Do you have the next big idea for a technology startup? Are you endlessly listening to the Tim Ferriss Show and Entrepreneur On Fire, trying to figure out how to turn your business concept into an innovation powerhouse? Being amped up on your next entrepreneurial idea can be a lonely place. Perhaps your spouse, your dog, Hank, and apartment walls aren’t turning out to be the best springboards for your endless ideas. Well, thanks to the Dallas startup scene, you’re in good company. Dallas has always been a business mecca, hosting companies like Texas Instruments, American Airlines, Neiman Marcus and so many others. But these days, Dallas also boasts a thriving startup scene, especially for technology ventures. And fortunately, these tech startups are backed by hundreds of enthusiastic, optimistic and determined individuals. Here are some of the best Dallas networking groups, events and coworking spaces you can visit to meet the people behind the magic.
Professional Groups and Incubators in Dallas
Tech Titans, aka the Technology Association for North Texas, is a networking organization that brings some of the area’s most influential technologists together several times per month. Members enjoy discounted admission to their excellent networking events, round tables and lunch-and-learns.
Tech Wildcatters is one of Dallas’ premier startup incubators. The group, spearheaded by an impressive list of mentors, invests their money and resources into promising startups from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. They also offer entrepreneurial training through their annual ‘Gauntlet Bootcamp.’
Health Wildcatters is another outstanding incubator in the Dallas startup scene. They provide resources and support for healthcare startups, as well as an inspiring, recently-renovated workspace. They also host meetups open to anyone interested in learning more about technology in healthcare. 7T has been closely tied to Health Wildcatters for several years and 7T CEO Kishore Khandavalli is a mentor to many of these bright med-tech start-ups.
‘Founded by the Town of Addison and the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC), the Addison TreeHouse is a resource centered co-working space focused on providing aspiring entrepreneurs with education, programming, and mentorship that are vital to the growth and sustainability of businesses.’ 7T’s own President, Shane Long, is one of the remarkable mentors working with the entrepreneurs of the Addison Treehouse this year.
Tech in Motion is an organization that hosts free talks, happy hours, technology demonstrations and panels multiple times per month, across 11 cities in the United States. The Dallas events are frequented by entrepreneurs, developers, marketing professionals and countless others!
Women Who Code is a technology networking organization ‘dedicated to inspiring women to excel in technology careers by creating a global, connected community of women in technology.’ The group hosts a number of events, including hackathons, career development workshops and free technical study groups.
Tech Conferences in Dallas
October 30th – November 3rd, 2017
7T exhibited at Techweek last year, and the team had a great time! The venue was flooded with eager technology professionals from around DFW. The event features incredible speakers (last year’s keynote came from Reddit co-founder, Alexis Ohanian) and a cut-throat pitch competition. We’re looking forward to the 2017 event.
Startup Week
Though the event has already passed for 2017, Dallas’ Startup Week was an excellent place to meet like-minded and influential entrepreneurs. Topics of discussion ranged from fashion to virtual reality and the IoT.
SXSW (Austin, Texas)
Okay, so SXSW happens in Austin, Texas, but in the weeks leading up to the event, there are SXSW meetups hosted in Dallas, San Francisco, New York, LA and beyond. Considering that SXSW is one of the most impressive tech conferences on the planet and only a three-hour drive from Dallas, it’s a must-do for DFW entrepreneurs and tech professionals. Just be sure you book your hotel early!
Dallas Startup Coworking Spaces
In addition to great networking groups and events, there are also numerous Dallas coworking spaces, designed specifically for creative and tech professionals. Each space offers desk rentals, office rentals, day passes and exceptional networking opportunities. Find the space that works for your Dallas startup (or visit them all!).
WeWork (Uptown, Thanksgiving Tower, and Legacy West)
The Dallas Entrepreneur Center
The Dallas Entrepreneur Center also offers events, mentorship and training.
Common Desk (Deep Ellum, Oak Cliff, West Plano and Fort Worth)
If you’re in need of office space, mentorship, inspiration or just some good, entrepreneurial friends, Dallas has precisely what it takes to make your vision a reality. 7T is proud to take part in shaping Dallas’ entrepreneurial future, and we hope you will join us in doing the same!
Whether you run a long-running, profitable business or have a great idea for an app, we would love to hear from you. Contact us today to learn more about our services, including mobile strategy, agile app development, mobile security and predictive analytics.
