North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details. For ongoing events, click here.
Don’t miss anything: Get Dallas Innovates Every Day. And, if you know of a great event, tell us about it. Event details courtesy of organizers.
Thursday, January 29
The DEC Network’s 11th Annual State of Entrepreneurship
Hosted by DEC Network and presented by Bank of America
Collins Executive Education Center, 3150 Brinkley Ave., Dallas
6 to 8 p.m.
Join DEC Network for the 11th anniversary of one of the most energizing celebrations in the North Texas startup ecosystem—the Annual State of Entrepreneurship. Each year, this event brings together founders, investors, corporate leaders, resource partners, and community champions to honor the momentum, milestones, and people shaping entrepreneurship across our region.
This is not a conference session—it’s a party and a celebration of everything the entrepreneurial community has built over the past year. They’ll shine a spotlight on the entrepreneurs, organizations, and institutions driving innovation, creating jobs, expanding access, and fueling a more equitable and forward-thinking startup landscape.
Expect an evening filled with recognition, connection, and big energy. Enjoy an awards ceremony highlighting standout achievements, alongside music, networking, and a room packed with the people who make North Texas one of the most vibrant startup communities in the country.
This 11th anniversary celebration also serves as the official kick-off to DFW Startup Week, setting the tone for a powerful week of collaboration, creativity, and innovation. Come ready to celebrate the wins—and the people—who are building the future of our region.
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MassChallenge Health Tech Mixer
Hosted by MassChallenge
Pegasus Park, 3000 Pegasus Park Dr, Dallas
5 to 7 p.m.
Kick off 2026 with MassChallenge at their Health Tech Mixer. This event brings together healthtech investors, founders, corporate leaders, and ecosystem builders to connect, swap insights, and set the tone for the year ahead.
You must register to attend.
Friday, January 30
Parade of Stars Gala
Hosted by the Women’s Business Council – Southwest
River Ranch Stockyards, 500 NE 23rd St., Fort Worth
5:30 to 10:30 p.m.
This awards gala is time to honor women-owned businesses and advocates. The trailblazers-of-the-southwest themed event features a cocktail reception, dinner, awards, live band with dancing, country line dance instruction, a longhorn photo opportunity, and fundraisers.
The evening’s agenda is from 5:30 – 7:00: Cocktail Reception, Longhorn Photo Opportunity, and Fundraisers; 7:00 – 8:00: Dinner, Awards, and Live Auction; 8:00 – 10:30: Live Band with Dancing, Line Dance Instruction, and Fundraisers.
Rescheduled: Wednesday, February 4
DRC Annual Meeting: Bold Bets, Big Futures
Hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber
Music Hall at Fair Park, Dallas
3 to 6:30 p.m.
This year’s program features Ross Perot Jr., Chairman of The Perot Companies and Hillwood, whose forward-thinking approach to business development and infrastructure has helped shape the future of our region—and the nation. From developing the country’s first industrial airport to serving the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Perot’s perspective on growth, innovation, and opportunity offers a powerful message for business leaders at every level.
The event also marks a significant milestone as DRC officially welcomes Brad Cheves as the new President & CEO, ushering in an exciting next chapter of collaboration and impact. Join more than 1,000 business, civic, and community leaders as they honor the achievements that brought us here—and look ahead to the bold ideas that will drive our shared future.
Thursday, February 5
DallasMeetup at Concrete Cowboy Frisco
Hosted by The DallasMeetup
Concrete Cowboy Frisco, 3685 The Star Blvd., Suite #210, Frisco
5 to 8 p.m.
Built with connection in mind, DallasMeetup hosts a quarterly, industry-agnostic mixer for practitioners across a variety of verticals. DallasMeetup provides a “big tent” approach to networking, focusing on increased connection velocity vs. niche networking special interest groups.
