In September, stories on education, expansions, exits, and growing companies rose to the top of our list.

Here’s a roundup of the most-read stories on dallasinnovates.com.

Danielle V., a solutions specialist at Verizon, felt ready to begin her new job after just a few days of retraining. [Image: Courtesy Verizon/YouTube]

1. How Verizon Retrained Nearly 20,000 Workers to Avoid Layoffs

Through a robust retraining program, Verizon aimed to meet customer needs and ensure employee well-being during the global pandemic.

[Photo: Courtesy PureBeam]

2. COVID Killer: This Newly Launched Dallas Company Brings UVC Tech to Consumers

PureBeam says it can completely eliminate germs on surfaces or in the air without leaving a residue—a gamechanger when it comes to areas contaminated by coronavirus.

Danny Chavez is the SVP of the McKinney Economic Development Corporation’s Innovation Fund. [Photo: Courtesy MEDC]

3. McKinney Innovation Fund Draws Hundreds of New Jobs, 11 Tech HQs in Eight Months

“We’re building an ecosystem and creating a space for startups to access funding, and helping them scale at the timeliest need for their company during the startup lifecycle,” Senior Vice President at McKinney EDC Danny Chavez said.

Nastia Liukin [Photo: Courtesy Dallas Startup Week]

4. Nastia Liukin on Why Becoming an Entrepreneur is Just Like Training for the Olympics

“Whether you’re starting your own business, you’re part of a startup, or you’re raising a round of funding, you have to have the blood, sweat, and tears just like I did training for the Olympics,” Liukin says. “That’s how you have to feel every single day.”

[Image: Courtesy Mark Cuban Foundation]

5. Mark Cuban Foundation Offers Free AI Bootcamps Through Partnerships with Walmart, Elevate, and Headstorm

In its second year, the initiative brought tech programming to 42 underserved DFW students through three virtual sessions. It plans to host another round of AI Bootcamps in Dallas, El Paso, Omaha, Chicago, and Green Bay later this year.

[Photo: Courtesy Old Parkland]

6. 9/11 Heroes: Old Parkland Installs Monument Honoring United Airlines Flight 93

Here’s a first look.

Dayakar Puskoor [Photo: Dallas Venture Partners]

7. Dayakar Pushkoor Unveils Dallas Venture Partners With Focus on Emerging Tech, Growth Stage Companies

Naya Ventures has relaunched with a new name, a laser focus, and a major hire. The venture capital firm located in Irving and India says its model is “poised to democratize the venture capital industry.”

AT&T UX designers Shane O’Donnell, Andre Jolivette, and Kara Kenna [Photos: Courtesy Big Design]

8. AT&T Creates a Time-Saving Tool for the Techs Who (Literally) Build the Internet

It took some two-and-a-half years and 2,000 interviews for a team of UX designers to create Atlas, a “digital toolbelt” that saves time, reduces stress, makes customers happier—and increases “pride of craft” for the giant’s technicians.

[Image: Courtesy NorthPark]

9. #IfThenSheCan: Ten Statues From All-Female Exhibit Are on Display at NorthPark Center Until Nov. 9

COVID-19 delayed the opening of a 3D-printed display from Lyda Hill Philanthropies IF/THEN Initiative of the most statues of women ever assembled. Starting Sept. 10, the exhibit is instead doing a pop-up near Macy’s Court.

Shokworks Founder and CEO Alejandro Laplana [Photo: Courtesy Shokworks]

10. Global Tech Company Shokworks Inc to Move HQ from Miami to Dallas

Shokworks has generated over $100M in direct revenue and cost-savings for its clients including Fox Sports, Real Madrid, Dupont Chemicals, FC Barcelona, Telemundo, and the United Kingdom government.

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