We were worried we could never top the success of our 30th Anniversary and Nerdtoberfest 2024. We were wrong. We had 801 people registered, and on top of that, a bunch of people (you know who you are) showed up even after we sold out. Which was just fine with us. Our estimate is between 650-750 people joined us in the parking lot to celebrate this growing and vibrant community. We are tired. But very happy. It was a great night, and we are very proud of our employees and partners who made this such a great success.
It was a busy event, with a lot to cover. Below you will find some background, some highlights, a lot of pictures, a focus on some partners, our terrifying (not really) encounter with a rogue autonomous vehicle, and thoughts about next year.
What is the Big Deal about PADT’s Nerdtoberfest?
In one sentence:
Nerdtoberfest is a party and more, hosted by PADT in October to celebrate Arizona’s manufacturing and engineering community.
We launched this gathering in 2016 as part of National Manufacturing Month, as an open house where we showed off the products PADT sells and the services we offer, focused on being a customer event. Over the years, it has grown, minus 2020 when we all stayed home, into an opportunity for the community to gather. It is a party, a networking event, an open house, a small trade show, and an excuse to celebrate the end of summer and the growth of manufacturing and engineering in Arizona.
We invite our partners to share what they do alongside PADT, bring in good food, invite the community, and provide a space for people to connect and get excited about technology from education through deep space probes. And, over time, we have realized that the thing that brings people back over and over again are the connections that are made over a shared fascination with technology.
Nerdtoberfest by the Numbers
We are nerds, so numbers matter to us:
- Number of Registered People: 801
- Estimated number of attendees: 650-750
- Number of meals served: 874
- Brats: 450
- Burgers: 195
- Hot Dogs: 120
- Other: 109
- People who flew from the UK for the event: 2
- Dogs who attended: 0 (we need to fix that)
- 3D Printed Rupert the robot dog figures handed out: 120
- Beverages distributed: 1060
- Cans of adult beverages deployed: 480
- Bottles of water: 320
- Cans of Soda: 210
- Glasses of wine: 50
- 3D Printed German “Oktoberfest” hats given away in a sweepstakes: 1
Highlights from the Evening
There was a lot going on, and it was all great, so it was hard to pick what the “highlights” were. Besides our community partners and the Manufacturing pavilion (see below), we picked the following as what we enjoyed the most about this year:
PADT’s Open House
This started as a new version of the open houses we have held for decades. And it is still an important part of every Nerdtoberfest. This year, we featured:
The 3D Printing Demo Room: This has always been a favorite spot for us to show off what Stratasys 3D Printers are capable of. This year, we saw groups of people huddled around a cool part. Some were industry veterans, some were hobbiests, and others were just interested in the technology.
PADT’s Product Development Lab: PADT’s PD team invited two of our partners in to share the cool things we do around taking customer ideas and turning them into viable products.
The Stratasys Truck: This massive demo room on the back of a truck features the latest in additive manufacturing technology. It is a real showcase of industrial 3D Printing and always a treat for our customers and those looking to upscale their additive solutions with Stratasys technology.
Joe Manich Shares the History of Ansys: We had the special privilege of having Joe join us for Nerdtoberfest to present the history of Ansys. It is the story of a software company that started in a farmhouse that just sold for $35 billion. And Joe was there for most of it. Some great inside information about how it all happened.
Introduction of Rapid Fusion: Just before this year’s Nerdtoberfest, we announced PADT’s partnership with Rapid Fusion to represent their Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) systems in North America. And we were lucky enough to have them join us at Nerdtoberfest and meet many of our customers who are interested in this exciting new robotic 3D Printing technology.
Arizona BBQ Delivers with Great Food: Once again, our favorite catering service, Arizona BBQ, showed up and made everyone happy with their amazing food and great service. Someone asked me the week before the event how we were going to feed that many people. The answer was easy: Arizona BBQ.
AI Artwork Delivers for Nerdtoberfest 2025 Artwork: We leaned in heavy with AI this year for our marketing and signage. From our leiderhosen-wearing robot and his friend Rupert to some great signage, we used a variety of tools to get professional content out quickly and for very little money.
People: All this other stuff is cool and important. But in the end, the highlight of Nerdtoberfest is always the people. And this year was no different. Employees, family, friends, customers, partners, suppliers, vendors, community leaders, and so many more.
