Changing STEM Innovation at the WEPAN Synergiiize Summit

On April 4-5, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, and intellectual property and technology transfer professionals came together for WEPAN’s inaugural Synergiiize Summit, an intensive and community-centered  professional development conference on innovation and entrepreneurship. 

Supported by funding from the Small Business Administration and Qualcomm, the Synergiiize Summit was co-hosted by the Empowered STEM Entrepreneurship Collective, a partnership among WEPAN, the American Association of Colleges and Universities, AISES: Advancing Indigenous People in STEM, and Graduate Fellowships for STEM Diversity. It also acted as the kick-off event for the Synergiiize Innovator Program with twenty-nine innovators participating in the 2025 cohort of the eight-month program uniquely designed to empower and support undercapitalized innovators on their entrepreneurship and commercialization journeys. 

To foster greater access to and transparency around the critical resources, support, and knowledge needed for success, the Synergiiize Summit featured sessions on topics like values and vision alignment, personal branding, customer discovery, strategic fundraising, mentoring, and networking. In addition, the AISES Rematriation Gathering for Indigenous Womxn in STEM was held as a pre-Summit event and rematriation was a theme throughout the Summit. The keynote address, supported by the Women of Color in Engineering Collaborative, was delivered by Dr. Brooke Coley, Assistant Professor of Engineering at Arizona State University and a former ARC Network Virtual Visiting Scholar.

“The intentional community that we build together with our partners, members, and participants is my favorite part of the Synergiiize initiative,” said Dr. Heather Metcalf, WEPAN’s Managing Director of Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. “Having a community of mutual support offers so much room to dream big and reimagine the world together.” 

Multiple WEPAN members and board members were engaged at the Summit. Participants included past WEPAN presidents, Ms. Beth Anne Johnson, Dr. Amy Freeman, and Dr. Jamie Huber Ward. Huber Ward, a research associate at University of Colorado Boulder, is also participating in the Innovator Program.

“The Synergiiize Summit was an amazing experience packed with actionable information and insights, as well as opportunities to create authentic connections with new and seasoned entrepreneurs. I left with so many new and exciting ideas to explore. I look forward to continuing to grow my knowledge and foster relationships throughout my time in the Synergiiize program,” said Huber Ward.

Throughout the rest of the year, Synergiiize Innovators will continue to dig deeper into topics like market research and customer discovery; prototyping, product development, and intellectual property; revenue models, funding, and financing; business model canvas; pitching; and more.