American Venture Fest: Austin (Oct 15, 2026)
We booked our beautiful and historic statehouse to host the best builders & backers of Lone Star innovation. We will feature: a pre & post-program Capitol Tour, fast-paced sessions in the Auditorium, and themed roundtables & booths in the Conference Center. Don’t miss out on this special opportunity and unique moment for Texas.
Thank you to our reoccurring major sponsor: 512FINANCIAL, & partners: Federal Labs Consortium, United States Patent and Trademark Office. Please visit their booths in the Legislative Conference Center.
VENUE: Upon building entry, guests must pass security screening. A video guide walking from the Texas Capitol south entrance to the Auditorium is here. Parking & other way-finding information is here.
AGENDA
1-1:40PM, OPTIONAL TEXAS CAPITOL TOUR: Meet under the Rotunda Dome just past the south entrance security & look for Candice with Texas flags. *Available to first 40 people
1:30PM, AUDITORIUM DOORS OPEN: Check-Ins & Networking (Video guide walking from south Texas State Capitol entrance to the Auditorium is here.)
2-2:30PM, OPENING REMARKS
2:30-3PM, STATE SPOTLIGHT: "Innovation, Legacy, & Midterms" Texas's First Digital Newsletter Owner & Editor, & Texas Monthly's "Capitol's Ultimate Insider", Harvey Kronberg, of the Quorum Report, interviewed by Texas Venture Fest's Founder, CS Freeland
3-3:15PM, FEDERAL SPOTLIGHT: "Important Information & Resources For Investors & Innovators", from United States Patent & Trademark Office & Federal Labs Consortium For Technology Transfer *Visit their booths at the Legislative Conference Center from 4-8pm.
3:15-3:45PM, LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: "Crisis, Capital & Communities," with Former Mayor of Austin, Commonweal Ventures Operating Partner, & "Hot Seat, Hot City" Author, Steve Adler, interviewed by Mayor of Cedar Park & VC/PE/M&A Attorney, Jim Penniman-Morin *Bring your copy of Mayor Adler’s book to the stage immediately after the session if you would like to have it signed. Books will not be sold on site.
BREAKOUT OPTIONS:
-4-4:40pm, Texas Capitol Tour: Meet outside Auditorium. *Available to first 40 people
-4-8pm, Conference Center: Featured Themed Roundtables & Featured Booths at the Conference Center. *First come first served with limited space
-4:30, LAUNCH Accelerator / Jason Calacanis' Fund Conducts Interviews *In the Auditorium
-*No Austin Venture Crawl post event this year, as it was canceled due to inclement weather on Oct 1*
*BONUS EVENT, MARCH 2027: America House, during SXSW showcases "the G20 of American Innovation Ecosystems" from across our country (REGISTER HERE)
This nonpartisan event brings together bipartisan support for our innovation community at the Texas Capitol. As an idea that spawned in February 2026, we are the only innovation network to host events at the Texas Capitol with the mission to be a resource between Texas government & Texas innovation.