Founder Institute Texas

What an honor to run a workshop for the current cohort of the FoundHER Program at none other than the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute at The University of Texas at Austin Our topic was Pitch 101 & yes I had a lot to share :) After having worked with 100s of female founders and investors with our work at She Raises Capital, it felt great to discuss the mindsets, the approach, patterns & flavors we have seen work and not work , especially for female founders and how they could strengthen their stories to stand out and win! So proud of the work they are doing with this program. If you are new to Kendra Scott, who is the founder and executive chairwoman of the Kendra Scott, LLC global accessories brand headquartered in Austin, she committed a combination of personal and company investments to create a $13.25 million endowment to UT Austin! That's Impact in Action and we are so grateful for it! ?? Thank you Shana Rehwald for having me! Shalini Sardana (She/Her), Diane Bailey, Amanda Eldridge, Kelly Ann Winget, Ann Badillo, Fernanda Carapinha, Carlos Martinez, Jeff Murphy, Martín Martinez, Javy Martinez, April Wedding, SWAN Impact Network, Tiffanie Tovar #femalefounders #pitchpsychology #pitchprocess #ownyourstory #getfunded #education #startups

Calling All Houston Hustlers! Spring 2025 Founder Institute Applications Now Open! Excited to announce that as a startup-friendly venture investor and Founder Institute Mentor, I'm here to champion the next generation of innovative thinkers! ?? The Houston Founder Institute offers a launchpad for driven founders and entrepreneurs, providing the structure, valuable feedback, and a strong support system crucial for your startup's success. Ready to elevate your startup journey? Don't miss out on this opportunity! Apply using the link for priority access: ?https://lnkd.in/g3ke7fXS See you there! #HoustonStartups #FounderInstitute #Spring2025 #StartupLife

Apply to Pitch by October 24th for Austin Tech Week! Learn more ???? https://lnkd.in/gY4gWCHj

Want your startup to be unforgettable? It all starts with sticky messaging! Messaging is how your startup communicates its value to the world. It's not just what you say, but how you say it. Good messaging can be the difference between a potential customer scrolling past or stopping to learn more. Here are the 5 key components that make up powerful startup messaging: 1?? Clarity Your message should be crystal clear. Avoid jargon and complex language. Instead, explain your offering in simple terms that anyone can understand. 2?? Relevance: Show your audience why they should care. Your message needs to resonate with your target market's needs, pain points, and aspirations. Research your audience and speak directly to their specific situations. 3?? Differentiation Your messaging should highlight your unique selling proposition (USP). This could be a feature, your approach, or even your company values. Don't just say you're different – explain how and why. 4?? Value Don't just list features – communicate the tangible benefits and outcomes. How will your product or service improve your customers' lives or businesses? Use specific examples and, where possible, quantify the value. 5?? Brand Your brand is more than just your product – it's the emotional connection you create with your audience. Use your messaging to convey your brand's personality, values, and story. Remember, great messaging isn't a "set it and forget it" task. It evolves as your startup grows and as you learn more about your customers. For more insights into winning with your message, check out our workshop linked in the comments.

Post-Event Recap: Thank You for an Incredible Texas Venture Fest 2024! We had an amazing time at Texas Venture Fest San Antonio Edition 2024, and we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support of our community. A huge shoutout to Martín Martinez, Paul O'Brien, and Ileana Gonzalez for sharing their invaluable insights and helping make this event such a success! Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported us, and engaged in the meaningful conversations about the future of tech and innovation in San Antonio. Huge shoutout to Erica Rempel for being our incredible event photographer and Javier Rubio for tending to our guests with drinks and being the best mixer and bar host ever! Not to mention Michael Blair who graciously hosted us as his guests at 300 Main! THANK YOU ?? But we’re just getting started! Over the next few months, we’ll begin planning the official launch of the Founder Institute Texas – San Antonio Chapter, where we’ll continue to build and support our growing network of tech entrepreneurs. Stay tuned for more exciting updates, and we can’t wait to work with all of you to shape the future of San Antonio’s startup ecosystem! ?? Tech Bloc | The Building Texas Show | Emerge and Rise, Inc #TexasVentureFest #FounderInstitute #Entrepreneurship #Innovation #SanAntonioTech #TechBloc #Networking #Community

San Antonio's community is coming together to help Founder Institute with a successful launch for a new region in Texas! Wonderful to see this all come together and thank you to the many partners who are helping. Share with your fellow Texans about this gathering happening on Thursday and have a great Texas Venture Fest everyone! ??

This Thursday, join me in San Antonio for Texas Venture Fest (formerly Texas Venture Crawl), Oct 3rd as we celebrate a big milestone in the Founder Institute Texas Community ?? I'm excited to be kicking off our 4th chapter in the Lone Star State, something that's been in the works for years, and introduce to you our local team who will be leading the effort in launching enduring businesses in the Alamo City. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/g7Ux7_Cf Thank you to our friends at Tech Bloc for partnering with us for the evening. See you there ??

The Texas Venture Gala & Forum and the Texas Venture Fest are sister signature events six months apart, that honor the vision of a collaborative and unified state to amplify the ecosystem of startup support. Texas Venture Fest, coming up this Thursday, is the only truly Texas-sized experience of programming and networking, held in 19 venues, across 13 cities, and for nearly 3,000 Texans... simultaneously! Six months from now at the Texas Venture Gala & Forum 2025, we'll gather those co-hosts under one roof again, and recognize Texas Excellence, share notes, make new friends, see old ones... and have one heck of a dinner together. How privileged and grateful we are to work with such impressive Texan leadership. Here are the folks from the Gala & Forum who so generously were major sponsors, speakers, and volunteers earlier this year-- now also gearing up for a Texas Venture Fest in their region. Thank you for your collaboration once again, and have a wonderful event this week: Texas Association of Business (the Texas State Chamber of Commerce), Silverton Partners, LiveOak Ventures, S3 Ventures, Moneta Ventures, iFly.vc, Houston Angel Network, Builders + Backers, International Accelerator, IA Global Ventures, MediaTech Ventures, Tech Bloc, Founder Institute Texas, The Founders Arena, LSA Global HQ, Round Rock Chamber, Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation, The Red Fridge Society, and She Raises Capital. Register for a Texas Venture Fest nearby: www.texasventurefest.com.

Fun News! We've been nominated for the People's Choice Award at the Opportunity Austin #A-LIST Awards in partnership with SXSW! Vote for Leviathan Air?here:?https://lnkd.in/gRCa3bdM Voting is quick and easy! 1 vote allowed per person. Vote now until October 7, 5:00 pm CDT.?Thank you for your support! #ALIST #PeoplesChoice #VoteNow #AustinInnovation

Thank you for being such an impactful mentor Dana Marruffo ????