Lone Star Founders Unite!
1. Event Overview:
- Title: Lone Star Founders Unite!
- Date & Time: Thursday Oct 3, 2024 // 3:00 PM – 8:00 PM
- Location: Schreiner U CCAC / Trailhead
- Objective: To bring together Kerrville’s entrepreneurial community for an evening of networking, learning, and collaboration, aimed at strengthening the local entrepreneurship ecosystem and connecting founders with resources across Texas.
2. Schedule & Activities:
3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Registration & Networking
- Overview: Guests arrive, check in, and have the opportunity to meet and greet fellow entrepreneurs, investors, and ecosystem partners.
- Features:
- Welcome drinks and light snacks
- Name tags color-coded by category (e.g., entrepreneur, investor, mentor)
- Networking space with icebreaker questions on tables
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: Welcome & Opening Remarks
- Speakers:
- Introduction by a local government representative or EDO leader
- Brief remarks by a prominent local entrepreneur or startup founder
- Key Messages:
- The importance of collaboration in the entrepreneurial journey
- Overview of the event agenda and goals for the evening
4:00 PM – 4:30 PM: KEYNOTE, Bob Jones: But should you?
4:30 PM – 5:00 PM: Ecosystem Showcase
- Overview: A presentation session featuring local startups, entrepreneurial support organizations, and innovation hubs.
- Format:
- Quick pitches (5 minutes each) from 5-6 local startups
- Presentations from 2-3 support organizations or innovation hubs
- Objective: To highlight available resources and inspire new connections.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Breakout Sessions/Workshops
- Overview: Interactive sessions designed to provide practical advice and facilitate knowledge sharing.
- Topics:
- “Building a Scalable Startup in a Small Town”
- “Accessing Funding and Resources in Texas”
- “Creating a Strong Founder Network”
- Format:
- Small group discussions or workshops led by industry experts and seasoned entrepreneurs
- Facilitated Q&A to engage the audience
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Founder & Investor Roundtable
- Overview: A moderated discussion bringing together local founders and investors to discuss opportunities and challenges in the region.
- Topics:
- The unique challenges of entrepreneurship in rural Texas
- How investors can support startups outside major metro areas
- Success stories and lessons learned from the local community
- Format:
- Panel discussion with 4-5 participants (founders, investors, support organization leaders)
- Audience Q&A segment
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Networking Reception :: Trailhead at Schreiner University
- Overview: An informal reception to close the event, giving attendees another chance to connect and discuss collaboration opportunities.
- Features:
- Local food and beverage offerings
- Dedicated spaces for specific types of networking (e.g., funding, mentorship, partnerships)
- A “meet the speaker” area for one-on-one conversations
