Description

The 2025 Tempe Chamber Business Academy is back and offers businesses and leaders the knowledge they need to continue growing their companies and strengthen our community.

The Business Academy is FREE for members. Don't delay! Secure your spot today.

Topic: The Top 10 Legal Mistakes That Can Destroy a Business (and How to Avoid Them in Today's Economic Landscape).

Speaker: Brian J. Burt, Partner, with Snell & Wilmer L.L.P., and Chair of the firm’s Emerging Business Group.   

When a business owner is attempting to grow his or her company, legal issues are often put on the back burner. The natural focus is on hiring talented employees, securing customers, and generating revenue. Unfortunately, failing to do some basic legal planning can result in costly mistakes, impaired growth, and even the untimely collapse of the company. In this session, learn how to avoid critical legal mistakes that can destroy your business.

Topic: How to Build Your Own AI Assistant 

Speaker: Ian Gatzke, Founder of Implement AI 

In this session, learn how to Use CustomGPTs to Automate and Scale Your Business. This session is built specifically for small business owners who want to leverage AI but aren’t sure where to start. No jargon, no overwhelm — just real tools and cases that you can apply to marketing, customer service, and operations. Handle everything from proposals to content strategy, with the power of AI to transform the way you work. 

Topic: Funding Resources for Your Business and SBDC Tools & Resources 

Speakers: George Kimble, Small Business Development Center and Lou Farina, Small Business Development Center 

George Kimble: Discover powerful AI tools offered by the Small Business Development Center that can streamline your business planning and financial forecasting. Gain insights into forecasting strategies that will guide your business confidently through the end of 2025. See resources to strategically mitigate your bids on projects affected by the new Trump tariffs. Learn about funding from SBA lenders that can help alleviate squeezing your cost margins.

Lou Farina: Securing funding for your business can be a major challenge. The SBIR program offers a powerful solution—it's the largest source of early-stage funding in the country for small businesses. This competitive program supports U.S.-based companies like yours in developing innovative technologies through federally funded research and development. If your idea has commercial potential, SBIR can help you bring it to life and turn it into a profitable product. 

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