On October 1, 2026, the 4th Annual Texas Venture Fest will bring together more than 3,500 entrepreneurs, investors, and community leaders across 10-plus cities and 20-plus venues. As the largest state-focused innovation experience in Lone Star State history, this co-created signature event celebrates local startup communities while linking them into a single, unified statewide network.

Driven by a diverse coalition of venture capital firms, accelerators, universities, economic development corporations, and civic organizations, the festival showcases how Texas collaborates across regional lines to power economic growth. This year's overarching theme, "Innovation is Statecraft," frames entrepreneurial innovation as a strategic engine for the state's economy and national leadership.

"We bring together a statewide coalition with a shared purpose: amplifying the ecosystem of entrepreneur support," said CS Freeland, Texas Venture Fest organizer. "When each co-host showcases their regional perspective and expertise, our collective work connects local strengths into a powerful statewide network. The Fest puts that vision into practice through locally led gatherings across Texas."

"Founders across Texas deserve access to a connected statewide ecosystem," McKenzie said. "The Building Texas Show, a Youtube Podcast, exists to elevate the people building this state, from the Hill Country to the border and our major metros. Supporting Texas Venture Fest statewide, and hosting the Hill Country gathering, is how we put that mission into action. Rural students pitching at the Odeon belong in the same conversation as founders in Austin, Dallas, El Paso, and San Antonio."

Regional Highlights Across the Lone Star State

Co-host organizations across Texas are delivering specialized regional programming on October 1:

• Austin: Features the Austin Venture Crawl, including Silverton Partners’ Oktoberfest kickoff, the Founders' Outpost hosted by LiveOak Ventures, S3 Ventures, 512 Financial, and KPMG, space workforce roundtables by SWIFT, and research panels hosted by the Federal Labs Consortium and USPTO.
• North Texas: Kiln Dallas hosts ecosystem leaders, featuring Michael Phillips of T.D. Jakes Enterprises discusses capital access through the Good Soil Movement, alongside insights from The Founders Arena.
• El Paso & San Antonio: Pioneers 21 and UTEP’s Hunt G.O. Foundry anchors El Paso Startup Week activities, while San Antonio’s Emerge and Rise spotlights local founders and creators.
• Central & Hill Country Texas: Pflugerville hosts a Women’s Summit and Venture Pfest; Georgetown offers angel investing workshops with CTAN; Round Rock Chamber features founder fireside chats; and Hill Country Venture Fest highlights rural student entrepreneurs at Mason’s historic Odeon Theater.
• Houston & South Texas: Houston showcases health tech, energy transition, and space innovations; Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and Laredo highlight binational trade, cross-border entrepreneurship, and logistics hubs.
• Buda: Buda joins the regional coalition with spotlight events on local small business growth and suburban innovation.

Rapid Statewide Growth

Starting in 2022 as the Austin Venture Crawl with 700 attendees, Texas Venture Fest has rapidly expanded statewide. In 2023, the event expanded to 10 cities and 2,000 participants, and in 2024 it surpassed 3,000 attendees alongside the debut of the Texan's Choice Awards. By 2025, the festival convened 3,500 participants across 25 venues. This year, the festival expands further as an anchor event of Texas Startup & Tech Week, reinforcing the state’s position as a premier global hub for innovation.

For more details or to connect with local festival hosts, visit official Texas Venture Fest channels.

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The Buda Economic Development Corporation will host Texas Venture Fest: Buda 2026 on Thursday, October 1, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Buda HIVE, 307 N. San Marcos St. The evening celebrates entrepreneurship, innovation, and small business in Buda and spotlights the newest graduates of the Buda HIVE Incubator Program, Cohort 5. Home for Innovators, Visionaries, & Entrepreneurs. Buda is one of more than 10 cities across Texas hosting the 4th Annual Texas Venture Fest on the same day. Powered by more than 20 co-host organizations, the statewide, simultaneous celebration is expected to convene more than 3,500 Texans and is the anchor of Texas Startup & Tech Week, September 28 through October 2, the state's flagship innovation week.

What to expect in Buda

The Buda event is built around the entrepreneurs the HIVE has been working with all fall. Attendees can:

• Visit the Small Business Expo featuring Cohort 5 graduates at their booths

• Watch a live Pitch Competition

• Hear Investor Insights from the people who fund early-stage companies

• Network with founders, business owners, investors, and community leaders

• Enjoy drinks and cocktails from Proof, music from DJ Steve, and coffee from Travelin' Tom's

The event is free to attend with registration. Register at luma.com/texas-venture-fest-buda-2026.

