​INNOVATE '26: Beyond Venture Capital

​Innovation is funded by far more than venture capital.

​On November 17, INNOVATE '26 brings founders, investors, family offices, corporate leaders, funders, researchers, and civic leaders together at Pegasus Park in Dallas for a focused conversation about the full capital stack that carries innovation from lab to market.

​Through fireside conversations, expert panels, featured founders, and networking, we’ll explore how breakthrough ideas are discovered, funded, commercialized, and scaled, and the role Dallas can play in making that happen.

​Join us for an afternoon built for access, insight, and connection, followed by cocktails and a chance to meet featured founders putting the day’s conversations into practice.

​Agenda

​OPENING - 12:00 PM – 2:45 PM

​WHY INNOVATION MATTERS TO DALLAS

​Mike Fey | Co-Founder & CEO, Island · Interviewed by Maria Lawson, D CEO Magazine

​WHERE CAPITAL MEETS PROGRESS

​Kneeland Youngblood | Founding Partner, Chairman & CEO, Pharos Capital Group • Interviewed by Nicole Small, CEO of LH Capital/Lyda Hill Philanthropies

​FAMILY OFFICE CAPITAL

​Paul M. Purcell | Private Investor & Veteran Fintech and Payments Board Director

​BREAK - 2:45 PM – 3:00 PM

​AFTERNOON SESSIONS - 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM

​CASE STUDY: FROM VC TO PE, PRIVATE CAPITAL IN HEALTHCARE INNOVATION

​Evan Jackson | Co-Founder & CEO, Intus Care & Cody Rader | Blue Star Innovation Partners · Interviewed by Charlotte Kramon, Dallas Morning News - Wealth and Philanthropy Reporter

​CASE STUDY: DALLAS AS A LEADER IN THE NEW AGE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY AND PUBLIC HEALTH

​Nikki Romanik | Co-Founder & President, BioRadar, Phil Huang | Director, Dallas County Health & Human Services · Interviewed by Dr. Ashish Jha, Co-Founder & CEO, BioRadar; Former White House COVID-19 Response Coordinator

​CLOSING KEYNOTE: THE FASTEST TORTOISE

​Ken Hersh | Investor, Author & Former CEO, George W. Bush Presidential Center · Interviewed by Kyle Waldrep, Entrepreneur, Founder, Dottid & Co-Host, Intersections Podcast

​Ken Hersh has built a career on betting big in unfamiliar territory, from co-founding a $12 billion energy investment firm to leading the George W. Bush Presidential Center to backing a Dallas-based esports franchise. In this session, Hersh draws on the lessons from his book, The Fastest Tortoise, to share how founders and leaders can move fast, learn on the fly, and win in industries where they start as outsiders.

​EVENING - COCKTAIL RECEPTION & NETWORKING

​View the full agenda https://masschallenge.org/innovate-2026/ and follow @MassChallenge on LinkedIn for the latest INNOVATE '26 updates.