Investors Across America
Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2026 Panel “Investors Across America”; Moderated by Princeton University Office of Innovation, Christine Galib
The panel featured Endeavor Heartland’s 412 Angels Director, leading the growth of a high-impact angel network across the Heartland, Chris Erhardt; Girls Into VC Director of Education, Forty Acres Scholar, Stamps Scholar, Annika Sawant; Founder Institute Executive Director (Texas), Martin Martinez; and Pitch and Run Austin Chapter Lead, & StayCurious Ventures, Zeke Torres.
This was a unique set of panelists that have presence in Texas as part of a larger national network. They shared perspectives from venture ecosystems across the country, discussing how regional communities can better support startups, entrepreneurs, and investors outside of traditional coastal markets.
“What an incredible two days at the 3rd Annual Texas Venture Gala & Forum. Honored to have been in the room with some of Texas’ brightest founders, investors, and innovators at the Capitol, said Girls Into VC, a global organization expanding women’s access to venture capital through education, mentorship, campus chapters, and professional opportunities. “Huge congratulations to our very own Annika Sawant for representing Girls Into VC on the speaker stage, we’re so proud!” View their comments and more of their posts on social media here.
Founder Institute is a Silicon Valley–founded, global pre-seed company-building network that helps aspiring and early-stage founders turn ideas into fundable businesses through structured programs and mentorship. Endeavor Heartland is the regional arm of the global Endeavor network, providing mentorship, strategic connections, and access to capital for high-growth entrepreneurs across the central United States.
Pitch and Run is a founder-and-investor community that replaces formal networking meetings with informal group runs, allowing entrepreneurs, startup employees, angels, and venture capitalists to build relationships without the pressure of pitching.
The conversation explored topics including infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, increasing participation by women and young professionals in venture capital, and the importance of collaboration in building strong innovation ecosystems throughout Texas and the broader Heartland.
This Texas Venture Gala & Forum panel recap was made possible by our Editorial Partner, Texas State University. Their McCoy College of Business Center for Student Entrepreneurship program exists to prepare the next generation of founders to build ventures that matter. Learn more about their innovation and commercialization here. Check out the entire Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2026 recap here.
