George W. Bush Presidential Center

Trade Delegation From Finland Visits Dallas, Finds ‘Can-Do Attitude’

by | Nov 16, 2023
The city of Dallas recently adopted an International Affairs strategy, and the visit by the Finland delegation aimed to advance it. During a whirlwind 1-day tour, the parties discussed technology, healthcare, the arts, culture, and design as areas for potential partnerships.
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Venture Dallas Names Three Winners in Inaugural ‘Startup of the Year’ Awards
by | Nov 6, 2023
The winning companies were selected from 100+ nominees and eight semifinalists. They reflect "strong themes" in the Dallas-Fort Worth ecosystem: FinTech, DefenseTech, and PropTech, says steering committee member David Evans.
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Dirk Nowitzki Reflects On His Drive for Greatness, Post‑Mavericks Future, and Enduring Bond With Dallas
by | Oct 31, 2023
To cap off the recent Venture Dallas summit—just like he closed out so many Dallas Mavericks games with a buzzer-beating one-legged fadeaway—Dirk Nowitzki shared stories of his journey from Germany to the NBA, his 21 seasons with the Mavericks, his post-Mavs moves as a business investor, and his enduring bond with the Dallas community.
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Anurag Jain and Clark Hunt on stage at Venture Dallas in October 2023. [Image: Grant Miller Photograph/Venture Dallas]
Billionaire Blueprint: Chiefs and FC Dallas Owner Clark Hunt on Winning, Leadership, and Taylor Swift
by | Oct 27, 2023
NFL and MLS titan Clark Hunt shares the playbook for transforming the KC Chiefs into reigning champions. In a wide-ranging conversation, the lifelong Dallasite talks with Anurag Jain about attracting young female "Swifties" to the NFL, his family's 90-year sports and business roots — and how his dad named the Super Bowl and the Lombardi trophy.

Hunt kicked off the first installment of the Venture Dallas "Conversations with Champions" series.
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‘Innovation Meets Investment’: Venture Dallas Sets Sights on National Stage with New Branding, Expanded 2023 Summit

by | Sep 27, 2023
The rebrand "marks the start of our next chapter of growth," says Venture Dallas Chair Aaron Pierce. The nonprofit's 2023 summit, backed by JPMorgan Chase and Perot Jain, is set for October 25.
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Bush Center President and CEO Named SMU Cox School’s Inaugural Distinguished Executive In Residence
by | Aug 25, 2023
SMU's Cox School of Business named financier and Bush Center leader Ken Hersh as its first Distinguished Executive-in-Residence. Students will have an invaluable opportunity to get first-hand career advice from someone with decades of experience at the highest levels of business.
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The George W. Bush Center Is Marking Its 10th Anniversary with a Week of Free Admission, and SMU Is in on the Celebration
by | Apr 28, 2023
The George W. Bush Presidential Center opened its doors on the Southern Methodist University campus on May 1, 2013. In the decade since, nearly 2 million visitors from all over the world have come to explore it. To mark its 10th anniversary, the center is offering free reserved admission to the Presidential Museum from April 29 through May 4—and SMU is doing its own celebration of a decade of impact in hosting the center.
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George W. Bush Presidential Museum Appoints New Director, Celebrates Bush Center 10th Anniversary
by | Apr 28, 2023

Teresa Lenling has been named as director of the George W. Bush Presidential Museum, a role in which she will drive all facets of the Bush Museum’s programs and lines of business, the George W....

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Ken Hersh To Receive World Affairs Council Award for Advancing North Texas’ International Profile

by | Apr 3, 2023
Kenneth Hersh, president and CEO of the George W. Bush Presidential Library and a renowned investor and philanthropist, will be honored with the 2023 H. Neil Mallon Award from the World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth.

The announcement comes on the heels of the publication of Hersh's recently released book, "The Fastest Tortoise: Winning in Industries I Knew Nothing About," which offers readers a glimpse into the life lessons that have influenced his success, from co-founding a private equity investment firm to managing his family investment office.
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‘It’s a Different World Out There’: Investors Share Their Insights on the Changing Funding Landscape
by | Nov 14, 2022
At the recent Venture Dallas conference, a panel of leading investors talked market trends and shared insights to help those on both sides of the cap table. Here are key takeaways—from tips for fundraising founders to what startups need to offer to what makes Dallas an exciting place to invest. “As an entrepreneur, just hustle. Don't take ‘No’ for an answer. You're going to get a lot of ‘No’s,’ so just keep at it," said Pialy Aditya, chief strategy officer at Republic.
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Anurag Jain Shares the Seven Trends Shaping Innovation and His Investment Strategy
by | Nov 8, 2022
Anurag Jain and longtime business partner Ross Perot Jr. talked about the region's high growth with a roundup of innovators and investors at Circle T Ranch in Fort Worth's AllianceTexas development. The VIP reception was the prelude to the 2022 Venture Dallas conference—and one of the most coveted invitations in town.
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Tech Talk and ‘Meaningful Connections’: 10 Takeaways From Venture Dallas 2022
by | Nov 7, 2022
At last week's Venture Dallas conference, more than 400 VCs, angel investors, startups, and business leaders gathered for a showcase of North Texas' entrepreneurial and venture ecosystem. Here's a look at the highlights—from Troy Aikman saying "There are no shortcuts" to Alto Founder Will Coleman on the power of doing "the opposite" to Mark Cuban's "ready, fire, aim" approach. “Regions like Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth, we’re the model for the rest of the nation on how to get things done," Ross Perot Jr. said at the conference kickoff.
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Venture Dallas Brings ‘the Premier Venture Capital Conference in North Texas’ to George W. Bush Presidential Center this November

by | Oct 4, 2022
Venture Dallas 2022—a full-day conference to be held Nov. 3 at the George W. Bush Presidential Center—will connect investors from all over the U.S with the “best founders in our region” with the goal of sparking “collisions” and “meaningful connections," co-founder Aaron Pierce says. He adds that those could potentially lead to fundings—and successful exits. Here's a look at why the North Texas startup and VC scene is hopping, and what Venture Dallas 2022 could mean for you.
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Texan by Nature CEO Says ‘The Future Is Innovation.’ Here’s Why Today Is Our Slowest Day
by | Dec 16, 2021
The nonprofit is uniting industry and conservation as we move faster and faster towards progress.

How do we radically shape the future? In November, the Laura Bush-founded Texan by Nature hosted a conservation summit to tackle the topic. CEO Joni Carswell urged an audience of innovators, collaborators, and changemakers to “Ask yourself ‘what if?’ Do something different and new and more.”

Here are takeaways.
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