More than 500 entrepreneurs, small business owners, and aspiring founders have registered for VentureFest Pflugerville, a weeklong series of workshops, summits, and a pitch competition hosted by the Pflugerville Community Development Corporation. The event runs from Saturday, Sept. 26, to Thursday, Oct. 1, at the Marriott Pflugerville, making it one of the few Texas communities to extend the celebration across an entire week rather than a single day. The expansion signals a growing recognition that economic development must include not just attracting large employers but also nurturing the entrepreneurs and small businesses that form the backbone of local economies.
The schedule was shaped by a survey PCDC sent to over 3,000 people. Respondents said they wanted to network beyond familiar faces and leave with practical skills rather than just business cards. "People want to come to events, but they actually want to learn something before just coming to check the box and say I was in attendance," said Jerry W. Jones Jr., executive director of PCDC. "We asked what it is that you need help with as a business, and then we went out and found the most skilled individuals to bring that information back to them." This emphasis on tangible skills reflects a broader trend in entrepreneurial education, where participants seek actionable knowledge to grow their ventures.
The week opens with mastermind classes on Saturday and Sunday, covering AI marketing, websites, moving from a side hustle to brick and mortar, and pitch competition preparation. Both days sold out their 80 seats within days and each has a 30-person waiting list, limited only by venue capacity. PCDC is in talks with Pflugerville ISD about a larger space. Last year's version was scheduled for three hours but ran closer to eight as attendees called friends to join. The Women's Summit follows on Tuesday at the Cinemark theater at Stone Hill, featuring keynote speaker Kathy Terry, a dozen additional speakers, and fireside chats. About 130 people have registered. Wednesday's session at Spare Time brings back rotating round tables, with seven to eight specialists anchoring tables and participants rotating every seven to 10 minutes. Roughly 100 people are signed up. The finale on Thursday runs 9 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at the Marriott Pflugerville and includes 13 vendor booths, keynotes, a book signing, and a pitch competition naming three winners.
The growth has been steep. Two years ago VentureFest Pflugerville was a meetup that drew about 50 people to a coffee shop. Last year's expanded format drew more than 400 participants. "Economic development is about attracting businesses to your city, but a lot of the time entrepreneurs and small businesses get overlooked," said Adam Maxon, who leads VentureFest programming for PCDC. "When they start in a city, they usually end up building in that city." Jones also credited C.S. Freeland for building the statewide VentureFest momentum. The Pflugerville Community Development Corporation is celebrating its 25th anniversary and recruiting in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, life science, defense, and aerospace while supporting local small businesses. Its PFORGE youth entrepreneurship program was recognized with an award from the International Economic Development Council. The expansion of VentureFest underscores the importance of inclusive economic development strategies that foster local entrepreneurship, which can lead to sustained community growth and resilience.
