Full Name:
Zach Ferres
What part of Arizona do you call home?
Scottsdale
What do you do?
I run Coplex and write for Entrepreneur Magazine
How did you get started in the tech industry? What sparked an initial interest in tech?
Growing up, I was a serious computer nerd. I was taking computers apart and putting them back together in 4th grade. Because of this, I was the one everyone in my hometown called when they needed computer help. This eventually led to the start of my first business BounceHost (in 9th grade) where we did computer repair, website hosting, and web design.
How long have you lived or worked in Arizona? (If it’s been several years, what have you noticed about the growth of the tech industry here?)
5yrs. When I moved to town there was very little going on in the startup/tech scene. We were lucky to have one event a month related to startups/tech and most of it was centered around ASU and SkySong initiatives. Today, it’s an entirely different story. We have startup/tech events and happy hours almost every day. We have an active Startup Grind, Startup Weekend, Startup Week, Startup Digest, 1 Million Cups, House of Genius, and dozens of other event platforms. We have some very successful incubators such as SEEDSPOT and CEI. The number of funded early-stage startups is at an all time high and we are starting to see later stage capital formation in the valley. Startup districts (such as the warehouse district) are starting to form around town. The community is very supportive and everyone is down to help. It’s a good time to be in Phoenix and to be part of all of the growth and momentum.
If you could only describe your city with one word, which word would it be?
Community.
What’s your favorite thing about living in Arizona?
Big enough to have everything you’d want but it’s not congested.
What’s your least favorite thing about living in Arizona? (Aside from the heat.)
It’s expensive as hell to renew license plates.
What’s your favorite Breakfast spot?
Butterfields ALL DAY
What’s your favorite Lunch spot?
Culinary Dropout / The Yard
What’s your favorite dinner spot?
Blue Adobe
What’s your favorite place to work in your city (when your not in your office or home office) (coffee shop, coworking space, etc)?
Cartel Coffee
Best place for a meeting over drinks?
The Montauk
What is something about living in Arizona that only a local would know of? (Or what is a common misconception about living in AZ?)
People cover up their plants with blankets in the winter time. It’s really weird.
Any tips for new Arizona residents?
If you get a speeding ticket from one of those speed cameras you can just toss it out.
Website:
www.coplex.com
