For the third consecutive year, The Founders Arena will host Texas Venture Fest: North Texas 2026 on Thursday, October 1, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. CDT at Kiln Dallas. The event, held at Kiln's new Preston Hollow coworking space at The Hill, 9850 N. Central Expressway, Suite 230, is part of a statewide innovation series that draws more than 3,500 people across more than 15 cities. Unlike traditional pitch events, this gathering focuses on connection, with no pitch competition. Attendees include founders, investors, business and civic leaders, universities, and ecosystem builders. The evening features light refreshments, networking, and remarks from Michael Phillips, chief operating officer of T.D. Jakes Enterprises, a social impact holding company. Phillips' work with the Good Soil Movement emphasizes access to capital, technology, and growth for entrepreneurs.
The event underscores The Founders Arena's three-year impact in Texas. It has worked with 36 companies across six cohorts, with companies headquartered in 11 U.S. states and 10 countries in its broader network. Hundreds of financial services visitors have come to North Texas to meet founders, leading to five exits and four companies that have relocated or are relocating to Texas. One of those relocations will be visible at the event: Finliti, a Founders Arena cohort company, is moving from Toronto to North Texas. Founder Jennifer Schell will attend as she begins that move, sharing why she chose Texas and North Texas, framed around the strength of the community.
The event falls during Texas Startup & Tech Week, September 28 through October 2. The sister signature gathering is the Texas Venture Gala & Forum at the Texas State Capitol, with an awards dinner in downtown Austin. Pamela Cytron, chief executive officer of The Founders Arena, said, "Over the last three years, we've connected founders from across states and countries with people and opportunities here in Texas, and welcomed hundreds of financial services visitors to North Texas. We've seen five exits, and Finliti's move from Toronto will be the fourth company relocation. I'm excited that people at Venture Fest can meet its founder and see one of those connections becoming real. The next chapter is about abundance. Ecosystem builders can work together to get a founder to the right customer, capital, expertise and resources at the right time. That's how we build sustainable companies and lasting economic opportunity in Texas."
Justin McKenzie, host of the Building Texas Show, added, "With 28% of Texans living in the North Texas region, I am excited to see the impact that VentureFest will have in the DFW/North Texas area." The Founders Arena is also introducing the TFA Innovation Chamber, a separate commercial company designed to help founders, capital, cities, and partners find one another and turn introductions into commercial outcomes. Registration is open at luma.com/texas-venture-fest-north-texas-2026. Hosts and partners include The Founders Arena, Kiln Dallas, Texas Venture Alliance / Texas Venture Fest, and Myngly.
This news matters because it highlights Texas's growing role as a hub for startup innovation and relocation. The event's focus on connection over competition could foster more sustainable business growth, benefiting entrepreneurs, investors, and the regional economy. With companies like Finliti choosing Texas, the state's ecosystem demonstrates its appeal, potentially attracting more talent and capital. As Texas Startup & Tech Week and the Texas Venture Gala & Forum complement this gathering, the collective efforts may strengthen statewide economic development and innovation.
