Texas Venture Gala & Forum

May 29, 2025, Austin Marriott Downtown

The only high-end, high-powered gathering of investors & innovators from across the state.

Texas is the blueprint for the future.

The statewide innovation ecosystem not only convenes, but mobilizes at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum. Traveling from all across Texas for one big evening, and under one big roof, together we enhance the discourse on how the largest & most influential state can continue to lead on a national, global… and even galactic scale.

This signature experience is limited to only 300 of the top Texans in our ecosystem of startup support including: 1) venture capital firms, allocators, emerging managers, incubators, accelerators, angel networks, universities, family offices, and successful CEOs; 2) local & national, traditional & new media; and 3) the government community of elected & appointed officials, along with 20+ economic development organizations & chambers of commerce leaders who fund innovation.

Texas Venture Forum

The Forum features prominent Gala guests on panels & firesides during the day.

Last year’s Texas Venture Forum breakfast keynote kicked off with Office of Governor Greg Abbott Executive Director, Adriana Cruz; Texas Economic Development Corporation CEO, Aaron Demerson; and Texas Association of Business (the Texas State Chamber) CEO, Glenn Hamer.

Following the kickoff, we hosted in two Fairmont Hotel ballrooms more than 20 panel topics including: Texan Dynamism, Corporates Trailblazing in Venture, Family Office Investment Trends, Cities as Investors & Accelerators, Success With the Successors, LP Landscape, Regulations in VC, and more. View highlights here.

Texas Venture Gala

The Gala recognizes and celebrates leadership with awards and keynotes in the evening.

Dressed in “Texan best”, guests gather to recognize excellence for the Texas Venture Awards. Last year we spotlighted the highly revered Texas State Representative Giovanni Capriglione; Texas’ newest and fastest-growing unicorn startup Cart.com; and GOOSE Capital Chairman David Gow who shaped the Houston innovation ecosystem.

The event culminated with our Texas Venture Gala Keynote, the longest-tenured NASA CEO, the Honorable Daniel S. Goldin; interviewed by America’s Frontier Fund Founder & COO, Jordan Blashek. View last year’s agenda here.

TEXAS SPEAKER HIGHLIGHTS: INVESTORS & BUSINESS LEADERS
More Coming Soon

  • Adriana Cruz

    Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Executive Director


  • Clayton Christopher

    Deep Eddy Vodka Founder, Sweet Leaf Tea Founder, Cofounder of Waterloo Sparkling Water, Asto Consumer Partners & CAVU Venture Partners Cofounder

  • Steve Adler

    Former Mayor of Austin & Commonweal Ventures Senior Advisor

  • Glenn Hamer

    Texas Association of Business (the Texas State Chamber of Commerce); Texas Venture Alliance Chairman

  • Kelly Loeffler

    Administrator Kelly Loeffler

    Cabinet Member & US Small Business Administration


Sponsorship Information

The Texas Venture Gala & Forum is brought to life every year through partnerships. Early leadership to co-create the event is now available and exists in the following levels: “Texans”, Hosts, Chairs, & Presenters. Investors, portfolio companies, special guests, and pre-approved industry partners may attend this exclusive experience. Limited opportunities to collaborate are available here.

Media & Press Passes

Texas Venture Gala & Forum partners with the media to amplify the ecosystem of entrepreneur support. This includes local, regional, & national reach, and traditional & new media such as: journalists, podcasters, newsletter editors, bloggers, etc. Learn more & request a press pass here.


“No other ecosystem of startup support acts like us. It’s impressive, the level of cohesion and care 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...”

—Texas Venture Gala Speech from CS Freeland, Texas Venture Alliance Executive Director, Texas Venture Newsletter Editor at the Austin Fairmont Hotel (View the Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2024 Recap here)