the dec network

The Last Word: IOOGO’s Kristy Alballero On the ‘ALL-Women’ Award Winners at The DEC Network’s State of Entrepreneurship 2024

Today is International Women's Day, and many women entrepreneurs across North Texas are still basking in the glow of something that happened Thursday night: As Alballero said in her post, The DEC Network's 2024 State of Entrepreneurship event featured an all-star cast of women among its entrepreneur award winners.
MORE
The DEC Network’s State of Entrepreneurship Award Nominees Announced, Vote Now
From startup evangelists to rising founders to investors fueling growth, The DEC Network's State of Entrepreneurship event and awards recognize key contributors driving DFW’s dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem. See the nominees across 9 compelling categories—and vote now for who you believe should win.
MORE
Bank of America Supercharges The DEC Network Mission with $120K for Entrepreneurs of Color Fund
Formally known as the Entrepreneur of Color Credit Enhancement Fund, the program will provide loan guarantees and loan-readiness assistance to growth-oriented businesses.
MORE
The Last Word: GEW North Texas on This Week’s Region-Wide Entrepreneurship Event
by | Nov 14, 2023
GEW North Texas—which kicked off Monday and runs through Sunday November 19—is part of Global Entrepreneurship Week, held in cities worldwide one week each November. The movement aims to inspire entrepreneurs around the globe while fostering connections and increasing collaboration within their ecosystems.
MORE

Dallas Startup Week 2023: Where Big Names and Big Ideas Power North Texas Entrepreneurs

by | Sep 6, 2023
The DEC Networks' eighth Dallas Startup Week, hosted at UNT Frisco from September 10-14, features entrepreneur and Hall of Famer Troy Aikman, AOL's Steve Case, Nextdoor Co-founder Nirav Tolia, rapper-turned-investor Chamillionaire, and BuzzBallz CEO Merrilee Kick among its 200 speakers and 100 events.
MORE
The Last Word: Holy Rollie Pastry’s Kimberly Matthews Has Advice for Founders
by | Aug 14, 2023
Williams is one of four North Texas entrepreneurs we profiled last week who got funding through The DEC Network from the Small Business Administration's Community Navigator Pilot Program. 
MORE
SBA Chief in Dallas: ‘We Are Becoming the Startup Nation’
by | Aug 9, 2023
Since January 2021, a record 12.2 million new business applications have been filed nationwide—with Texas alone contributing 1.1 million. Speaking at a Dallas event, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman emphasized ongoing efforts to support Americans in realizing their entrepreneurial dreams.
MORE
From left: Ezi Negus, Okigwe Creations; Greer Christian, PureNRG Cycle; Awah Chai, Offworld Coffee; Kimberly Matthews, Holy Rollie Pastry Shop; and moderator Tarsha Hearns, The DEC Network. [Photo: The DEC Network]
Meet Four North Texas Entrepreneurs Who Navigated to Success With SBA’s Community Pilot Program
by | Aug 9, 2023
At the recent Entrepreneur Showcase in Dallas, four emerging startups were spotlighted alongside Biden Cabinet Member Isabella Casillas Guzman, who leads the Small Business Administration, and Mark Madrid, the driving force behind SBA's Office of Entrepreneurial Development. “I feel like I’ve just been to a TED talk with these entrepreneurs' words of wisdom,” Madrid said at the event powered by Dallas College and The DEC Network.
MORE

The DEC Network Ventures West for Fort Worth Entrepreneurship Center

by | May 22, 2023
The Fort Worth Local Development Corp. approved $500,000 over two years to create the Fort Worth Entrepreneurship Center. The center will be operated by The DEC Network in the city's Near Southside neighborhood, according to the Fort Worth Report.
MORE
Techstars Startup Weekend Dallas Returns: A Dive into Emerging Tech for Diverse Entrepreneurs

The DEC Network is excited to host the Dallas return of Techstars Startup Weekend, a three-day program that immerses aspiring entrepreneurs in the world of startups....

MORE
Grammy-Winning Rapper and Entrepreneur ‘Killer Mike’ to Speak at The DEC Network’s State of Entrepreneurship Event
by | Mar 14, 2023
The DEC Network, which marks its 10th anniversary this year, is gearing up for its 2023 State of Entrepreneurship event—the first-ever in Frisco. Dubbed 'the Super Bowl for Entrepreneurs' in North Texas, the annual gathering brings together game-changing startups and innovative business leaders.
MORE
The DEC Network Adds Seven New Members To Its Board, Announces Awards
by | Feb 10, 2023

Seven new members of the Dallas Entrepreneur Center’s fiduciary board were announced by The DEC Network Board Chair Tim Hill.

The nonprofit said that the new members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge in various industries and will be instrumental in helping it achieve its mission of helping entrepreneurs start, build, and grow their businesses....

MORE

‘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.
MORE
Black Girl Magic Takes Top Prize at Pitch Competition

From experiences for people to products for bulldogs, six founders in The DEC’s “Your Level Up” cohort competed for the top three spots, which came with cash prizes—and a chance to make an impression on other founders and potential investors....

MORE
Check Out the Emerging Tech Trends This Dell Technologies Leader Is Tracking
by | Aug 10, 2022
Rakesh Apte, Dell's director of product management and innovation strategy, lays out the emerging trends driving the future of innovation in the technology space that companies big and small should have their eyes on.
MORE
Dallas Medical Device Company Wins Top Prize at Dell for Startups Pitch Competition
by | Aug 9, 2022
“Opioids are diabolical, because they actually change the structure and function of your brain; they change the way your reward system works,” said Daniel Powell, CEO at Spark Biomedical.

Meet Powell and six other startup leaders.
MORE