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.
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.
Aaron Pierce, the co-founder and board chair of Venture Dallas, has a deep investment background and a history of supporting the local entrepreneurial community. As partner at Perot Jain, his role is "all encompassing." One item on his agenda is overseeing the firm's investments in Major League Cricket—along with managing the firm's investment portfolio of more than 60 companies.
“We have the ingredients required to be a major player in the national investment landscape," Pierce says, "especially as the family office and private investment focus grows from funds to direct investments in venture-backed companies.”
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.
Plus, Fort Worth-based Harvest Returns looks to raise $2.5 million; Sentiero Ventures invests in Geminus.ai; Frisco firm launches two ETFs on Nasdaq; and more North Texas deals.
Launched in 2014 out of Fort Worth's AllianceTexas development, Booster provides delivery of traditional and alternative fuels to fleets, corporate campuses, and retail properties.
The $125M funding round included a longtime Booster backer—Dallas-based venture capital firm Perot Jain.
What companies are finding funding or having a big exit? From startup investments to grants and acquisitions, Dallas Innovates tracks what’s happening in North Texas money.
Spacee, a computer vision- and AI-powered augmented reality company, has unveiled a new three-person advisory board in a moment that founder and CEO Skip Howard calls “critical.”
Dallas VC-turned-entrepreneur Joe Beard and financier Joel Radtke are innovating debt capital delivery at CollateralEdge.
It's a mission: The founders want to reduce the barriers for businesses to access lower-cost bank financing. By partnering with the banks, the founders can solve problems for all stakeholders with their tech solution that's backed by high-powered capital partners.
VC-turned-entrepreneur Joe Beard and financier Joel Radtke co-founded the new fintech to solve a "massive problem" in middle-market lending. CollateralEdge aims to help community and regional banks overcome collateral shortfalls, improve credit risk management, and drive profitable, long-term customer relationships. Capital partners include VC firm Perot Jain, Capital Factory CEO Josh Baer, and Kneeland Youngblood, the founding partner of Pharos Capital Group.
"The downside of a pandemic is that it's frightening. The good thing is, sometimes it speeds up things that probably needed to happen. Like telemedicine," Nicole Small, CEO of LH Capital/Lyda Hill Philanthropies, said during the event.
Meet the supporters of Venture Dallas' upcoming month-long virtual experience that connects Texas founders with active investors. They say now is an ideal time to build the startup ecosystem, investment opportunities, and new relationships.
The funding comes roughly a year after Hypergiant launched out of stealth—a year filled with growing revenue (eight figures in the first 12 months), A-list partnerships (Microsoft, Adobe, SAP, Booz Allen, Nvidia), and launching three separate businesses under the parent company.
North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details....
Dallas-Fort Worth is charting its own path in artificial intelligence. From applied AI to research and engineering advances, our region leads in advancing real-world solutions. Behind every breakthrough and solution are the people making it happen....
The Dallas-based Independent Cinema Alliance, a cinema trade organization representing around 5,000 independently operated movie screens throughout the U.S. and Canada, has appointed Frank Rash as its first executive director. The ICA called the move “a major step forward” as it expands its mission, scope, and industry influence....
Lavazza, a 130-year-old coffee brand based in Turin, Italy, has opened a new training center in Dallas, adding to other North American locations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto, and the Philadelphia borough of West Chester....
Dallas-area researchers have earned three of the five 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards from TAMEST (Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology), showing the region’s strength in engineering, physics, and biomedical discovery....
North Texas is a big place, with plenty to do, see, hear, and watch. We scour the internet every week to find events and activities for you. As always, things may change at any time, so be sure to check the official website or registration page for the latest details....
Dallas-Fort Worth is charting its own path in artificial intelligence. From applied AI to research and engineering advances, our region leads in advancing real-world solutions. Behind every breakthrough and solution are the people making it happen....
The Dallas-based Independent Cinema Alliance, a cinema trade organization representing around 5,000 independently operated movie screens throughout the U.S. and Canada, has appointed Frank Rash as its first executive director. The ICA called the move “a major step forward” as it expands its mission, scope, and industry influence....
Lavazza, a 130-year-old coffee brand based in Turin, Italy, has opened a new training center in Dallas, adding to other North American locations in New York, Chicago, Miami, Los Angeles, Toronto, and the Philadelphia borough of West Chester....
Dallas-area researchers have earned three of the five 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Awards from TAMEST (Texas Academy of Medicine, Engineering, Science & Technology), showing the region’s strength in engineering, physics, and biomedical discovery....