American Venture Fest: Austin Daytime Program 2026

We booked the most historic & powerful building in our state to host the best builders & backers of Texas innovation at the Texas Capitol. Featuring a pre & post-program Capitol tour, fast-paced sessions in the Auditorium, followed by themed roundtables & booths in the Conference Center, with networking throughout the evening across downtown.Share with your fellow Texans ASAP to register... we're reaching capacity soon! Don’t miss out on this special opportunity and unique moment for the Lone Star State.

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 (subject to change)

1-1:40PM, OPTIONAL TEXAS CAPITOL TOUR: Available to the first 40 people at 1pm. Meet under the Rotunda Dome just past the south entrance security & look for Candice with Texas flags.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 REMARKS2:30-3PM, STATE SPOTLIGHT: "Innovation, Legacy, & Midterms" Texas's First Digital Newsletter Owner & Editor, & Texas Monthly's "Capitol's Ultimate Insider", Harvey Kronberg, interviewed by Texas Venture Fest's Founder, CS Freeland3-3:30PM, FEDERAL SPOTLIGHT: "Important Info & Resources For Investors & Innovators", from United States Patent & Trademark Office & Federal Labs Consortium For Technology Transfer3:30-4PM, LOCAL SPOTLIGHT: "Crisis, Capital & Communities," with Former Mayor of Austin & Commonweal Ventures Operating Partner, & "Hot Seat, Hot City" Book Author, Steve Adler, interviewed by Mayor of Cedar Park & VC/PE/M&A Attorney, Jim Penniman-MorinBREAKOUT OPTIONS:-4-4:40pm Texas Capitol Tour: Meet outside Auditorium. Available to first 40 people-4-8pm Conference Center: Featured Themed Roundtables (first come first serve, very limited space) & Featured Booths at the Conference Center (food & drinks start at 5pm)-4:15pm First Shuttles Leave: Depart from Cloak Room, heading to Red Fridge Society. Shuttles run continuously from indicated spots on the Austin Venture Crawl map. Use the Fetti App, to view where the shuttles are with these codes: 88241 & 16128.-4:30-5pm LAUNCH Accelerator / Jason Calacanis' Fund Conducts Interviews by Cloak Room-5-8PM: Austin Venture Crawl Kickoff w/ Continual Shuttles (Register All Venues 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.

​⭐ TEXAS' SIGNATURE INNOVATION EVENTS:

The Lone Star State shouldn’t have lone star founders. The Texas Venture Fest is a day of networking and programming highlighting the ecosystem of entrepreneur support. More than 15 cities simultaneously host this statewide phenomenon, across our small towns and the nation's biggest metropoles, 3,500+ Texans gather to help innovation flourish.

This event is part of the Texas Startup & Tech Week (9/28-10/2), the state's flagship innovation week. The sister signature event is the Texas Venture Gala & Forum, the largest convening at the Texas State Capitol & awards dinner in downtown Austin for innovators and investors from across the state.