This DallasMeetup features dozens of leaders in the sports industry in North Texas and beyond. Networkers represent such organizations as FIFA, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, PGA of America, Dude Perfect, Texas Motor Speedway, the Big XII Conference, and many more.
Monday, February 9
NTXIA Reverse Pitch & Mixer
Hosted by North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA)
Pegasus Park, 3000 Pegasus Park Dr., Dallas
4:30 to 7 p.m.
Get ready for the first NTXIA Reverse Pitch & Mixer – where public sector poses the challenge and innovators pitch live! The first NTXIA Reverse Pitch Competition (and celebration) will be held February 9th, 2026 at Pegasus Park! Applications to pitch are open through February 2nd. Selected startups will have the opportunity to present their solutions directly to public-sector leaders and ecosystem partners. The lightning pitches are intended to be short, impactful presentations from startups addressing real, clearly defined public-sector needs.
Beyond the pitches, the event is designed to bring together the smart cities and innovation ecosystem spanning North Texas. Attendees will have the opportunity to network across sectors, connect with peers facing similar challenges, and exchange ideas that can spark future partnerships. Space is limited, so RSVP early.
Wednesday, February 11
Y Texas 2026 Launch
Hosted by Y Texas
Communities Foundation of Texas, 5500 Caruth Haven Lane, Dallas
9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join the most connected professional network in Texas as Y Texas spends 2026 touring the Lone Star State! On Feb 11th, 200 Texas executives will launch the first of (6) regional events showcasing the biggest opportunities ahead in 2026. Find out who is moving here, where the money is going, and where the deals are. VIPs get free access to all 2026 events, digital content and YTexas membership!
This event hosts a unique mix of presentations and discussion topics driving growth in Texas including: Financial markets, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, sports/hospitality/entertainment, power & energy, transportation and logistics, space, autonomy and more.
Thursday, February 19
Unicorns & Underdogs: High-Growth Founders Summit
Hosted by North Texas Angel Network & The DEC Network
CreateFW, 600 Bryan Ave., Suite 200, Fort Worth
6 to 8 p.m.
Unicorns & Underdogs: High-Growth Founder Summit brings together bold founders, operators, and investors for a high-impact day focused on scaling fast and building resilient companies. Hear real growth stories, gain actionable insights on fundraising and leadership, and connect with peers who are pushing boundaries—from scrappy underdogs to unicorn-level visionaries.
Thursday, February 26
26th Annual Empty Bowls
Hosted by North Texas Food Bank
NTFB’s Perot Family Campus, 3677 Mapleshade Lane, Plano
6 to 9 p.m.
Presented by Kroger, Empty Bowls will feature tastings from leading local chefs, beverages, entertainment, a silent auction, and the opportunity to take home a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted bowl created by local artists.
Proceeds from Empty Bowls directly support the North Texas Food Bank’s hunger relief programs at a time when need remains high. Texas continues to rank first nationally in the number of people facing hunger, with nearly 744,000 individuals across NTFB’s 12-county service area unsure where their next meal will come from. Roughly one-third of those impacted are children.
Wednesday, March 4, 2026, through Thursday, March 5, 2026
Texas ACG Capital Connection
Hosted by TAAC
The Star in Frisco
Save the date
Early bird pricing ends on December 15, so now is the time to secure your spot at the Texas ACG Capital Connection (TACC). For more than two decades, TACC has been the premier meeting place where capital, opportunity, and leadership converge—powering the deals and relationships that drive the middle market. Recognized as the most significant private equity and debt capital event in Texas and the South, TACC is also among the largest ACG Capital Connections in the nation.
Each year, TACC brings together 100+ leading private equity and mezzanine firms, representing more than $100 billion in capital available for investment. The result is a high-impact environment designed to help businesses scale, sponsors deploy capital, and advisors transform insights into action. More than a conference, TACC is a catalyst—creating an exceptional platform for networking and deal flow across the full spectrum of middle-market leaders. Attendees include merger and acquisition professionals, intermediaries, business owners, executives, and the service providers who support growth at every stage.
