On October 1, 2026, Buda will join more than 10 Texas cities in hosting the 4th Annual Texas Venture Fest, a simultaneous statewide celebration of entrepreneurship and innovation. The event, organized by the Buda Economic Development Corporation, will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Buda HIVE, 307 N. San Marcos St. It marks the public debut of the Buda HIVE Incubator Program's Cohort 5, an eight-week initiative that provides mentorship, coaching, and networking for early-stage founders.
The Buda event will feature a Small Business Expo with Cohort 5 graduates, a live pitch competition, investor insights from early-stage funders, and networking opportunities. Attendees can also enjoy drinks from Proof, music by DJ Steve, and coffee from Travelin' Tom's. The event is free with registration, available at Texas Venture Fest: Buda 2026.
Texas Venture Fest began in 2022 as the Austin Venture Crawl with about 700 attendees. It has since grown to over 3,500 participants across 25 venues in 2025. This year's theme, "Innovation is Statecraft," emphasizes innovation as a strategic capability for Texas. "Bringing the Texas Venture Fest momentum to Buda allows us to give our local entrepreneurs the community support and network opportunities they deserve," said Jacquie Martinez, Assistant Director of Small Business Initiatives at the Buda EDC. "This year, we are proud to highlight the graduates of our Buda HIVE Cohort 5. With investor insights, a pitch competition, and a dynamic small business expo, 'Buda-ful Fest 2026' demonstrates that major innovation and talent thrive just south of Austin."
The event's significance extends beyond a single evening. By participating in Texas Venture Fest, Buda's founders gain access to a statewide network of investors, accelerators, universities, and economic development organizations. The Buda HIVE, the EDC's incubator and accelerator, aligns with its Business Retention & Expansion strategy and complements The Depot on Main, a retail incubator scheduled to open in early 2027. This integration positions Buda as a growing hub for entrepreneurship within the larger Texas ecosystem.
Statewide, the Fest will feature events in Austin, Georgetown, Round Rock, Pflugerville, San Antonio, North Texas, Hill Country, and El Paso. "We bring together as a statewide coalition this shared purpose: amplifying the ecosystem of entrepreneur support," said organizer CS Freeland. "The Fest puts that vision into practice through locally led gatherings across Texas." For more details on statewide activities, visit https://www.texasventurefest.com.
For Buda, the implications are clear: the event showcases local talent, attracts potential investors, and strengthens the city's economic development efforts. It provides a platform for startups to gain visibility and connections that can help them scale. As Justin McKenzie, host of The Building Texas Show, noted, "Collaboration and ambition are building this state, this is the story." Buda's participation in Texas Venture Fest is not just a celebration but a strategic step toward building a robust, interconnected innovation economy.
