With a tangled web of highways connecting the urban cores of Dallas and Fort Worth to the fast-growing suburbs stretching out beyond them, the North Texas region can be complicated to navigate. Sometimes it helps to have a map (or have Siri barking commands at you) to help you get around.
The same can be said when diving into the tech and startups ecosystem. That’s where we come in, with this “Ecosystem at a Glance” document. Let it guide you. Let it serve as a source and starting place, or as a refresher for anyone getting to know the western half of the Metroplex’s innovation and startup economy. You could also use it to show off your encyclopedic knowledge when you go to that next networking event.
Fort Worth calls itself “Where the West Begins,” and serves as a gateway to the rest of the region for those who keep coming here from California. Below are some beginning insights into the Panther City’s startup and tech community, with everything from companies to college campuses, along with a list of people to get to know if you’re trying to make it big around here.
For some more information on the specifics, check out our Guides section. You can get the rundown on everything from coworking spaces to VR startups.
Notable Companies
“I think that is one of the huge competitive advantages of this city: you have that small-town feel - both with the driving and connectivity, but also with the Fort Worth-friendly people just being really excited to interact with you, and it feeling really easy to connect with people - combined with the big city infrastructure," Hayden Blackburn, TechFW executive director
- Musicbed (2010) | “Our A&R team handpicks every song from our roster of indie musicians, bands, and composers, so you can spend less time digging and more time creating.”
- Linear Labs (2014) | “Linear Labs was established after developing a new class of electric motor and generators that create more power while using less energy.”
- Clean Finances (2015) | “We’ll keep your books, receipts, payroll (and more) clean, so you can maximize your time, attention and resources to more effectively scale your business and reach your most ambitious goals.”
- Accountable (2013) | “From policies & procedures to risk assessments and employee training, Accountable covers everything that companies need to become and stay compliant.”
- AeroBlaze (2015) | “We specialize in flammability testing for the aerospace industry.”
- Ayuvis (2014) | “[We’re] a preclinical stage pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of novel multi-functional small molecules… to fight disorders associated with inflammation, immuno-modulation and microbial infection.”
- Source Explorer (2018) | “We help Life Science Professionals discover specialty suppliers they have never heard of, and that sourcing departments have yet to discover.”
- Precision Medicine | “Using unique proprietary blood-protein technologies, Cx Precision Medicine will accelerate the development of new therapies for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.”
- Neuro Rehab VR (2017) | “Our virtual training exercises are designed with physical therapists and machine learning algorithms to tailor each exercise to a patient’s specific therapy needs.”
- Harvest Returns (2016) | “Harvest Returns is the Internet’s one-stop marketplace for investing in farms and timberland.”
- Sidekick.Tools (2017) | “A powerful team-run tool that dramatically boosts customer growth, rescues lost revenue and leverages declining resources.”
Higher Education:
“DFW is home to a diverse workforce & multiple acclaimed universities & nationally ranked programs.” - Dallas-Fort Worth Regional Innovation Study
Incubators, Accelerators and Coworking Spaces
Beyond the endless coffee and other amenities offered in a coworking space, they also provide a place for entrepreneurs to network and collaborate with others, bringing in concepts from well beyond their fields.
- Backlot Fort Worth | “A tailored space for the creative professional.”
- CoLAB Workspace | “A self-woven, dynamic culture, inspired by surrounding community, built by a set of unique and self-propelled individuals.”
- CommonDesk | 2833 Crockett St, Fort Worth, TX 76107
- Craftwork | “Whether you’re looking for a place to focus or a place to cultivate collaboration, we’ve got you covered."
- Ensemble Coworking | “You love working for yourself, just not by yourself. Don’t go it alone anymore.”
- TechFW | “TechFW is a non-profit organization that has been helping entrepreneurs launch and grow emerging technology companies since 1998.”
- Fort Worth Academy (For young entrepreneurs) | “We work better together, so join a community you won’t find at home or at the coffee shop across the street.”
People You Should Follow:
“Austin is great, and Austin can be the place where you make mobile app startups; this is the place where we build real businesses,” Brad Hunstable, CEO & Cofounder of Linear Labs
- Hayden Blackburn (@HaydenBburn) | “Technology incubator director, angel investor group manager, entrepreneur ecosystem builder”
- Cathy Trinh (@CathyTrinh2017) | College professor & TechFW assistant director
- Ann Zadeh (@AnnZadeh) | “Urban Planner. Fort Worth City Councilwoman District 9. Engaged citizen working to make Fort Worth a great place to live, work and play.”
- Mitch Whitten (@mitchwhitten) | “All about Fort Worth and what makes great cities work. @Visitfortworth EVP marketing/strategy.”
- Betsy Price (@MayorBetsyPrice) | “City of Fort Worth Mayor. Here to make city hall more efficient, protect Fort Worth taxpayers, boost our economy, and strengthen our neighbords.”
- Matt Dufrene (@Matt_Dufrene) | “Passionate about making Fort Worth Awesomer!”
- Leslie Flores | “CEO and Founder at Moments By Design”
- Tony Formby | “An entrepreneur who is interested in finding practical and sustainable ways to improve the quality of life, with a special interest in the environment and what we leave for future generations.”
- Diane Yoo | “Entrepreneur, Investor”
- Veena Somareddy (@veenaRedd) | “Co-Founder at Neuro Rehab VR - merging healthcare and technology to enhance patient care.”
- Ashok Kumar | “Advisor. Author. Artist. Managing Partner at Lakmiri”
- Brad Hunstable | CEO @LinearLabsInc (maker of the famous HET Electric Motors), Founder, CEO Ustream (acquired @IBM), West Point '01, Tech Fanboy, Texan.
