FOREWORD
OUR BREAKOUT MOMENT
The next chapter of innovation in Dallas-Fort Worth is being written.
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A L L A S - F O R T W O R T H I S A G L O B A L I N N O VAT I O N H U B F U E L E D B Y
our status as a longtime leader in technology. Our past is ever present in who we are, but it does not define us. We are a young region, a living lab of innovation made up of a diversity of industry and people with breakthrough ideas. We have been built on the shoulders of giants such as Texas Instruments and EDS, but we are forging a new path led by a critical mass of emerging technology companies that are changing the world. We have all the core assets to drive an innovation economy—central location, densely populated and walkable communities, a great business environment, a growing and talented population, tier 1 universities, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. But, more importantly, we are fostering the environment where disparate ideas, technologies, and industries can collide. It’s the meeting of the suits (corporate types) and sandals (startup founders) at the local coffee shop, a coworking space, or perhaps in the hallways of a corporate innovation center. In fact, Dallas-Fort Worth doesn’t have just one innovation district, but many centers of innovation. Some have been grown organically over time and are loosely defined, for example in and around downtown Dallas; others are being created from scratch and are purposely built to encourage the collision of ideas. The end product remains the same: great companies with bold ideas. Today, emerging tech companies such as StackPath, Hypergiant, Bestow, and Hedera are staking their claim as technology leaders, ushering a new breakout moment for Dallas-Fort Worth. Blockchain, artificial intelligence and big data, internet of things, and augmented/virtual reality are critical to the future of business, regardless of industry. And, because of our diversity of industry, these technologies will touch almost all aspects of our economy, opening the doors for even more advancements and creating a virtuous cycle of breakthrough moments right here in Dallas-Fort Worth. Leading global change through technology is nothing new for us; this is our history. Nearly 90 years ago, Geophysical Service Inc. opened in Dallas. Built on an emerging technology of the period called reflection seismography, the company helped unearth new oil and gas fields and quite literally brought Dallas-Fort Worth headfirst into the technological age. While its mission and name has since changed over the years, the company still holds true to the founders’ entrepreneurial spirit and innovative drive. Today, Geophysical Service Inc. is known to the world as Texas Instruments, one of the most respected of global technology companies, with tens of thousands of employees and over 41,000 patents to its name. Pushing the boundaries of what’s possible led TI to be one of the most influential companies in the world. This ethos is embedded in our culture. We are a region of risk-takers, visionaries, and influencers building the technologies of tomorrow. The next chapter of innovation in Dallas-Fort Worth is being written now. Dallas Innovates is built to tell our story. It dives deep into who we are. We invite you to read the stories here in our second annual print edition, go to dallasinnovates.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, and learn how Dallas Innovates Every Day.
Duane Dankesreiter
Quincy Preston Publisher Dallas Innovates
Duane Dankesreiter Senior Vice President, Research and Innovation Dallas Regional Chamber
Quincy Preston
D A L L A S I N N O V AT E S . C O M
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