Dallas Startup Week—the high-profile annual event for DFW small business owners and entrepreneurs—is almost upon us. Today The DEC Network revealed its lineup of keynote speakers who’ll share their stories and insights at the August 11-15 event.
The free, five-day celebration is sponsored by Capital One and will be held at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Dallas Frisco Hotel & Convention Center. The goal: to build momentum and opportunity around entrepreneurship and innovation.
Entrepreneurs will have 100 sessions and activations to choose from, including four summits, a variety of special events, and networking opportunities.
Meet the speakers
Here are the keynote speakers for #DSW2024:
Chamillionaire :: August 12 @ 5:45 p.m.
The Grammy-award winning musician, entrepreneur, and investor will be speaking at the Disrupt Dallas Summit during Dallas Startup Week. Known for his platinum-selling album The Sound of Revenge and its multi-platinum single “Ridin Dirty,” Chamillionaire leveraged more than a decade of music-industry success into a role as a prominent tech investor.
Formerly an Entrepreneur in Residence at Upfront Ventures, one of the largest early stage investment firms in Southern California, Chamillionaire is the founder of an investment fund created “to reduce the friction that has historically prevented people in some of the most influential but untapped communities from investing in private companies,” The DEC noted.
He has invested in more than 60 tech companies including Maker Studios (which was acquired by Disney), Cruise ( which was acquired by GM and is currently testing robotaxis on Dallas streets), and Lyft. He also advises a number of high-profile entertainers and athletes on their tech investments. The performing artist-investor says he “wants to lead by example”, and hopes to “inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs to believe they have the power to bring positive change and disruption to the world.”
Sol Rashidi :: August 13 @ 2:15 p.m.
An AI expert, thought leader, and best-selling author, Rashidi will be speaking at the Corporate Startup Innovation Summit presented by Capital One.
A holder of eight patents, Rashidi has been in the data space since the late ’90s and in the AI space since 2011. Her awards and honors lists have included CDO of the Year, Top 100 Innovators in Data & Analytics, and Top 100 Thought Leaders in AI. She was called an “AI Visionary, Leader, and 21st Century Maverick” in a Forbes article.
Per The DEC, after Rashidi helped IBM launch Watson in 2011, she took on roles such as CAO, CDO, CDAO, and CDAIO for companies including Estee Lauder, Merck Pharmaceuticals, Sony Music, and Royal Caribbean. She has been advising and consulting Fortune 10 companies on their AI strategy. She recently wrote a best-selling book called Your AI Survival Guide: Scraped Knees, Bruised Elbows, and Lessons Learned from Real-World Deployments. Her ethos has been centered on exploring the “art of the possible” while staying grounded on the “art of the practical.”
Whitney and Chaz Gates :: August 14 @ 2:15 p.m.
The co-founders of emerging “cocktail wines” beverage brand WONDRY will be speaking at the Women of Innovation Summit.
Per The DEC, WONDRY CEO Whitney Gates has 13 years of Fortune 200 marketing and sales experience, helping build brands for companies including Coca-Cola, Nestlè, Keurig Dr Pepper, and General Mills.
WONDRY COO Chaz Gates, who currently serves as in-house counsel at Texas Instruments, has extensive experience as a corporate attorney advising companies on business and operational matters.
Less than two years after launching WONDRY and securing a deal with Mark Cuban on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” the husband-and-wife team have gained distribution in Walmart, Sam’s Club, Target, Trader Joe’s, and Total Wine. They recently signing a multi-year partnership agreement with Southern Glazer’s, the world’s leading distributor of alcoholic beverages. The couple say they look forward to representing the less than 1% of black American winemakers and opening doors for the many more to come.
The D.O.C. (Tracy Lynn Curry) :: August 15 @ 5:00 p.m.
The Dallas native is a pioneering songwriter and rapper, a founding member of the groundbreaking hip-hop group NWA, and a 2024 recipient of a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He’ll be speaking at The Future of Venture Forum.
Per The DEC, Curry’s sharp lyricism and dynamic delivery helped define NWA’s sound on albums like Straight Outta Compton.
His debut 1989 album No One Can Do It Better showcased his lyrical prowess and storytelling ability, gaining positive critical and commercial success with hits like “It’s Funky Enough” and “The Formula.” His distinctive voice and innovative rhymes set him apart in the rap landscape, The DEC noted.
Curry faced a setback in 1989 when a car accident severely damaged his vocal cords. Although he continued to work as a songwriter and collaborator, his own solo career was significantly impacted. But he’s remained influential by collaborating with some of hip-hop’s biggest names, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, and N.W.A. The D.O.C. remains a respected figure in hip-hop, revered for his early contributions to the genre and his enduring impact on West Coast rap.
Other #DSW2024 highlights
Other program highlights for #DSW2024 include the Mentorship and Startup Awards ceremony, honoring exceptional mentors who have significantly impacted the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the DFW area;the Dell for Startup Pitch Showcase, where local entrepreneurs have an opportunity to win prizes; and Disrupt Dallas Summit presented by Charles Schwab Bank, which celebrates the champions that are disrupting the entrepreneurial ecosystem and talent pipeline, as well as providing expert education and programming for entrepreneurs of color.
Also featured will be the Corporate Startup Innovation Summit presented by Capital One in partnership with the Dallas Regional Chamber, which leverages and unites the breadth and diversity of DFW’s corporations and dynamic startup ecosystem, and will feature the Capital One Mobility Accelerator Pitch Presentation with $50,000 in cash prizes.
The Future of Venture Forum presented by IOOGO, Justworks, FIdelity, Dallas Venture Capital, and Frisco EDC in partnership with the North Texas Angel Network will offer an opportunity for for investors, startups, and key stakeholders to come together to share their insights and knowledge on unique problems facing investors and startups in the current economic climate.
And the Startup Alley Expo will showcase sponsors and local founders, offering resources to all entrepreneurs.
To register for #DSW2024 go here. To view the full week-long schedule, go here.
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