Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2026
May 26th & 27th | Texas State Capitol | Headliners Club
The Texas Annual Meeting Spotlighting Innovation
The 3rd Annual Meeting at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum
Daytime Program:
Hosted at Texas’ most powerful & historic building
THE TEXAS CAPITOL
Evening Dinner:
Downtown Austin's most exclusive & influential institution
HEADLINERS CLUB
Do not miss the statewide innovation ecosystem’s 3rd Annual Meeting at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum, a reconvening from across 20+ cities. Hosted at The Texas State Capitol & Headliners Club in one truly Texas-sized moment, speakers, guests, and recognized Texans will gather including: venture capitalists, emerging managers, incubators, accelerators, angel networks, universities, family offices, elected & appointed officials, startup CEOs, and industry partners.The evening awards will spotlight the Texas Investor of the Year, Texas Innovator of the Year, Texas Venture Fest of the Year… and with the announcement for the new Gala theme, “Innovation Is Statecraft”, we introduce the Texas Statecraft Leader of the Year spotlighting a Texas powerbroker supporting innovation.
The Gala Venue: Headliners Club
The evening awards dinner takes place at one of Austin's most storied private institutions. Headliners Club was founded by the editor of the Austin American-Statesman as a gathering place for "those who make the headlines and those who write them." For nearly 70 years, its 21st-floor rooms have hosted governors, senators, CEOs, reporters, powerbrokers, and the occasional movie star. Read more here.
Made Possible Thanks To Our 2026 Major Partners
Many of our major partners below have stepped up their support, sponsored across multiple events, and/or have been invaluable to our initiatives. Please say hello to them at the event and learn more about them below. Promote your organization to the statewide innovation ecosystem and learn about how to become a partner here.
Experience Partners
Star Sponsors
Community Partners
Contact our community partners, join their newsletters, or follow them on social media to receive special perks to our event, and stay connected to explore what they offer the innovation ecosystem throughout the year. Our promotional partners play a vital role in bringing the community together under one roof. Promote your organization to the statewide innovation ecosystem and learn about how to become a partner here or let us know your interest in becoming a community partner here.
In Their Words
President of the United States, Donald J Trump, in a Message From the White House
“I send my warmest greetings to all the incredible investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders gathered for the Second Annual Texas Venture Gala and Forum… I congratulate you on your tremendous work and send my best wishes for a wonderful event. May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America.” Full message here.
Cabinet Member and Administrator of the Small Business Administration, Kelly Loeffler
"I had the privilege of speaking at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum about how the SBA is strengthening partnerships with investors to expand access to capital. Through programs like SBIC, we’re helping more entrepreneurs scale their business and drive innovation." Full message here.
The Honorable Daniel S. Goldin, the Longest-Serving NASA Administrator and Founder of Cold Canyon
“In hard pursuits, there's no halfway-in-between. Either we're going to be a society that advances American technology or we're not! This is about more than investment dollars and policy. It's about collective SPIRIT! Thank you to my new friend CS Freeland for inviting me to keynote the inaugural Texas Venture Gala & Forum this April. So many people came together in the spirit of American technology in one of the most critical regions of the country for deep tech - Texas. I had the honor of being interviewed by the brilliant Jordan Blashek, President & COO of America’s Frontier Fund.”
The Honorable Ted Cruz, Unites States Senator, and U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Chairman
“There’s no better place in the country to build and grow a business than Texas. I’m honored to be invited to speak at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum. I look forward to celebrating the hard work of Texas entrepreneurs and continuing the conversation on how we can ensure Texas remains the innovation powerhouse that it is.”
The Honorable Adriana Cruz, Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Executive Director
"… I was honored to speak at the reception for the Texas Venture Gala & Forum, by the Texas Venture Alliance, at Texas Association of Business office. Thanks for our hosts Texas Economic Development Corporation and TAB. Honored to meet some of the leadership from the US Small Business Administration who were in town for the event." Full message here.
The Honorable Donna Howard, Texas House of Representatives, Innovation & Technology Caucus Policy Committee Member
“I'm pleased to join this event with a focus on education and information to further technology industry innovation, growth, and competitiveness here in Texas. This sector has already strengthened our state’s economy, and I'm excited see how this industry will continue to play a significant role in the future of our state.”
The Honorable Aaron Demerson, Texas Economic Development Corporation, President and CEO
“Innovation is synonymous with transformation, and Texas is the epitome of a states that continually transforms itself to be a leading innovator. From advanced manufacturing and semiconductors to aerospace, biotech and energy, Texas leads the nation in industries that contribute to the daily lives of all Americans. Add in our business-friendly environment, it’s no secret this is why more CEOs are choosing Texas to relocate or expand their business.”
The Honorable Salman Bhojani, Texas State Representative and Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee Vice Chair
“I’m thrilled to join fellow entrepreneurs and executives at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum to discuss how we can keep Texas business friendly and the economy growing. It’s an honor to be included among so many innovators and thought leaders at this one-of-a-kind gathering of our state’s most influential champions of business.”
