Wednesday, April 29
@
4:30 pm
–
5:30 pm
World Innovation Network Brings Space Tank™ Innovation Competition to Arizona Space Congress 2026
National space innovation competition launches statewide call for founders, investors, and industry leaders to accelerate Arizona’s growing space economy
PHOENIX, AZ and CAPE CANAVERAL, FL — World Innovation Network (WIN) will bring Space Tank™, its flagship innovation competition, to the stage, featuring both live presentations and select pre-recorded video submissions, as the marquee finale of Arizona Space Congress™ on April 29, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Phoenix.
Arizona Space Congress™ is the first-of-its-kind statewide call-to-action that mobilizes leaders from across industry, government, academia, entrepreneurship, and investment communities to align strategy and advance Arizona’s space ecosystem. Space Tank™: Arizona Edition will serve as the high-energy closing session designed to catalyze collaboration and accelerate innovation.
Pinnacle of the Congress – Space Tank™: Arizona Edition
Arizona Space Congress™ culminates in Space Tank™: Arizona Edition, the live, on-stage and virtual ASTROpreneurial collaboration-competition created and produced by Robert S. Katz, CEO & Executive Director of World Innovation Network (WIN). As the only non-profit, international non-governmental organization (NGO) space think tank, WIN assembles architects and advocates to activate space innovation ecosystems. With over 360 global collaborators, including the United States Space Force and the NASA International Space Apps Challenge, WIN spearheads the SOLUTIONneering™ of game-changing breakthroughs addressing the most critical Earth imperatives.
Space Tank™ – Where Ambition Meets Activation
Renowned as “Shark Tank at Ludicrous Light-Speed,” this rocket-fueled super-session propels an elite crew of ASTROpreneurs into the space spotlight. These visionary founders go head-to-head, unveiling disruptive, dual-use breakthroughs to a “Launch Control” panel of industry titans, orbital experts, and strategic investors. Inside this high-stakes gauntlet, bold solutions fuse with the coaching, community, collaboration, capital, and creativity needed for the safety and security of our final frontier.
Featured Tech-Targets include:
- Satellites & Sensing
- Propulsion & Power
- Robotics & Autonomy
- Space & Earth Infrastructure
Join the Mission: Call for ASTROpreneurs
Reflecting its prime principle that There’s a Place, In Space, For every Face, Space Tank™ warmly welcomes ASTROpreneurs from every background, every level, and every mission readiness stage. Whether igniting their first ScienceFICTION spark to scaling their full ScienceFACTION breakthroughs, we invite everyone’s napkins, mock-ups, and payloads on stage.
Universities, corporations, investors, incubators/accelerators, and all other Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) are invited to partner by nominating their entrepreneurial teams with “The Right Stuff” to represent them within the arena.
To boost broad participation, Robert S. Katz will host a series of optional Space Tank™: Mission Readiness Pre-Briefings for prospective partners and presenters, including potential mentors, advisors, coaches, and judges. Please find details and registration at win.ngo/az.
Space Tank™ Applications Now Open – Apply by April 8, 2026
All founders and partners are encouraged to apply: win.ngo/az. Selected teams and judges will be invited by April 10, 2026 to present at Arizona Space Congress™ on April 29, 2026, with complimentary full-access registration. Presentations will feature both live and select pre-recorded video submissions, therefore applicants are welcome to apply whether attending in person or virtually.
State Awards & National Advancement
Founders compete for the inaugural Arizona Space Congress™ Innovation Impact Medal, a hallmark of excellence and recognition, which will be awarded at the Supernova Gala. Space Rising prides itself on accelerating access to priceless support across Arizona’s rich statewide ecosystem, ensuring every innovator continues to soar well beyond the stage. The top ASTROpreneurial Team advances to the Space Tank™: National Final Championship on December 4 – 6, 2026, at EarthLight Foundation’s New Worlds Faire in Houston, featuring planned programming with NASA Johnson Space Center.
Arizona Space 2030: The Growth Framework
Space Tank™ supports Arizona Space 2030, where the community builds on insights and momentum from the Arizona Space Congress™ by solving core challenges in human frontiers, technology, infrastructure, and power systems. Arizona Space 2030 asks:
What must Arizona do over the next four years to further advance as a leading space state?
Join us in shaping Arizona’s space future – register for the Arizona Space Congress™ and help turn bold ideas into decisive action.
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