Cohort 5 kicked off in August and completed an eight-week program of weekly guidance from incubator strategists and industry experts, one-on-one coaching, and a collaborative network of fellow founders. Texas Venture Fest: Buda is the cohort's public debut.

"Bringing the Texas Venture Fest momentum to Buda allows us to give our local entrepreneurs the community support and network opportunities they deserve. This year, we are proud to highlight the graduates of our Buda HIVE (Home for Innovators, Visionaries, and Entrepreneurs) Cohort 5. With investor insights, a pitch competition, and a dynamic small business expo, ‘Buda-ful Fest 2026’ demonstrates that major innovation and talent thrive just south of Austin. We look forward to welcoming everyone to support our local founders and witness Buda’s economic drive firsthand." says Jacquie Martinez, Assistant Director of Small Business Initiatives at the Buda EDC.

One day, one state, many stages

Texas Venture Fest began in 2022 as the Austin Venture Crawl with about 700 attendees. It grew to 10 cities and roughly 2,000 participants in 2023, passed 3,000 in 2024, and reached 3,500 Texans across 25 venues in 2025. This year's theme, "Innovation is Statecraft," frames innovation as a strategic capability that strengthens the Texas economy.

"We bring together as a statewide coalition this shared purpose: amplifying the ecosystem of entrepreneur support. When each cohost showcases their own regional perspective and expertise, together, our work connects local strengths into a statewide network," said Texas Venture Fest organizer CS Freeland. "The Fest puts that vision into practice through locally led gatherings across Texas. Not only is this a statewide celebration, it's an opportunity to craft what Texas builds next."

While Buda celebrates at the HIVE, fellow Texans will be gathering across the state on October 1:

• Austin: The Austin Venture Crawl runs across downtown venues. Silverton Partners hosts an Oktoberfest-themed Founders' Bags & Brews with live music from Yodel Blitz. S3 Ventures, LiveOak Ventures, 512 Financial, and KPMG host the Founders' Outpost at Star Bar from 5 to 8 p.m. The Federal Labs Consortium and USPTO present "Resources for Innovation" at 3 p.m., and the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas leads a "Jobs Behind the New Space Economy" roundtable.

• Georgetown: The City of Georgetown, co-sponsored by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, welcomes Gary Forni of Central Texas Angel Network for a hands-on "Thinking Like an Angel" pitch-preparation workshop, with door prizes of one-hour coaching sessions and the launch of a new digital resource platform for local startups.

• Round Rock: The Round Rock Chamber, in its fourth year of participation, hosts a fireside chat between Director of Innovation & Entrepreneurship Adriana Nunez-McDermott and founder Mathias Ihlenfeld on the good, the bad, and the ugly of building a company.

• Pflugerville: Venture Pfest connects kitchen-table founders with tools, guidance, and relationships, and features a Women's Summit.

• San Antonio: Emerge and Rise puts San Antonio's founders and its arts and culture scene in front of new audiences.

• North Texas: The Founders Arena hosts at Kiln, Dallas's new coworking space, and welcomes Michael Phillips, COO of T.D. Jakes Enterprises and a leader of the Good Soil Movement.

• Hill Country: Rural students from across the region pitch their ideas on the stage of Mason's historic Odeon Theater and receive feedback from business and community leaders.

• El Paso: Pioneers 21, in partnership with UTEP's Hunt G.O. Foundry, hosts the Borderland's celebration as part of El Paso Startup Week.

The Fest's sister signature event, the Texas Venture Gala & Forum, brought hundreds of Texans to the State Capitol earlier this year for the largest innovation convening at the statehouse and an awards dinner in downtown Austin.

Why it matters for Buda

The Buda HIVE is the Buda EDC's incubator and accelerator, created to give entrepreneurs mentorship, funding connections, training, and a peer network so they can launch, build, and scale in Buda. The program aligns with the EDC's Business Retention & Expansion strategy and complements The Depot on Main, a retail incubator and collective marketplace in a revitalized historic train depot scheduled to open in downtown Buda in early 2027.

