Mars Venture
2022Texas is the portal to Mars, and there is a growing number of builders and backers, and exciting culture of space optimism rooted in our state. I printed this on our very first merch /swag at the inaugural Austin Venture Crawl (now Texas Venture Fest), to encourage a spotlight on one of the most innovative efforts being built in our state. This also amplified the work at the legislature to create our first space bills to create a commission and a fund.
Lone Star Ecosystem
2023The mission and slogan, “The Lone Star State shouldn’t have lone star entrepreneurs”, rallied a co-created innovation network and coalition to host gatherings, share knowledge, and have a fun time doing it, for the inaugural Texas Venture Fest.
Texas Gold Rush
2024Our state experienced a massive influx of new Texans who became part of this ecosystem of entrepreneur support. I used this theme to convene our inaugural industry Gala and later that year, the Governor Greg Abbott closed his economic development speech in 2024 with a reminder to the government and business community to think of the moment in time as a Gold Rush to be the picks and shovels, not just gold.
After founding the first organization since the pandemic to best of service to the statewide community, we are pleased to have inspired a spawning of over a dozen more Texas branded organizations in the innovation ecosystem.
Texas Dynamism
2024Innovations in industries that are natural to the Texas story such as:— energy, water, aerospace, defense, agtech, critical minerals, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI, and biotech. Our theme has been echoed across other organizations and content.
Texas as a Blueprint
2025Texas leads as The Lone Star of the 50 on the American flag, as a best-in-class, co-created network and set of resources for innovators. Our model has been replicated across many other states in their statewide innovation spotlight events and resources.
Innovation is Statecraft
2026A message that entrepreneurs are our country’s problem solvers. They craft the next chapter of America. For over a decade I’ve championed the convergence of innovators getting more civicly oriented, and government & government agacent organizations and people talk about and support innovation. I also started hosting our signature events at our statehouse to bring in now what is thousands of Texas from our innovation community.
The New Breed
2027