GROWTH, CAPITAL & THE FUTURE OF INNOVATION

Close out Venture Pfest with a fast-moving day focused on capital, scale, and smart growth. Learn how to choose the right investors, design a business model that scales, and put modern tools to work. Stay for the Pflugerville Founders Showcase pitch competition and connect with the region's builders and backers.

What you will get

• Investor readiness and capital strategy frameworks
• Templates for business model design and forecasting
• Practical automation and AI tools you can use this week
• Recap PDFs, worksheets, and links to partner resources

Who should attend

• Early and growth-stage founders
• Operators and advisors guiding scale
• Students and aspiring entrepreneurs
• Investors and ecosystem partners
  

All Venture Pfest events are free.

Times are in Central. Schedule subject to minor updates.

10:00 AM - 10:15 AM

Welcome and Kickoff: Scale Smart, Build Big

Location: Typhoon Texas

Focus: High-energy kickoff to close Venture Pfest. Review the week's momentum, outline the day, and preview the Pflugerville Founders Showcase pitch competition.

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Panel 1: Funding and Investment Strategies for Startups

Location: Typhoon Texas

Panelists: Angel investor, VC partner, founder who has raised angel and VC, moderator who is an accelerator leader or advisor.

Topics: SAFE notes vs priced rounds, timing fundraising, founder - investor alignment, due diligence prep, red flags.

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Panel 2: How to Build a Scalable Business Model

Location: Typhoon Texas

Facilitators: Startup coach, SBDC advisor, or operations strategist.

Topics: Lean Canvas walkthrough, key metrics (CAC, LTV, burn), bottlenecks and scale levers, go-to-market strategies.

11:45 AM - 1:00 PM

Lunch and Keynote: The Future of Innovation - Unpacking Global Tech Trends

Location: Typhoon Texas

Themes: AI and automation, future of work, tech policy shifts, global startup ecosystems, and how founders can prepare now.

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Workshop 2: Tech Tools for Traction - AI, Automation and Systems

Location: Typhoon Texas

1:45 PM - 2:45 PM

Pitch Competition: Pflugerville Founders Showcase

Location: Typhoon Texas

Format: 5 - 6 local startups pitch (5 min pitch + 3 min Q and A). Judged by investors, founders, and community leaders, plus a People's Choice vote via QR.

Judging Criteria: Storytelling, innovation, traction, strength of ask.

Prize Package: Mentorship plus investor meetings, media exposure, and select partner services.

2:45 PM - 3:30 PM

Networking Social: Texas Venture Fest

Location: Typhoon Texas center area

Host or Publisher Pflugerville Community Development Corporation