Taking part in Texas Venture Fest puts Buda's founders on the same day and in the same statewide network as investors, accelerators, universities, chambers, and economic development organizations from El Paso to Dallas, and gives the community a chance to see what is next for Buda's growing business ecosystem.

"The Building Texas Show exists to put a microphone in front of the people doing the work in cities like Buda, not just the big metros," said Justin McKenzie, host of The Building Texas Show, a YouTube podcast. "I have watched the Buda EDC back its entrepreneurs, from small business support to the HIVE, and Texas Venture Fest is that work on display. Collaboration and ambition are  building this state, this is the story, and we are proud to tell it on The Building Texas Show."

Event details

• What: Texas Venture Fest: Buda 2026

• When: Thursday, October 1, 2026, 5 to 8 p.m.

• Where: Buda HIVE, 307 N. San Marcos St., Buda, TX 78610

• Register: luma.com/texas-venture-fest-buda-2026

• Statewide info: https://www.texasventurefest.com

About the Buda Economic Development Corporation

The Buda Economic Development Corporation (Buda EDC) champions commerce and community by fostering a business-friendly culture that advances bold ideas, drives innovation, and honors Buda’s rich heritage. Dedicated to sustainable economic growth and enhanced quality of life, Buda EDC works through strategic partnerships, targeted industry development, and comprehensive business support services to attract new investment and retain and expand local businesses. With a focus on advanced manufacturing, knowledge-intensive business services, entrepreneurism, and arts and entertainment, the organization empowers businesses at every stage to thrive while preserving the character that makes Buda unique. With a commitment to collaboration, community engagement, and preserving Buda’s unique culture, Buda EDC serves as a catalyst for opportunity, ensuring a thriving economy for residents, businesses, and future generations. Learn more at www.budaedc.com.

About Texas Venture Fest

Texas Venture Fest is a statewide, simultaneous celebration of the ecosystem of entrepreneur support, co-created with more than 100 partner organizations. It is the only organization spotlighted for innovation in Texas Governor Greg Abbott's five-year economic development plan, "Bigger. Better. Texas." Learn more at texasventurefest.com.

Media Contact

Buda Economic Development Corporation
Email Contact
512-295-2022

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The Founders Arena will host Texas Venture Fest: North Texas 2026 on Thursday, October 1, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. CDT at Kiln Dallas. The gathering is the North Texas stop of Texas Venture Fest, a statewide innovation series that brings more than 3,500 people together across more than 15 cities.

Now in its third year, the North Texas event is built around connection rather than a pitch stage. Founders, investors, business and civic leaders, universities, and ecosystem builders will meet at Kiln’s new Preston Hollow coworking space at The Hill, 9850 N. Central Expressway, Suite 230. The evening includes light refreshments, time to meet, and remarks from a special guest. There is no pitching and no pitch competition.

Michael Phillips, chief operating officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises will join the program. T.D. Jakes Enterprises is a social impact holding company working across content, cultural change, community development, and capital investment. Phillips’ work with the Good Soil Movement focuses on access to capital, technology, and growth for entrepreneurs.

The Founders Arena is marking three years of building in Texas. It has worked with 36 companies across six cohorts, with companies headquartered across 11 U.S. states and 10 countries represented in its broader founder network. Hundreds of financial services visitors have come to North Texas to meet founders. That work has led to five exits and four companies that have relocated or are relocating to Texas.

One of those relocations will be visible in the room. Finliti, a Founders Arena cohort company, is moving from Toronto to North Texas. Founder Jennifer Schell will attend as she begins that move, giving guests a chance to hear her share with our ecosystem why she chose Texas and North Texas, framed around the strength of the community.

The event falls during Texas Startup & Tech Week, September 28 through October 2. The sister signature gathering is the Texas Venture Gala & Forum at the Texas State Capitol, with an awards dinner in downtown Austin.

Pamela Cytron, chief executive officer of The Founders Arena, said: "Over the last three years, we’ve connected founders from across states and countries with people and opportunities here in Texas, and welcomed hundreds of financial services visitors to North Texas. We’ve seen five exits, and Finliti’s move from Toronto will be the fourth company relocation. I’m excited that people at Venture Fest can meet its founder and see one of those connections becoming real. The next chapter is about abundance. Ecosystem builders can work together to get a founder to the right customer, capital, expertise and resources at the right time. That’s how we build sustainable companies and lasting economic opportunity in Texas."