Nerdtoberfest 2025 in Images
The best way to get a feel for Nerdtoberfest, if you could not make it, or to remember it if you did, is through pictures. Here is a collection of images submitted by our employees and pilfered from guest’s posts on social media:
Community Partners Making a Difference
This year, we expanded our area for organizations that PADT partners with in the community. They are either focused on STEM or supporting the startup ecosystem. The following groups joined us this year:
The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI)
The Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation is a supportive community, offering a suite of comprehensive services and resources specifically tailored for bio, life science, and emerging tech companies. CEI was with us at our first Nerdtoberfest in 2016
Arizona Tech Week 2026
Arizona Tech Week is a decentralized tech conference powered by the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA), Arizona’s statewide economic development organization. During Arizona Tech Week, hundreds of tech-focused events will take place across Arizona – from hackathons to engaging discussions, community meetups, and more. Every event is organized individually by startups, companies, and VCs.
The SciTech Institute
The SciTech Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing and promoting STEM education and awareness in Arizona and beyond. Through their key statewide STEM initiatives that include the Arizona STEM Ecosystem, Arizona SciTech Festival, Chief Science Officers (CSO) program, STEM Little Free Libraries, Ecosystem Hubs & Working Groups, and Science For All, they help ready a knowledgeable, skilled STEM workforce.
Venture Cafe Phoenix
Venture Café Phoenix is a weekly gathering that connects entrepreneurs, innovators, and community members to build a strong, inclusive innovation ecosystem in downtown Phoenix. Powered by the Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation (CEI), it’s part of a global network that fosters collaboration through free, high-impact programming and networking events. Their flagship event, the Thursday Gathering, offers a space for serendipitous connections, learning, and showcasing local innovations across industries.
University of Advancing Technology (UAT)
UAT is the passionate technologist’s college experience—a community uniquely suited to provide students passionate about technology an ideal place to live and grow. UAT is an elite, private University that merges the values of the traditional academy with the modern technology campus, a fusion that enhances our ability to fulfill the mission of educating students in the fields of advancing technology who innovate for our future.
GenTech
GenTech is a community tech hub managed by brilliant techs with backgrounds in engineering, IT support, computer science, and programming. All of the college tech majors, tech intern,s and high school rockstars that work at GenTech are intricately involved in running the business.
The Manufacturing Pavilion Delivered
We were also joined this year by the Arizona Technology Council’s Arizona Manufacturing Catalyst Committee Manufacturing Pavilion. This was a collection of local companies that are involved in manufacturing, and PADT works directly with many of them. Exhibitors included:
- AAP Automation: Your Partner in Advanced Automation Solutions
- Arizona MEP: MEP’s mission is to make every Arizona manufacturer the most successful business it can be
- Chetu: Drive innovation with a world-class software development company
- FAST DMS: Your custom parts as fast as possible
- Foam Packaging Specialists: Custom-engineered foam packaging
- Maskine: Industrial automation. We bring life to machines
- Maverick Power: Innovative power solutions for mission-critical operations
- MLC CAD Systems: Providing, implementing, and supporting engineering solutions
- Oryx Additive: 3D Printing & additive manufacturing finishing
- Purity Resource: Enabling circularity for the semiconductor industry
- Red Flame Innovations: Technology services and solutions, specializing in custom EPICOR ERP solutions
We Didn’t Plan the Wrangling of a Wayward Waymo
We had an unexpected visitor near the end of our event. One of our guests summoned a Waymo fully autonomous vehicle to drive them home. This is a regular thing, and Waymo uses the ASU Research Park, where PADT is located, as a place to park while waiting for customers. But during Nerdtoberfest, the parking lot in front of PADT was blocked with a large Stratasys truck, tables, and a small tent. As can be seen, the persistent robotic vehicle tried hard to find a way through to its passenger. Two of PADT’s employees leaped into action and used their hidden herding skills to guide the vehicle out of the lot.
Building a Community Requires People Willing to Connect
This year’s Nerdtoberfest left us speechless and overwhelmed by the number of people who showed up and the real sense of community on display. The three hours went fast. Our only regret is that we didn’t get a chance to interact with as many people as we wanted. We were also humbled by the positivity and generosity of our customers, partners, vendors, family, and friends. It was invigorating for us to host this celebration of manufacturing and engineering in Arizona.
Join us Next Year
Make sure you subscribe to our monthly newsletter or follow us on LinkedIn to make sure you get our invite for Nerdtoberfest 2026 – it is going to be even bigger and even better, especially if you are there.
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