. | FREE | Virtual
Register
In today's digital landscape, an optimized LinkedIn profile is essential for business owners and professionals aiming to enhance their brand and expand their network. Delve into actionable strategies to elevate your LinkedIn presence, including selecting a professional profile photo, crafting a compelling headline, and writing an engaging summary that showcases your unique value proposition. Implementing these techniques and position yourself to attract your target market, foster meaningful connections, and unlock new opportunities.
Tech Roadmap to Success Series
Tuesday, April 15 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
This FREE program is all about helping small business owners discover how technology can work for them. Whether you want to build a stronger online presence, streamline operations, or just get more comfortable with tech tools, this series has something for everyone.
Flight Night 2025: A Student Startup Pitch Battle
Thursday, April 16 | 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. | $0 for HUUB members | Virtual
Register
Want to give your site a few simple, but powerful boosts? High Performance Strategist, Harmony Major, will reveal seven game-changing tweaks that can make a big difference to your results right away. Listen to her unveil real-world examples of websites that deliver what visitors want vs. those that leave money on the table. You’ll discover ways to make your awesomeness WAY more obvious, and guide users more clearly from “visits” to “sales.”
Video Production Training - The Perfect Companion to Podcast Studio Training
Thursday, April 17 | 5 - 6 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
Already using the Podcast Studio at Mesa Business Builder? Take content to the next level with the Beginner’s Video Production Training! Learn what video tools are available, how to use them, and how to leverage media for business—all in a hands-on, interactive session.
AI-Driven Content Creation for Scalable Marketing
Monday, April 28 | 4 - 6 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
Streamline marketing strategies with AI-powered content creation tools! In this workshop, learn how to automate and optimize content production for blogs, social media, and digital campaigns—ensuring brand consistency and efficiency. Discover practical AI solutions that save time while maximizing engagement and reach. Bring a laptop for extra interactivity.
Smart Tech Moves for Small Businesses
Tuesday, April 29 | 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
CO+HOOTS | 225 E. Main St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
In today’s fast-paced world, small businesses need to adapt quickly to stay competitive. This session explores practical strategies for leveraging technology without breaking the bank. Jasmine Easter will share tools, tips, and tricks to help you streamline operations, improve efficiency, and enhance customer experiences — all on a budget. Presented by Jasmine Easter, a seasoned marketing and sales operations strategist with over 20 years of experience delivering technology solutions that drive efficiency and measurable growth.
Tech Roadmap to Success Series
Tuesday, April 29 | 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
This FREE program is all about helping small business owners discover how technology can work for them. Whether you want to build a stronger online presence, streamline operations, or just get more comfortable with tech tools, this series has something for everyone.
Website Planning Workshop: From Idea to Launch
Wednesday, April 30 | 5 - 7 p.m. | FREE | In-Person
Mesa Business Builder @ The Studios | 59 E. First St. | Mesa, AZ 85201
Register
This interactive session will equip participants with the fundamental skills needed to plan a website using popular point-and-click platforms, covering everything from content organization and call-to-action prioritization to branding implementation and performance metrics. Please bring your laptop as you'll be applying these concepts directly during the workshop, allowing you to leave with the beginnings of your own website project already underway.
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