Justin McKenzie, host of the Building Texas Show, said: "With 28% of Texans living in the North Texas region, I am excited to see the impact that VentureFest will have in the DFW/North Texas area."

The Founders Arena is also introducing the TFA Innovation Chamber, a separate commercial company connected to its ecosystem, designed to help founders, capital, cities, and partners find one another and turn those introductions into commercial outcomes.

Registration is open at luma.com/texas-venture-fest-north-texas-2026. Hosts and partners include The Founders Arena, Kiln Dallas, Texas Venture Alliance / Texas Venture Fest, and Myngly.

About Texas Venture Fest

The innovation story of the Texas Venture Fest has rapidly evolved every year, outgrowing its name since inception. Texas Venture Fest began in 2022 as the Austin Venture Crawl, bringing together more than 700 attendees across downtown Austin venues with support from several Texas venture capital firms and the Austin Chamber. In 2023 CS Freeland the organizer, drove across Texas and personally invited a variety of leaders across Texas to join the effort, expanding to 10 cities with more than 40 panelists and approximately 2,000 participants. In 2024, participation surpassed 3,000, and the Fest introduced the Texan’s Choice Awards. By 2025 it convened 3,500 Texans across 25 venues, featured nearly 100 panelists, and recognized the Awards at the Fest’s sister signature event, the Texas Venture Gala & Forum occurring six months later. This year in addition to creating the statewide innovation store, the Fest became part of a statewide innovation week, the Texas Startup & Tech Week.

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More than 500 entrepreneurs, small business owners and aspiring founders have registered for VentureFest Pflugerville, a weeklong run of hands-on workshops, summits and a pitch competition hosted by the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation. The festival opens Saturday, Sept. 26, and closes Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Marriott Pflugerville.

Pflugerville is one of roughly 25 Texas communities staging a VentureFest this fall, and one of a handful stretching the celebration across an entire week rather than a single day. The schedule was built from a survey PCDC sent to more than 3,000 people. Respondents said they wanted to network beyond the same familiar faces, and they wanted to leave with skills rather than business cards.

"People want to come to events, but they actually want to learn something before just coming to check the box and say I was in attendance," said Jerry W. Jones Jr., executive director of PCDC. "We asked what it is that you need help with as a business, and then we went out and found the most skilled individuals to bring that information back to them."

The week opens with mastermind classes on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27. Those sessions moved to the weekend this year after participants said weekday sessions conflicted with their jobs and their own businesses. Both days sold out their 80 seats within a couple of days and each carries a 30-person waiting list, limited only by venue capacity. PCDC is in conversation with Pflugerville ISD about a larger space. Sessions cover AI marketing, websites, moving from a side hustle to brick and mortar, and pitch competition preparation, with business coaches on hand. Last year's version was scheduled for three hours and ran closer to eight as attendees called friends to join them.

The Women's Summit follows on Tuesday at the Cinemark theater at Stone Hill, running 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with keynote speaker Kathy Terry, a dozen additional speakers and fireside chats. About 130 people have registered.

Wednesday's session at Spare Time brings back the rotating round tables that drew the strongest requests for a return. Seven to eight specialists each anchor a table, and participants rotate every seven to 10 minutes to ask questions and trade ideas. Roughly 100 people are signed up.

The finale on Thursday, Oct. 1, runs 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Marriott Pflugerville and opens with 13 vendor booths, including the City of Pflugerville, the tourism office and the public library. Keynotes and a book signing fill the middle of the day, and a pitch competition naming three winners closes the festival.

The growth has been steep. Two years ago VentureFest Pflugerville was a meetup that drew about 50 people to a coffee shop. Last year's expanded format drew more than 400 participants.

"Economic development is about attracting businesses to your city, but a lot of the time entrepreneurs and small businesses get overlooked," said Adam Maxon, who leads VentureFest programming for PCDC. "When they start in a city, they usually end up building in that city."

Jones also credited C.S. Freeland for quietly building the statewide VentureFest momentum that Pflugerville and other Texas communities are now part of.

About PCDC:

The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation is celebrating its 25th anniversary, recruiting in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, life science, defense and aerospace while supporting local small businesses. Its PFORGE youth entrepreneurship program was recognized with an award from the International Economic Development Council. Registration and the full lineup are available through PCDC.

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