Utah Tech Week
A Community-Powered Celebration of Innovation
Utah Tech Week is a decentralized, community-driven celebration of Utah’s vibrant technology and startup ecosystem. Rather than a single conference or summit, it’s a week of experiences, meetups, workshops, panels, networking events, and interactive sessions hosted by startups, investors, community organizations, and innovators from across the state.
Taking place during the first week of February, Utah Tech Week brings together creators, builders, founders, students, and tech enthusiasts to share insights, connect with new people, spark “happy collisions,” and help build Utah’s thriving tech community.
The Nucleus Institute is a proud partner of Utah Tech Week.
Why It Matters
By the community, for the community: Anyone who supports the Utah tech and innovation scene can host or attend events—there’s no fee to participate.
Accessible to all: Whether you’re a seasoned professional or new to tech, there’s something for you.
A week of connection: The goal is to foster meaningful connections, idea sharing, collaboration, and growthacross the ecosystem.
What to Expect
Throughout the week, you’ll find:
Fireside chats and expert panels
Hands-on workshops and skill-building sessions
Pitch competitions and investor meetups
Networking events, socials, and community gatherings
Opportunities to showcase and learn from Utah companies and startups
Who Should Attend
Utah Tech Week is perfect for:
Entrepreneurs and founders
Startups and early-stage teams
Investors and ecosystem partners
Students, job seekers, and tech talent
Anyone passionate about technology and innovation in Utah
Join the movement and be part of a week of discovery, connection, and possibility in one of the fastest-growing tech hubs in the country.
Utah Tech Week Strategic Open: How Innovation Leaders Think
The Utah Tech Week Strategic Open is an immersive, high-energy experience that turns strategic thinking into something you can see, feel, and participate in.
Hosted by The Nucleus Institute, Utah’s central engine for innovation, this event blends a rare live simultaneous chess exhibition with concise, thought-provoking panels that explore how Utah’s most effective innovation leaders think, decide, and build for long-term impact.
What Is a Simultaneous Exhibition?
In a simultaneous chess exhibition, one highly skilled player competes against multiple opponents at the same time, moving from board to board while managing dozens of strategic scenarios simultaneously. Each move requires foresight, adaptability, and the ability to weigh risk, timing, and consequence in real time.
That same mindset is at the core of innovation.
As the exhibition unfolds, attendees can watch strategy take shape—how a single decision can ripple across many outcomes, how momentum shifts, and how long-term positioning often matters more than short-term wins.
Strategy in Motion — On and Off the Board
The chess exhibition anchors the experience, but it doesn’t stop there.
Chess boards will be set up throughout the space, inviting experienced players and first-time participants alike to sit down, make a move, and try their hand at the game. Whether you’re a seasoned player looking for a challenge or someone learning the rules for the first time, the environment is intentionally welcoming, social, and low-pressure.
These open boards transform the event from something to watch into something to join—sparking conversation, curiosity, and connection across experience levels.
From Game Play to Real-World Impact
Between rounds of play, the action on the chess floor is paired with short, high-impact panel discussions featuring leaders from Utah’s innovation ecosystem. These conversations connect what’s happening on the board to real-world decision-making, exploring topics such as:
How research is translated from the lab into commercial success
How founders and operators make decisions amid uncertainty
How complex technology ventures scale responsibly and sustainably
How long-term strategy drives economic and technological impact
Rather than abstract theory, the Strategic Open makes strategy visible—bridging chess, innovation leadership, and real-world execution in a way that’s engaging, accessible, and memorable.
Who Should Attend
The Strategic Open is designed for:
Founders and startup operators
Researchers and commercialization leaders
Investors and ecosystem partners
Students and professionals curious about how innovation decisions are made
No chess experience is required. Whether you come to watch, listen, play, or simply explore, this event invites participation at every level.
Why It Matters
Innovation doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of disciplined thinking, calculated risk, and the ability to see several moves ahead. The Strategic Open brings those ideas to life—creating a shared space where strategy becomes tangible and Utah’s innovation community comes together.
Utah Tech Week Student Day
Utah Tech Week Student Day
Utah Tech Week Student Day is a full-scale, student-first experience designed to help emerging talent turn curiosity into career momentum.
Produced by The Nucleus Institute in partnership with the University Growth Fund, Student Day creates a direct bridge between students and Utah’s technology and innovation economy—bringing education, opportunity, and access into one highly interactive environment.
Built for Students, Designed for Action
Student Day prioritizes practical experience over passive programming. Rather than lectures alone, students engage in hands-on learning, real conversations, and career-ready preparation.
Throughout the day, students will participate in:
Skill-building workshops focused on real-world application
Recruiting tools and strategies for interviews and applications
Company showcases highlighting internship and early-career opportunities
Mentorship and internship guidance from professionals across the ecosystem
Panel discussions with industry leaders sharing honest insights on navigating a career in tech and innovation
Career-Ready Experiences
Student Day also offers tangible tools students can use immediately:
A free professional headshot station to support polished applications
A short-form pitch competition, giving students the opportunity to present ideas, receive feedback, and compete for prizes
Who Should Attend
Student Day is ideal for:
Undergraduate and graduate students
Students exploring careers in technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, or research
Those seeking internships, entry-level roles, or mentorship within Utah’s tech ecosystem
Why It Matters
Utah’s innovation economy depends on the next generation of talent. Student Day ensures students aren’t just observing that ecosystem, but actively engaging with it—leaving better prepared, better connected, and more confident about what comes next.