Annually, TACC welcomes approximately 1,200 attendees from across the country, making it a must-attend event for anyone focused on accelerating growth, creating value, and celebrating success in the middle market.
Monday, March 30, 2026, through Tuesday, March 31, 2026
Convergence AI Dallas: Where Artificial Intelligence and Business Meet
Hosted by the Dallas Regional Chamber
Irving Convention Center, Irving
Save the date
Early bird registration for Convergence AI Dallas 2026 is now open! Entering its third year, Convergence AI is one of the largest business gatherings dedicated to AI in the Dallas–Fort Worth region. Here’s what’s on deck:
- Keynotes by leading AI experts from Fortune 1000 companies
- Convergence Labs, presented by Slalom – Hands-on learning with top AI leaders
- 2026 Dallas Innovates AI 75 Reception – Honoring DFW’s AI visionaries
- Startup Alley – Showcasing DFW’s AI startups
Just like in 2025, more than 700 leaders, from trailblazing entrepreneurs to top-tier executives, will dive into in-depth discussions and insights on the latest trends and innovations in AI.
Monday, April 20, 2026, through Wednesday, April 22, 2026
E-Capital Summit
Hosted by Earthx
Hilton Anatole, Dallas
Save the date
As part of the Earthx2026 Congress of Conferences, the annual E-Capital Summit is an invitation-only sustainability-focused investment and industry innovation summit that has convened, inspired, and catalyzed action from more than 3,200 of the country’s and world’s leading investors, innovators, dealmakers, industry, and broader innovation & investment ecosystem professionals from over 40 states and 25 countries (including active participation from more than 570 leading investors and more than 630 emerging innovators).
The 2026 E-Capital Summit will continue to build on momentum of the past nine Summits and will continue to focus on catalyzing action and meaningful connections.The Summit is expected to convene ~400 attendees comprised of: 1/3 investors (~50% family offices/HNWIs), 1/3 innovators (both early-stage and growth-stage companies), and the remaining 1/3 will represent corporate & industry leaders, policymakers, incubators & accelerators, and others in the broader innovation & investment ecosystem. The invitation-only audience will continue to be diverse and high-quality: 50% of attendees will come from outside Texas, nearly half of attendees will be growth-stage focused, more than half of attendees will be new and personally invited by the EarthX team based on hundreds of meetings and personal outreach. Speakers and sponsors will be announced in the coming months.
Through May 2026
Frontiers of Flight: Bessie Coleman
Hosted by Frontiers of Flight Museum
6911 Lemmon Ave., Dallas
Tickets are timed entry.
The Frontiers of Flight Museum’s new exhibit is a high-flying tribute to aviation pioneer Bessie Coleman and her groundbreaking achievements. Guests can follow her journey through an immersive digital experience, see her beloved plane suspended from the museum’s hangar, and take home books, dolls, and other keepsakes to support scholarships for girls from South Dallas.
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R E A D N E X T
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The hybrid event in August will take place in person at SMU and virtually. The seventh annual Dallas Startup Week powered by Capital One is Dallas-Fort Worth's largest event focused on driving entrepreneurial success, economic impact, and innovation in the region.
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You'll find deadlines coming up for a new accelerator program; and many more opportunities.
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You’ve found Dallas Innovates’ archive of news briefs from July to September 2021.
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Nonprofit BUiLT is hosting the event to highlight the success and possibilities of Black tech talent in the region. “There is no talent pipeline problem,” says Peter Beasley, co-founder of the Blacks United in Leading Technology International. “Black tech talent is widely available, especially in North Texas.”
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With Dallas ranked as one of the top cities in America for tech pros, UT Dallas and Fullstack have launched four skills training bootcamps focused on coding, cybersecurity, data analytics, and DevOps. The online bootcamps begin in November with tuition at $11,995 each.
