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Startup
[Video still: Activate Games]
Activate Games Is Bringing Its Live-Action Indoor Experience to Plano This Fall
by David Seeley | Jul 28, 2022
Activate Games says it offers "the next level in entertainment, fitness, and gaming." Its six locations in Canada and the U.S. have up to 11 rooms with laser mazes, touch-activated climbing walls, arcade-style target walls, light-flashing basketball hoops, and more—with your score tracked by an RFID bracelet.
You can "put your brain and body to the test" when the new Plano location opens by as soon as the end of this year.
by David Seeley |
Jul 28, 2022
From Topgolf to Puttery, Electric Shuffle, TOCA Social, Two Bit Circus and more, North Texas may be America's greatest high-tech playground.
Check out this roundup of who's playing what where.
Check out this roundup of who's playing what where.
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by Kevin Cummings |
Jul 27, 2022
Nada's Cityfunds enable people to invest in single-family rental homes and fractionally invest in owner-occupied homes in Dallas, Austin, and Miami. With the new funding, Nada plans to expand Cityfunds to six new cities, grow its Oak Lawn-based staff to around 60, and develop a home equity-accessing debit card.
“We fundamentally believe that we can make a material difference to people's lives by making real estate as an asset more accessible,” co-founder and CEO John Green told Dallas Innovates.
“We fundamentally believe that we can make a material difference to people's lives by making real estate as an asset more accessible,” co-founder and CEO John Green told Dallas Innovates.
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by Kevin Cummings |
Jul 27, 2022
The DEC Network’s flagship event—Dallas Startup Week—will be held August 7 through August 11 both virtually and in person at SMU's Cox School of Business.
Bringing together the local ecosystem’s “breadth and diversity” of corporations and startups, the Corporate Startup Innovation summit will feature Jim Adler, founding managing director of Toyota Ventures, and Steven Levy, editor at large at Wired—plus a deep dive in the funding landscape, an accelerator pitch competition, and more.
Bringing together the local ecosystem’s “breadth and diversity” of corporations and startups, the Corporate Startup Innovation summit will feature Jim Adler, founding managing director of Toyota Ventures, and Steven Levy, editor at large at Wired—plus a deep dive in the funding landscape, an accelerator pitch competition, and more.
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[Image: Shutterstock]
The Shadow CEO:
A Founder’s Guide to Common Metrics
by Dennis Cagan | Jul 26, 2022
Entrepreneur, investor, and corporate governance authority Dennis Cagan shares insights on seldom-taught things an entrepreneur needs to know about equity and governance—before making needless mistakes—in The Shadow CEO series.
Part 9: Explaining Common Metrics
Part 9: Explaining Common Metrics
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by Kevin Cummings |
Jul 26, 2022
Co-Founder Clifton Harness says TestFit is the first company to connect pro forma, construction cost, and asset design through building configurator software. The technology allows companies to "de-risk decisions" and log critical time savings when they develop new real estate. The funding will help the startup expand its R&D, quadruple its product and engineering teams, and build a new HQ.
“With TestFit, we see a disruptor driving a paradigm shift in the real estate industry,” said Gregg Hill, co-founder and managing partner at Parkway Venture Capital, which led the funding round.
“With TestFit, we see a disruptor driving a paradigm shift in the real estate industry,” said Gregg Hill, co-founder and managing partner at Parkway Venture Capital, which led the funding round.
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by Kevin Cummings |
Jul 25, 2022
Plus, Fort Worth's Harvest Returns raises new fund; new Ryan acquisition makes 2022 its most active M&A year; OpTic Gaming acquires Dallas chatbot startup; Dallas legal education firm boosts digital content library; and Fort Worth's Novaria Group acquires firm with giant aerospace clients.
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by David Seeley |
Jul 22, 2022
Of three summits to be held during Dallas Startup Week, the Women of Innovation Summit is right in Miller's wheelhouse. The summit is powered by her company, Toyota Financial Services, and will celebrate women who transform their ideas and ambitions into a reality.
The goal? To set women leaders up for success, says Miller.
