TCU Neeley's Venture 101 returns for the second consecutive year with expanded programming for investors, founders and student venture leaders.
April 07, 2025
By Kelly KjetsaaThe TCU Neeley Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation hosted its second Venture 101 event this spring, expanding the popular conference into a dynamic two-day experience designed to immerse attendees in the world of venture capital.
The on-campus event welcomed a sold-out crowd of investors, startup founders, business leaders and students to explore the venture capital landscape through hands-on education, expert panels and high-level networking.
The launch of Venture 101 last year provided a one-day, conference-style event, offering Fort Worth investors the chance to learn directly from top venture capitalists and entrepreneurial thought leaders. But feedback from attendees revealed a desire for deeper, skill-building content.
“We started Venture 101 because investors in the community were saying, ‘the work you're doing with students — we want to learn too,’” said Andrew Hicks, a venture capitalist and the program manager for Horned Frog Investment Network, an initiative that provides MBA students at TCU hands-on experience in early-stage investing. “So we launched a program that snowballed into a 150-person conference with some of the best investors in the world coming to Fort Worth to share their expertise.”
This year’s new “Venture 101 Bootcamp,” focused on foundational strategies for aspiring angel investors and those new to venture capital. Participants engaged in small-group learning with leading investors and industry experts, gaining hands-on insight into investment analysis, deal sourcing and due diligence.
At the same time, a track for startup founders gave entrepreneurs the chance to learn from high-growth company leaders about scaling strategy, funding pathways and founder-investor relationships.
“Every panel was packed with knowledge, offering fresh perspectives that are directly helping me grow Market Match,” shared Demetrie King, founder of Market Match, an app that gives buyers the opportunity to customize their local shopping experience. “Whether it was discussions on scaling, funding, or strategy, I walked away with actionable takeaways that I can apply immediately.”
Venture 101 is closely tied to the Horned Frog Investment Network (HFIN), a student-supported initiative that leverages the expertise of its membership to source, evaluate and invest in unique opportunities. Student associates are trained in deal sourcing, due diligence and term sheet development, working alongside real investors in live deal evaluation.
“Students are learning deal sourcing, due diligence and term sheet writing — and they’re doing it alongside real investors,” said Rodney D’Souza, executive director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and the Davis Family Entrepreneur in Residence. “That kind of hands-on experience gives them a real edge in the job market.”
The investment and entrepreneurial exposure students gain through HFIN and events like Venture 101 sets them apart professionally, particularly as demand rises for early-stage investing roles across Texas and beyond.
As interest grows, so does the event’s impact. With sold-out attendance, high-profile speakers and expanded programming, Venture 101 continues to serve as both a launchpad and a learning lab for Fort Worth’s innovation economy.
