Dallas Startup Week 2018: Day 4 Roundup

It’s Day 4 already?

Before we dive into today’s happenings, let’s take a look back at Wednesday including the big night at the Majestic Theatre.

Shama Hyder, founder and CEO of Zen Media, emphasized marketing in the digital age in her Wednesday afternoon session and how to get information across to the connected consumer that is already inundated with information.

“Marketing is the oldest legal profession in the world,” Hyder said, after showing an excavated picture of Pompeii, where fisherman wrote that their fish was fresher than their competitors.

“Your customers aren’t comparing you to your competitors. They’re comparing you to the overall experience they have with everything else.”
Shama Hyder

“I really want you to start thinking about social media’s true definition which is this: people are now the media.”

She followed this statement with examples such as Yelp or Rotten Tomatoes, which are reliant on user’s reviews and thoughts that thus influence other consumers in their decisions.

On being more innovative than one’s competitors, Hyder said that doesn’t matter in the age of shopping ease with companies such as Amazon.

“Your customers aren’t comparing you to your competitors. They’re comparing you to the overall experience they have with everything else,” she said.

Mayor Mike Rawlings [Photo by Heather Noel]

Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings presented the community with a challenge during the State of Entrepreneurship Wednesday night. He encouraged the Majestic Theatre audience to continue supporting each other and attracting talent to the area.

“We have the DNA for startups.”
Mayor Mike Rawlings

“Someone once said to the preacher ‘why you preaching to the choir?’ And he said ‘because I need them to sing.’ So, I need you guys to sing about the startup community here and what is happening,” Rawlings said.

That is, let others know about all the successes local entrepreneurs have experienced. Rawlings called out notables such as SoftLayer’s multibillion-dollar exit, rewardStyle’s impact in the retail realm, and OrderMyGear’s recent $35 million raise.

“We have the DNA for startups. You are starting to see it pay off,” Rawlings said.

The night also included an announcement of the Dallas finalists for the upcoming Rise of the Rest pitch contest and the awarding of the second Startup Evangelist of the Year, which went to fashion entrepreneur Leah Frazier. You can read more about her startup journey here.

Thursday led off with a session delving into blockchain’s use in health care and events giving tips in SEO, influencer marketing, and legal issues.

RevTech took over the lunch hour and more with its signature Tech Trends in Retail event at Neiman Marcus.

“Physical retail isn’t dying; boring retail is dying.”
Jonathan Fine

Before breaking out into pitch presentations Jonathan Fine, RevTech director of business development, had a message for the crowd: “Physical retail isn’t dying; boring retail is dying.”

Pitches included: Katerina Axelsson of Bottlefly; Justin Stewart of Cherry Pick AI; Reza Raji of Xenio Systems; and Matt Alexander of Neighborhood Goods.

After all of the pitches, the audience texted in votes for their favorite pitch. Axelsson won for her business which implements technology in stores to generate recommendations for wine and other products.

“Technology is changing the way we buy everything. Across all industries, retailers are using technology to personalize the retail experience,” she said.

Still to come today are sessions on fashion and beauty tech, esports lifestyle, and education entrepreneurship. Plus, don’t miss Art House Exchange beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Then, you can rest up for the final day of offerings.

ICYMI: #DSW18 on Twitter

Meeting so many awesome startup people out at @DFWStartupWeek this week! #community #DSW18 #DFW #Texas @kelskamin @ChicagoGupta @raedchang @TheLeahFrazier @digitalrobert @courtneygdaily @MobyPixel @amirrajan pic.twitter.com/08uLher9pp

— Young Startup Pro's (@YSPDFW) April 5, 2018

#Dallas Mayor @Mike_Rawlings: #Startups Are Setting the Tone for the City #SOE18 #DSW18 Read more: https://t.co/lRPG81Fa6s pic.twitter.com/LfncDZTIOE

— Danielle Abril (@DanielleDigest) April 5, 2018

https://twitter.com/Kthomasdrake/status/981927157042728960

Akilah has a challenge for ya'll… Give more than you did last year. ♥ @BlackDFWGives #DSW18 #giving #socialgood pic.twitter.com/QmbdCtKRsl

— Isabel Prosper (@IsabelProsper) April 5, 2018

https://twitter.com/ChicagoGupta/status/981608650002325504

Your #giving can be #magnified by #collective giving. #dallasstartupweek #DSW18 #chasebasecamp pic.twitter.com/ztMiGZrFc3

— Prisma Garcia (@IrishLatina09) April 5, 2018

"There is no industry untouched by #influencers,"@ohsocynthia #DSW18 @DFWStartupWeek

— Embark (@embarkendeavors) April 5, 2018

We've got a packed house for our "Ask an Investor" panel at #chasebasecamp for #dfwstartupweek! We've got @IntelisCapital, @InterlockVC, @SVB_Financial, and @TECHFortWorth represented! #dsw18 #dsw18capitalfunding pic.twitter.com/6smjQ4s9Ze

— Tech Wildcatters (@techwildcatters) April 5, 2018

Thanks #Dallas Mayor @Mike_Rawlings for spotlighting @GS10KSmallBiz and #10ksbGrad @CocoAndre Chocolatier at last night's #stateofentrepreneurship event. Your continued support resonated with #10ksb alum in attendance. #MakeSmallBig #SOE#18 #DSW18 #womenleaders #entrepreneurs https://t.co/fDGS3U6yJC

— 10ksbDallasCollege (@10ksbDalCollege) April 5, 2018

The ladies of @CapitalFactory and @theDECtx at ‘Tech Trends in Retail 2018’ Session hosted by @REVTECHVentures!! #fam #DSW18 @DFWStartupWeek @catherinecole @kelskamin @kmleiber pic.twitter.com/7EpHxfL75j

— Rachel Chang (@raedchang) April 5, 2018

Last @DFWStartupWeek Education event is TONIGHT! Don’t miss Big Ideas in Education Entrepreneurship at Mac’s Southside from 5:30-7, featuring @MaggieRieth, principals from @IgniteDISD and @marshprep, @dmonaco, @JonathanSchick1, @GatewayGO, and Arts Mission Oak Cliff. #DSW18

— Ashley Bryan Flores (@ashbryanflores) April 5, 2018

STILL PLANNING YOUR WEEK?

Check the official schedule here to sign up for events.