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The "fighters" lineup for the 2022 Digital Fight Club during Dallas Startup Week. [Photos: Digital Fight Club]
Digital Fight Club Is Coming Back IRL to the Granada for Dallas Startup Week
by David Seeley | Jul 22, 2022
A night of tech founder battles, raucous crowd roars, and BS-calling corporate refs will hit the Granada Theater on August 11. That's when Digital Fight Club returns to its in-person, party-fueled finest during Dallas Startup Week 2022. Ten top local tech leaders will go 1-on-1, fighting with their wits on five disruptive tech topics.
"We plan on breaking molds again," says Michael Pratt, the event's founder and host.
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by Kevin Cummings |
Jul 20, 2022
The Disrupt Dallas summit will highlight "champions who are disrupting the entrepreneurial ecosystem and talent pipeline,” says The DEC Network.
The summit on August 8—part of Dallas Startup Week's multi-day event—offers education and programming from local entrepreneurs of color on how to help support and grow a business.
Dear Fathers, a media platform for Black fatherhood, was co-founded by Jesse Alex and Lamar Johnson Jr., who "turned their pain of not having real father experiences growing up" into a positive mission. [Image: Dear Fathers]
Dear Fathers is a platform “dedicated to telling stories of black fathers from all angles while also empowering our community with tangible resources that inspire, heal, and strengthen the Black man.”
Odell Beckham, Sr.
Lamar Quinn
Dessie Brown, Jr.
LaDarius Campbell
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by Kevin Cummings |
Jul 20, 2022
UT Dallas-based Qualia Oto is developing the next generation of cochlear implants, and has announced closing a Series A preferred round of around $1.64 million.
Unlike typical cochlear implants that use bundles of wires attached to a receiver to stimulate the auditory nerve, Qualia Oto’s implant uses thin-film electrode arrays embedded in a polymer, allowing for more contact with the inner ear. That translates to a higher quality and range of sounds that are able to be transmitted.
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by David Seeley |
Jul 20, 2022
Gig Wage has found new ways to help business owners manage cash flow and payment speed. But even more so, it aims to help create "a social safety net for 1099 workers" by offering non-predatory Faster Pay solutions and other features, with a debit card and mobile app offering also in the works.
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OpTic Gaming CEO Adam Rymer [Photo: OpTic Gaming]
Frisco’s OpTic Gaming Acquires Dallas Streamer Tool Startup Botisimo
by Kevin Cummings | Jul 19, 2022
Frisco-based OpTic Gaming—which rebranded from Envy Gaming last month following its November merger with OpTic—has acquired Dallas streamer tool startup Botisimo.
Botisimo's tools reach more than 36 million unique viewers each month for 30,000+ streamers including Snoop Dogg, Monstercat, and Dude Perfect. OpTic believes it's "one of the most powerful tools a creator can use to engage with their audience," said OpTic CEO Adam Rymer, who joined the startup's board last year.
Botisimo's tools reach more than 36 million unique viewers each month for 30,000+ streamers including Snoop Dogg, Monstercat, and Dude Perfect. OpTic believes it's "one of the most powerful tools a creator can use to engage with their audience," said OpTic CEO Adam Rymer, who joined the startup's board last year.
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by Kevin Cummings |
Jul 19, 2022
Sensors and autonomous tech have made cars and trucks safer for years. Now Grapevine-based AllOY aims to do that for boats—by building its own line of electric-powered, autonomously enhanced boats complete with sensors and backup cameras.
“Sitting on the back of the boat with a glass of wine, it just became clear that those same things were going to have a radical impact on marine,” CEO Brandon Cotter told Dallas Innovates.
“Sitting on the back of the boat with a glass of wine, it just became clear that those same things were going to have a radical impact on marine,” CEO Brandon Cotter told Dallas Innovates.
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by David Seeley |
Jul 15, 2022
Walmart has ordered 4,500 all-electric Lifestyle Delivery Vehicles from Canoo, with the first pre-production test models to roll in Dallas-Fort Worth “in the coming weeks.” Aquila, the former CEO of Westlake's Solera Holdings, says Walmart has the assets to really leverage Canoo's EVs.
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by Lance Murray |
Jul 15, 2022
In this week’s roundup of hires, promotions, and accolades in North Texas, you’ll also find news from Exela Technologies, Newmark, OrangeGrid, RailPros, Aimbridge Hospitality, Integrity Marketing Group, Smoothie King, Bank of Texas, MD7, Salvation Army, and more.
Plus, you'll find board appointments including Texas Mutual Insurance, Zimperium, and the Ebby Halliday Foundation.
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