Venture Dallas is firing up its search for North Texas’ most innovative companies, as nominations open for its Startup of the Year 2024 awards. The winners will be revealed at the annual summit on October 30, building on the momentum of last year’s inaugural honors.
The awards bring visibility to high-growth startups in the region, including innovators flying under the radar, says David Evans, who spearheads the initiative as a Venture Dallas steering committee member.
This year’s competition features two distinct categories for recognition. The Early Stage arena spotlights companies with up to $1 million in revenue, while the Growth Stage showcases businesses that have crossed the $1 million threshold.
“It’s about leveling the playing field,” Evans explained. The managing partner at Sentiero Ventures added, “We want to acknowledge both the truly emerging companies and those further down the line.”
The nomination process, with a Sept. 20 deadline, is designed to be straightforward, according to Evans. Self-nominations are welcome. And, Evans adds, “If you know a cool company, you can easily nominate them.”
The stakes are high for nominees. “The list of nominated startups will be made available to our investor and sponsor attendees,” Evans said. “Even if they don’t make the semifinals, they’ll get in front of investors. It’s a benefit, really, to both sides.”
From the pool of nominees, 12 semifinalists—six per category—will be selected. The semifinalists will score invites to a VIP reception on October 29 and the main event at the Bush Center. A panel of experts, including VCs and successful entrepreneurs, will evaluate the nominees to determine the finalists.
The Venture Dallas 2024 Summit itself will serve as the stage for a “live” reveal of the winners during the event.
Last year’s inaugural awards set a high bar. CollateralEdge, a fintech platform boosting lending capacity for regional banks, clinched one of the top spots. TestFit, which automates design processes for real estate developers, and Firehawk Aerospace, specializing in hybrid rocket engines and 3-D printed fuel, rounded out the winners’ circle.
With the nomination window now open, the race is on to find this year’s innovators in North Texas’ startup ecosystem. The awards offer an opportunity for startups to gain recognition and potentially “catch the eye of investors,” Evans said.
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