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February 20By Comments OffRead more...

What Artificial Intelligence (AI) Can Do For You

Automation refers to the use of technology to perform tasks without human intervention. This can include tasks such as data entry, customer service inquiries, and manufacturing processes. Artificial intelligence (AI) is a type of technology that enables computers to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as recognizing patterns, making decisions, and learning.   Automation and AI are relevant to startups and small businesses because they can help improve efficiency and productivity, reduce costs, and make better decisions. In a competitive business environment, automation and AI can give startups and small businesses a competitive advantage by enabling them to do...

February 6By Comments OffRead more...

Top 9 Newsletters Every DFW Entrepreneur Needs to Be Subscribed To

Ready to fill your inbox with local startup news, tips and tricks of the trade, as well as access to resources to innovative communities? Well here is our top list of newsletters every DFW entrepreneur should subscribe to. 1. Spark Plug - Sparkyard’s Monthly Newsletter  Get an overview of the big events that are happening the following month, along with opportunities for funding, grants, or pitch competitions. Also get clued in on our most updated blogs and Innovate Fort Worth podcasts. And as always, Sparkyard is the hub for free resources for startups and entrepreneurs on the west side of the metroplex. 2....

January 11By Comments OffRead more...

Why Topophilia is the Bedrock of Ecosystem Building

Topophilia means “the love of place.”  This is eloquently described in many texts, including “The Startup Community Way” by Ian Hathaway and Brad Feld. Near the end of the book, it states: “Given the absence of a blueprint [to build an ecosystem], the only path forward is a process of trial and error, learning from failures and building on a city’s unique strengths. Cultivating a deep love of place (called topophilia) helps startup community participants endure the inevitable ups and downs.” In this way, the enduring lifeblood of the ecosystem goes beyond measurables to a fundamental understanding and love of the...

November 29By 0 CommentsRead more...

Breaking Down Barriers to Business in Fort Worth

“Would you be interested in making Fort Worth your 21st city?”  Alex Montgomery from the Institute for Justice (IJ) replied with an excited but cautious tone and said, “I’ll have to check with a few folks, but yeah, I think we can do a deep dive in Fort Worth.”   We had just seen a presentation of IJ’s Barriers to Business Report, research that compared the processes, costs, steps and bureaucracy involved in starting small businesses in 20 US cities and then provided actionable recommendations on how to make it cheaper, faster and simpler to start a business. The only city in Texas...

November 22By Comments OffRead more...

The State of Entrepreneurship in Fort Worth is Strong

I had the opportunity this year to deliver the 5th annual State of Entrepreneurship Address at the Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) luncheon event sponsored by HSC Next and FortWorth,Inc and it was an honor to highlight all the great work that was accomplished by local innovators, entrepreneurs, startups and ecosystem builders in the past year. I have highlighted a few of my key talking points below, but you can also watch the full event, recorded by the FWISD students in the Broadcast Journalism/Media Technology program at Southwest High School here. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram did a nice recap of the event and...

October 12By Comments OffRead more...

SCN Series: Telling the Stories of Entrepreneurs in Fort Worth

The Startup Champions Network (SCN) Fall Summit is happening in Fort Worth this October. Ashley Ray, the Social Media and Communications lead at SCN, has been shining a light on the University of North Texas Health Science Center team hosting this event in Fort Worth. Here are some highlights of Marco Johnson, the Associate Director of Entrepreneurship at HSC Next.  J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, “There's some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for.” - Sam Gamgee When Kendel Rogers landed a job at HSC Next, she knew she hit the jackpot. She had her sights set on healthcare because she...

October 6By Comments OffRead more...

SCN Series: Growing, Guiding and Connecting Entrepreneurs in Fort Worth Highlights

The Startup Champions Network (SCN) Fall Summit is happening in Fort Worth this October. Ashley Ray, the Social Media and Communications lead at SCN, has been shining a light on the University of North Texas Health Science Center team hosting this event in Fort Worth. Here are some highlights of Marco Johnson, the Associate Director of Entrepreneurship at HSC Next.  If you’re trying to start a business, navigate the myriad resources available, or develop your business model in Fort Worth, Marco Johnson is the guy and Sparkyard is the platform. Marco’s work in a nutshell? Business wayfinder. His toolbox includes assets created...

September 26By Comments OffRead more...

SCN Series: Fostering What’s Next in Fort Worth Highlights

The Startup Champions Network (SCN) Fall Summit is happening in Fort Worth this October. Ashley Ray, the Social Media and Communications lead at SCN, has been shining a light on the University of North Texas Health Science Center team hosting this event in Fort Worth. Here are some highlights of Cameron Cushman, the Assistant VP of Innovation Ecosystems at HSC Next.  Cameron is on our Summit Host team and is working side by side with fellow committee members Marco Johnson and Kendel Rogers to create a unique, Fort Worth experience for attendees. Cameron is a movement maker, who started on the...

September 8By Comments OffRead more...

10 Takeaways From This Summer

A few weeks after my high school graduation, I found myself entering the 9 to 5 business world. To be completely honest, it was a bit of a shock to the body. That was partly because I was wearing business professional clothes instead of t-shirts and shorts in the summer, but also because I was immersed in such a new environment.   Not only was this position my first internship, but my first real job as well. Fortunately, I began working with a staff who welcomed me with open arms, making the acclimation much easier. While friends my age were out working...

August 26By Comments OffRead more...

Fort Worth-ophilia Part 2: Supporting Fort Worth’s Creative Class

In our previous post on Fort Worth-ophilia, we discussed what topophilia is, how a thriving creative class and high quality of life are positively correlated, and why a vibrant and supported creative class is the foundational ingredient for a thriving entrepreneurial community. In this post, we will identify ways we can all support our local creatives to make sure they stick around and fall in love with their city... in this case, Fort Worth.   Artists help define the identity of a community through their art and creating an authentic feeling that gives a community a unique look and feel. Our local...