See What’s in Store at Dallas Startup Week’s Corporate Startup Innovation Summit

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.

One of Dallas’ biggest events for innovators, entrepreneurs, and startup founders in the region is just a couple of weeks away.

The DEC Network’s flagship event—Dallas Startup Week—kicks off on August 7 and runs through August 11. The multi-day event, sponsored by Capital One, will be in person at SMU’s Cox School of Business and virtual on Brushfire.

This year’s DEC Network-hosted festivities include three summits, each targeted at specific groups. Dallas Innovates recently told you about the Disrupt Dallas and Women of Innovation summits. Now The DEC has unveiled details of the third one—the Corporate Startup Innovation Summit.

Bringing innovation together

Aimed at bringing together the local ecosystem’s “breadth and diversity” of corporations and startups, the Corporate Startup Innovation Summit will provide insight into how companies are shaping future business ideas, models, and investment trends to create new opportunities.

The summit will take place in person at SMU Cox School of Business’ Collins Center and online at Brushfire on August 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here’s what to look forward to at the event:

Corporate Startup Innovation Summit

9:00 a.m.: Breakfast and Networking

9:30 a.m.: Welcome Address

Marissa Horne

From left: Capital One’s Marissa Horne and the Dallas Regional Chamber’s Duane Dankesreiter.

  • Marissa Horne, Vice President, Financial Services Technology and Data at Capital One
  • Duane Dankesreiter, SVP Research & Innovation at the Dallas Regional Chamber

9:45 a.m.: Keynote

Toyota’s Jim Adler

Jim Adler, Founding Managing Director and Board Member at Toyota Ventures

Jim Adler, an executive advisor at Toyota Research Institute, began his career as a rocket engineer at Lockheed Martin. Adler has founded and led startups before joining Toyota Ventures, the automaker’s first standalone venture capital firm. Adler is also an investment committee member of JetBlue Technology Ventures and a former member of the Department of Homeland Security’s Data, Privacy, and Integrity Advisory Committee.

11:00 a.m.: Engaging Startups in Corporate Innovation

From left: Toyota’s. Stacey Gee-Miller, Microsoft’s Raamel Mitchell, and AT&T’s Shay Phillips [Images: DSW22]

Panel

  • Stacey Gee-Miller, Leads Toyota Financial Services (TFS) Strategic Innovation
  • Raamel Mitchell, Global Director, Microsoft Black Partner Growth Initiative
  • Shay Phillips, Assistant VP Program Management Office Divestitures for AT&T
  • Duane Dankesreiter, SVP Research & Innovation at the Dallas Regional Chamber, will moderate the panel

12:00 p.m.: Lunch & Networking

1:00 p.m.: Keynote

Steven Levy, editor-at-large at Wired

Fireside chat with Steven Levy, Editor at Large at Wired

Mandy Price, the CEO of Dallas diversity and inclusion platform Kanarys will speak with the editor who has been called the country’s “premier technology journalist.” Levy has written numerous books ranging from deep dives into large tech players to looks into crypto and computer culture.

2:00 p.m.: The Funding Landscape and Its Role in Building DFW as an Innovation Hub

From left: Capital Factory’s Bryan Chambers and Impact Venture’s Benjamin Vann. [Images: DSW22]

Panel

  • Bryan Chambers, President & Co-founder of Capital Factory
  • Benjamin Vann, Founder and CEO at Impact Ventures & Inclusive Capital Fund
  • David Kang, Senior Vice President, Head of Data Insights, will moderate the panel.

3:15 p.m.: Accelerator Pitch Competition

From left: Pitch judges Bill McNulty, Operating Partner, Capital One Ventures, and Dennis Cail, CEO and Co-Founder, Zirtue, [Images: DSW22]

Founders include:

  • Rick Tett – HoboLobo
  • Jarrett Wright – Higer Rewards
  • William Glass – Ostrich
  • Jake Hamann – AUTIX
  • Lonnie Smith – On the Road Lending
  • Rayna Handelman – Angstrom Piezoelectric Company
  • Daniel Boiler – Leasly
  • Mohammed Niie – Janta Power
  • Michael Pittman – Simple Money Academy

Judges include:

  • Bill McNulty, Operating Partner, Capital One Ventures Judge TBD
  • Dennis Cail, CEO and Co-Founder, Zirtue

5:00 p.m.: Awards and Closing Remarks

David Kang [Source photo: Capital One]

David Kang, Senior Vice President, Head of Data Insights, Financial Services at Capital One 

Countdown to Dallas Startup Week

If you missed out on what’s in store for the Women of Innovation Summit, check out more here. And if you’re interested in the Disrupt Dallas Summit, check out more here.

How to register

Dallas Startup Week is free. For more information or to register, go here.

Be sure to sign up for the Dallas Innovates newsletter to get our updates throughout the week. 

Dallas Innovates is a media sponsor of Dallas Startup Week and a DEC Network partner organization.

Quincy Preston, Kevin Cummings, and Leslie Barker contributed to this report. The story was updated with additional event information on July 29.

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R E A D   N E X T

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  • 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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  • Hosted by The DEC Network and powered by Capital One, the five-day showcase is North Texas’ largest event focused on driving entrepreneurial success, economic impact, and innovation.