THE AGENDA
May 26 & 27, 2026
(Program Subject to Change, Refresh Page For the Most Up-to-Date Information)
The program blends thought leadership with purposeful networking — featuring concise, high-impact sessions, followed by dedicated networking breaks that turn panel conversations into new connections.
TUESDAY, MAY 26:
Texas Venture Forum at the Texas Capitol: Auditorium
Video routing from the front door of the Capitol to Auditorium HERE
9am Check-Ins & Networking
10am Welcome Remarks
10:10 The Texas Capital Frontier: Our State’s Rising Power Players, moderated by HoneyHive Capital Managing Partner; ChristianAlts Podcast Host, and Best Selling Author, Matt Johns
—Tiger21 Austin Chair (invite-only high-net-worth network); Pawsitive Holdings; Former Virgin Group (New Ventures); & Goldman Sachs, Gabriel Baldinucci
— Ballistic Ventures Cofounder & General Partner, Roger Thornton
—The Founders Arena Founder & CEO; one of the most successful WealthTech accelerators, Pamela Cytron
10:50 Networking Break
11am Texas Innovation Super Connectors & Communities, moderated by Founder Institute Head of Public Affairs; ‘Startup Ecosystems, Understanding Why Startup Thrive & Ecosystems Fail’ Author, Paul O’Brien
—F.I.E.S.T.A (Founders, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Startups, Techies, Austin Newcomers) Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer, Cherie Werner
—TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs) Global Former Board of Trustees; TiE Austin President; US India Chamber of Commerce Austin; Avasant President, Anupam Govil
—Geek Ventures Investment Team; Austin Under 40 Finalist; Texas Venture Gala & Forum Chief of Staff, Sarah Romanko
11:30 Networking Break
11:40 Emerging Texas City Spotlight: Investor & Innovator Growing Community in Pflugerville, moderated by CS Freeland
—Pflugerville Community Development Corp. Innovation & Entrepreneurship Manager, Juliana Innecco Sapp
12:10-1pm Featured Networking Session, “Connection Engine Networking,” Powered by Reuneo: Skip the small talk and meet the right people faster. This guided networking experience pairs attendees into structured 1-on-1 conversations, rotating you into a new connection each round so you can meet up to 10 new people. Each conversation is timed, intentional, and designed to help you build real connections. Learn more here.
TUESDAY, MAY 26:
Texas Venture Gala at the Headliners Club
5pm Doors Open
630 Welcome Remarks
635 Awards Ceremony
7pm The Honorable Jim Ross, Mayor of Arlington, Texas, interviewed by The Founders Arena Founder & CEO, Pamela Cytron
715 A Toast to Texas Entrepreneurs
9pm Gala Closes
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27:
Texas Venture Forum at the Texas Capitol
9am Doors Open & Networking
930 State of Texas Startups & Venture: The Texas Seed Report, presented by Carta & moderated by Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe’s Partner, Montana Ware
— ClutchVC General Partner, Rajiv Bala
— S3 Ventures General Partner, Aaron Perman
950 Networking Break
10am Texas Universities: Moderated by Princeton University Office of Innovation, Christine Galib
—Texas State University Director of Venture Development, Matt Sorenson
—Austin Technology Incubator CEO (an official University of Texas program); Texas McCombs School of Business Lecturer, Richard Amato
—Texas A&M University System Director of Strategic Partnerships (Innovation), Chris Scotti
10:30 A History & Future of Texas Government: Texas Legislature’s Innovation & Technology Caucus, moderated by CS Freeland
— The Honorable Texas State House of Representatives; Innovation & Technology Caucus Policy Committee Member, Representative Donna Howard
10:50 Networking Break
11am Investors Across America, moderated by Princeton University Office of Innovation, Christine Galib
—Endeavor Heartland’s 412 Angels Director, leading the growth of a high-impact angel network across the Heartland, Chris Erhadt
—Girls Into VC Director of Education, Forty Acres Scholar, Stamps Scholar, Annika Sawant
—Founder Institute Executive Director (Texas), Martin Martinez
— Pitch and Run Austin Chapter Lead, & StayCurious Ventures, Zeke Torres
11:30 U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Small Business Innovation Research, & Texas Space Alliance Tech Outreach Program, moderated by CS Freeland
—United States Patent & Trademark Office Regional Director; Multi-Award Winning & Recognized IP Leader, Hope Shimabuku
—SBIR Advisors & The Building Texas Show Host, Justin McKenzie
—Space Alliance Technology Outreach Program (state program w/ innovator offers) & Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, Lissa West
NOON Lunch & Networking
1pm International Investors, moderated by Q-Branch’s Founder & CEO, Marc Cervantes
—(Germany) German Accelerator’s Global Project Leader, Annika Pierson
—(Taiwan) Beyond Earth Ventures’ Venture Partner; Taiwan ITRI New Venture Association Texas Chapter Chairman; Global League Director, Jessie Chen
—(Israel) Caveret Ventures Managing Partner, Joseph Yaker
1:30 Texas-Based International Investors: Moderated by Princeton University Office of Innovation, Christine Galib
—IA Global Ventures Managing Partner, Nikos Iatropoulos
—Q-Branch’s Founder & CEO, Marc Cervantes
—Geek Ventures Investment Team; Austin Under 40 Finalist; Texas Venture Gala & Forum Chief of Staff, Sarah Romanko
—Latin Startup Alliance, Invincible Spaces Founder & CEO, Winner of Texas Venture Fest of the Year 2025; Jesse Martinez
*BONUS EXPERIENCES FROM OUR PARTNERS:
May 27: 5-7pm, Defense Tech Happy Hour (Separate Registration Required Here)
—Join Q-Branch and Caveret Ventures for a rooftop gathering, good conversation, and cold drinks, just 6 blocks south of the Capitol. This happy hour is a chance for those working in and around the Texas defense sector to connect in a relaxed setting, swap ideas, and build relationships outside of a conference room. Whether you work in defense contracting, aerospace, cybersecurity, veterans services, or government, you are welcome here.
May 28: 8-9am, Pitch & Run: Gala Edition (Separate Registration Required Here)
—We’ve partnered with Pitch & Run, so Texas Venture Gala & Forum guests can join this Austin reoccurring gathering of entrepreneur and investor runners & walkers around downtown Austin. Starting at Capital Cafe (the coffee shop across the street in front of the Texas State Capitol), they will kick off with networking, followed by a run (or walk) around the Capitol. Learn more and register for the event in the link above.