“We’ve got eight different tracks, four different summits and forums. There’s really something for everyone.”

Kendall Kennedy
Director of Events & Operations
The DEC Network
…on the diverse offerings of Dallas Startup Week, via FOX 4 KDFW. A five-day event, DSW2024 kicks off on Sunday, August 11.

When it comes to nurturing entrepreneurship, Dallas Startup Week casts a wide net. In a recent FOX 4 interview, The DEC Network’s Kendall Kennedy highlighted the event’s inclusive approach to supporting entrepreneurship and business growth in North Texas.

The week-long entrepreneurial extravaganza, running from August 11-15 at the Embassy Suites Convention Center in Frisco, is designed for the entire ecosystem—from startups to corporations, investors to service providers.

Diverse Tracks, Inspiring Summits

The DEC Network’s Kendall Kennedy

“It’s for anyone,” Kennedy told Fox 4, noting the event’s broad appeal. The lineup ranges from AI, Automation & Quantum to Healthcare, and from Gaming & Esports to Startup Funding.

Inspiration is on tap, she says, pointing to the event’s four summits including the Disrupt Dallas Summit on Monday featuring a keynote by Hakeem Seriki (best known by his stage name Chamillionaire), the Grammy-winning rapper turned venture capitalist. And Tuesday’s Corporate Startup Innovation Summit showcases how large companies are supporting the ecosystem and shaping the future of innovation.

Networking and Practical Knowledge

“Dallas Startup Week is a place where people can come to connect and learn—and hopefully get some more resources that they can walk away with as well,” Kennedy told FOX 4. Attendees can tap into financial advice from institutions like event sponsor Capital One and others, explore franchising and non-dilutive government funding options, and even dive into cutting-edge topics like genAI’s legal risks in business.

The event kicks off with a launch party hosted by the Frisco EDC on Sunday, setting the tone for a week of learning and networking. Throughout the week, attendees can look forward to evening networking events, providing organic opportunities to connect with peers and potential partners.

Learning from Success — and Failure

The event’s speaker lineup reads like a who’s who of entrepreneurial success. From Whitney and Chaz Gates, co-founders of WONDRY Wine, to Whitney Wolfe Herd, founder and executive chair of Bumble, business luminaries will share their founding journeys. As Kennedy told FOX 4, “Being a business owner is not easy, so we want to hear the successes, but also the failures along the way.”

Perhaps most inspiring are the success stories born from past Dallas Startup Weeks, Kennedy said. She highlighted Brenda Stoner, a North Texas entrepreneur who has started and exited multiple businesses, including logistics and delivery company PICKUP. Once a DSW attendee, Stoner—now co-founder and president of ByteTrail— is returning as a speaker. It’s a testament to the event’s role in fostering long-term entrepreneurial growth in the region, according to Kennedy.

But whether you’re cultivating a startup idea, guiding a growing business, or representing a major corporation,  her message is clear: Dallas Startup Week has something for you, including plenty of networking opportunities.

“Every night there’s a happy hour so you can organically connect with people,” Kennedy said.

You can watch the FOX 4 report here. To read more about Dallas Startup Week 2024 on Dallas Innovates, go here.

For more of who said what about all things North Texas, check out Every Last Word.

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