Round Rock Startup Day & Pitch Competition

Round Rock Startup Day is where innovation meets opportunity! Join us on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at Embassy Suites by Hilton Round Rock, as we bring together aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned professionals, and startup enthusiasts alike to connect, learn, and develop the tools to take your business to the next level.

Check out the schedule below to learn about our incredible lineup of breakout session and industry-leading presenters. And be sure to stick around to the end, when the day culminates in an exciting pitch competition where six local startups will compete for $100,000 to seed their business.

Startup Day is FREE to attend, but registration is required to secure your spot!

Info: Session 1: Unfiltered: Real Talk with Founders
Destin Bell, Program Manager with gener8tor

A candid, no-BS conversation on what it actually takes to build a startup: wins, failures, and everything in between.

Info: Session 2: Using Memes to Grow Your Business
Jameson Zaballos, Co-Founder of Napa Media

Info: Complimentary lunch will be provided on-site!

Info: Session 3: Connections are Your Secret Weapon in an AI-Driven World
Thom Singer, CEO of the Austin Technology Council

In a world of constant digital connection, real human interaction has never been more valuable or more rare. This session starts with a quick look at why meaningful relationships are a true competitive advantage, then puts it into practice. Through a guided, high-energy experience, you’ll connect with new people, exchange ideas and walk away with conversations that actually matter.

Info: Session 4: Failing Up: The Funding Edition Heidi Leach, Executive Director of Startup Banking, JP Morgan Chase

What does it really take to secure funding in today’s market? Kick things off with a quick State of the Market from JPMorgan Chase, then hear directly from a founder who turned early rejections into a successful raise. This candid conversation dives into the realities of fundraising, what went wrong, what changed and what ultimately led to a “yes.”

Info: Session 5: GTM Readiness: The Steps Most Founders Skip Before They Start Marketing
David Daniel, Co-Founder of Founder’s Best Friend

Good marketing will only make a bad offer fail faster. In this session, David covers the pre-marketing work that separates founders who get traction from those who stay stuck. You’ll walk away with a clear framework for finding the right buyer, building the right offer, and validating it before you go wide.

About David: David built Founder’s Best Friend to give early-stage entrepreneurs the offer clarity, messaging, and sales systems they need to land clients fast. He’s worked with founders across industries to turn unclear ideas into revenue-generating businesses.

Info: You won’t want to miss the Round Rock Startup Pitch Competition, where six lucky finalists will compete for a $100,000 grand prize to seed their startup! This exciting event brings together the boldest and brightest minds in entrepreneurship, challenging them to pitch their ideas to a panel of esteemed judges.

Each finalist will have five minutes to pitch their company to a panel of industry-leading judges, who will ask questions and provide invaluable feedback to help the presenters hone their pitch. After a short conference period, the judges will announce the winner, who will be presented with the coveted giant check!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Embassy Suites by Hilton Round Rock, 270 Bass Pro Drive, Round Rock, United States

Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.

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