Here's What You Can't Miss During Next Week's Dallas Startup Week

Following a series of exciting announcements—like partnering with Global Entrepreneurship Week and opening nominations for the State of Entrepreneurship awards—the DEC Network’s annual anchor event is finally here. Dallas Startup Week kicks off this Sunday, Aug. 30, with its first-ever virtual debut.

The free conference will feature more than 100 sessions, panels, and speakers, including three niche summits. With the COVID-19 outbreak, things obviously look a little different this year.

But the Dallas Entrepreneur Center hopes to still connect and unite startups, founders, corporate and social innovators, investors, and community leaders from the comfort of participants’ homes.

This time last year, a study from Capital One found that 64 percent of small business owners were in good or excellent conditions. The pandemic has significantly changed that.

That’s why Dallas Startup Week, which is powered by Capital One, is tailoring various sessions this year to help entrepreneurs prosper.

The Corporate Startup Innovation Summit, for instance, is an entire day dedicated to showing how startups can often benefit from partnering with a corporation. And with the State of Entrepreneurship, the region’s leaders will demonstrate how the Dallas-Fort Worth startup ecosystem is thriving in the “new normal.”

Together with The DEC Network, Dallas Innovates rounded up the top ten highlights you don’t want to miss. There’s a lot more than ten events, though—so don’t forget to check the official schedule on Hopin to plan your week.

Disrupt Dallas
Sunday, Aug. 30 and Monday, Aug. 31
1 – 5:30 p.m.

This summit serves as a virtual celebration and educational program for the champions across the entrepreneurial ecosystem. They are disrupting the diversity pipeline, minority entrepreneurial market, and overall economic landscape. Speakers include Ashley Lamothe, the youngest Black Chick-fil-A franchise owner; Manuel Valencia, partner at CONNECTIVE Agency; and Dom Bookman, founder of Streamsum.

Official Launch Party and Startup Alley
Monday, Aug. 31
6 – 8 p.m.

The Launch Party and Startup Alley brings North Texas innovators together to officially kick-off Dallas Startup Week. Participants will hear from Hint CEO Kara Goldin on how to build a company that matters, followed by virtual networking on the Hopin platform. Be sure to stop by the virtual expo hall to check out Startup Alley, a showcase of local startups and the innovations behind them.

Women of Innovation
Tuesday, Sept. 1
10:30 – 12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Sept. 2
9:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Women of Innovation is all about women helping women in business: The two-day summit provides networking and empowerment for female entrepreneurs to take their dreams and plans to the next level. Speakers include Joni Carswell, CEO and President of Texan By Nature, a nonprofit founded by former first lady Laura Bush; Jamie O’Banion, founder and CEO of BeautyBio, a science-backed skincare line; and Mahisha Dellinger, founder and CEO of CURLS, a natural hair-care line, and star of “Mind Your Business With Mahisha” on the OWN network.

Premiere Keynote Event
Tuesday, Sept. 1
6 – 8 p.m.

Hear from two North Texas athletes-turned-entrepreneurs, former Dallas Cowboys player Darren Woodson and Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin. They’ll talk about the similarities between athletics and entrepreneurism as well as the challenges and successes they have faced during their own entrepreneurial journeys.

State of Entrepreneurship
Wednesday, Sept. 2
6 – 8 p.m.

Back for a sixth year, The State of Entrepreneurship has become a tradition for celebrating the people, places, and passions that keep the local startup ecosystem thriving. It’s a mission that’s evermore apparent in today’s new normal. Michael Shawn from K104 will emcee, and speakers include Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Capital One Financial Services President Sanjiv Yajnik, and Esposure Co-founder and CEO Danny Martin.

Corporate Startup Innovation
Thursday, Sept. 3
9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

The Corporate Startup Innovation summit, sponsored by Capital One, tackles the subject of how startups and corporations can work together. Keynote speakers include Hesam Hosseini, CEO of Match and Match Affinity, and Jewel Burks Solomon, head of Google for Startups in the United States.

Transforming Your Organization To Not Only Survive, But to Thrive
Monday, Aug. 31
9 – 9:45 a.m.

Join Teresa Mackintosh, CEO of Trintech, as she walks through her journey of transforming an organization into one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North Texas. During her career, she transformed a more than 20-year-old company by building a culture around five essential elements that resulted in doubling annual revenue, doubling employee base, and tripling customer base in just two years.

Innovation in Coworking in a COVID-19 World
Monday, Aug. 31
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Trey Bowles and Delanie Majors from The DEC Network will host CEO and founder of Common Desk Nick Clark. COVID-19 forced many startups out of their coworking and shared spaces. Nick will discuss how Common Desk is innovating to help entrepreneurs get back into the office, tips for all founders challenged with how to keep their team healthy but connected virtually, and how the future might look for coworking spaces.

Marketing Dream Team: How the World’s Biggest Brands Think About Marketing
Tuesday, Sept. 1
12 – 1:30 p.m.

Take a look at how national brands think about marketing. You’ll hear from some of the biggest brand marketers on how they approach the marketing landscape and learn how to apply their tips and tricks to your business. Panelists include Kimberlee Archibald, public affairs and communications director for Huawei; Cara Hessels, social media manager at Amazon Music; Rogers Healy, owner of Rogers Healy Group; and more.

How to Quit Your Job and Find Your Purpose
Wednesday, Sept. 2
3 – 3:45 p.m.

Finding passion in your career can be a process. Hear from local entrepreneurs who quit their day jobs to pursue their purpose and created meaningful change in the world around them. Speakers include Kim Flores, director of happiness at Johnson & Sekin; Lauren McKinnon, CEO of Project Mockingbird; Jin-Ya Huang, CEO and co-founder, Break Bread, Break Borders; and Brittani Rettig, founder and CEO, Grit by Brit.