The Honorable Jim Penniman-Morin, Mayor of Cedar Park
“The City of Cedar Park is proud to support initiatives that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and the growth of emerging industries. Through partnerships with Plug and Play’s Advanced Manufacturing and more recently, Aerospace & Defense verticals, we are continuing to strengthen Cedar Park’s position as a destination for visionary companies, talent, and investment. We believe collaboration between the public and private sectors is critical to building the next generation of economic opportunity and advancing the region’s growing innovation ecosystem.”
The Honorable Shane Saum, Mayor of Lago Vista
“Innovation does not just happen in major cities. Small cities play a critical role in supporting the entrepreneurs, small businesses, and innovators who strengthen our regional economy and improve everyday life for Texans. Lago Vista is committed to fostering a community where creative thinking, local investment, and opportunity can grow.”
Texas Association of Business, President and CEO, Glenn Hamer
“This is the most important event for venture capitalists in Texas in 2024 and maybe in the state’s history. At the Texas Association of Business (the state chamber) we’re committed to Texas being #1 in every area and we need strong cohesion across our expansive state to reach the top. I commend CS’s leadership for founding this Gala.”
Mayor’s Task Force for Austin Women Entrepreneurs Chair; and Dynabrand Ventures Founder and CEO, Carla McDonald
“Austin’s rise as an innovation hub has been meteoric, and we can go still higher if we unleash the full potential of our women entrepreneurs. Their empowerment will play a key role in elevating our city to unprecedented heights of economic prosperity and inclusive growth.”
Texas A&M University System Interim Chief Innovation Officer & Managing Director, New Ventures Dr. Samuel Kim
“At Texas A&M Innovation, we have the privilege of working across The Texas A&M University System, a statewide network of universities and state agencies with research, talent, and commercialization activity reaching every region of Texas. Bringing universities, entrepreneurs, investors, industry partners, and communities together in a more connected way is essential if Texas is going to keep leading in emerging technologies, new company formation, and long-term economic growth.”
University of Texas’ Austin Technology Incubator, Executive Director, Richard Amato
“Austin’s innovation ecosystem is built on bold ideas, strong partnerships, and a commitment to commercialization that creates lasting economic impact. At ATI, we’re proud to support entrepreneurs developing the deep technologies that will shape the future.”
The Family Office Association, Chairman and Founder, Marc Sharpe
“I'm pleased to join this event with a focus on education and information to further technology industry innovation, growth, and competitiveness here in Texas. This sector has already strengthened our state’s economy, and I'm excited see how this industry will continue to play a significant role in the future of our state.”
Halliburton Labs, Executive Director, Scott Gale
“The skillsets and capital required to deliver the future of energy faster are right here in Texas. Halliburton Labs is based at Halliburton’s global headquarters in Texas, and we support more than 30 portfolio companies worldwide with several of them operating in Houston. Our start-ups are tackling the world’s most pressing energy challenges. We empower these new energy pioneers so they can scale more quickly to revolutionize the world.”
Texas State University’s Director of Venture Development, Matt Sorenson, PhD
“At Texas State University, we believe research, innovation, and entrepreneurship are catalysts for transformative change. Participating in the Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2026 allows us to showcase our faculty, students, and innovative technologies while strengthening partnerships that accelerate innovation across Texas. We are honored to join the conversation alongside other Texas universities and share about our new campus-wide BobCatalyst initiatives.”
A LOOK BACK: FOUNDING THE TEXAS VENTURE GALA & FORUM 2024
“No other ecosystem of entrepreneur support acts like us. It’s impressive, the level of cohesion inside what is the biggest state in size & stature of our country. We are all founders today. Thank you founding speakers, founding sponsors, founding guests, and founding volunteers...”
—2024 Founding Gala Speech from CS Freeland, at the downtown Austin Fairmont Hotel (View recap here)
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE TEXAS VENTURE GALA & FORUM 2025
Although this wasn’t the inaugural year, it was one of many “firsts”. One of the most unique moments was the attention our gathering received from the highest levels of the U.S. government, a first for our statewide innovation community, and at the time, any organization in Texas: We received a message from the President of the United States congratulating the Gala, as well as featured a Presidential Cabinet Member (the Administrator of the SBA), and a US Senator keynote.
We also had our first-ever statewide innovation resolution: I asked the most popular rising star State Representatives to kickoff the Gala, and he surprised and generously offered us and delivered an official proclamation to our Gala guests recognizing our innovation.
I’m excited to say this was also an unprecedented moment gathering the top organizations in the business community: the Texas Governor's Office, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, SBA Executive Leadership, Texas Economic Development Corporation, and Texas Association of Business all together… who have never been featured at the same gathering.
The Texas Venture Showcase (“the Showcase of Showcases”), was also a great convening and first feature of truly statewide innovation, with branded gala tables celebrating our Texas Venture Fest partners’ cohorts, pitch winners, demo days, and other award-winning Texas startups.
And finally my dream come true and to show my appreciation of the building: We convened investors and innovators from across our great state for the first time, at what is the most historic and powerful building in our state, the Texas State Capitol. I asked our sponsor, US Lege, for their help to host several private tours, for what we now call the Texas Venture Day, or our community’s day at the Capitol. View the entire 2025 Recap here.
—Texas Venture Gala & Forum Organizer, CS Freeland