At the TX AI Challenge by Pro-Forma at DFW Startup Week | Episode #0023

2025-08-25
Posted by: Brad Groux
Category: Podcast

What happens when hundreds of innovators, investors, and founders gather in one room with AI at the center of the conversation?

You get an unfiltered, boots-on-the-ground look at where AI innovation is really happening, inside schools, startups, side hustles, and scrappy founder-led businesses. That’s what this special on-the-road episode delivers.

A Live Look at AI in the Trenches

In this episode of Start Small, Think Big, we hit the road to Dallas for the Texas AI Challenge, hosted by Pro-Forma and held during DFW Startup Week sponsored by Capital One at SMU Cox – William S. Spears Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

We were lucky enough to interview founders, judges, and finalists from one of Texas’s most important startup showcases. These conversations aren’t polished keynote talks, they’re gritty, insightful chats with people doing the real work of building AI-powered businesses today.

“It’s not about pitch decks, it’s about proof of execution. These are founders solving actual problems, not chasing hype.”

Who You’ll Hear From

This episode features a mashup of perspectives from across the AI ecosystem:

Startup founders building AI-native products in education, health, and logistics
Judges and mentors reflecting on how they evaluated AI-readiness
Investors and operators exploring what makes an AI business investable in 2025
Winners and runners-up from the $100,000 pitch competition sharing their roadmaps and realities

Whether you’re a founder, technologist, student, or business leader curious about what real AI adoption looks like at the earliest stages, this episode pulls back the curtain.

Interviews

Big Themes from the Ground

AI-First Mindset: Why “learning to work with AI” is becoming a foundational skill
Beyond the Pitch: What startups actually need to build investable AI companies
Execution Over Hype: The difference between AI theater and AI value
Process Before Tech: How founders are defining their workflows beforechoosing tools
Texas as a Launchpad: The rising role of regional ecosystems like DFW in the AI movement

“These founders weren’t just pitching, they were building. And in many cases, they were already selling.”

Special Thanks

Huge thanks to Pro-Forma for organizing the Texas AI Challenge and inviting Digital Meld to participate as both a judge and media partner. If you’re a startup seeking funding, visit https://pro-forma.com to get investor-ready.

And shoutout to the team at SMU Cox School of Business, the organizers of DFW Startup Week, and all the amazing founders and builders we met on-site.

At Digital Meld, we believe that staying curious and thinking boldly is the best way to lead through change. New SSTB episodes are released every Friday across all major podcast platforms (direct links below), with video available on Spotify and YouTube. Follow and subscribe to empower your AI journey!

Summary

The conversation revolves around the Texas AI Challenge, highlighting various startups and their innovative solutions in the AI space. Key themes include the importance of customer validation, the role of AI as a tool for entrepreneurs, and the significance of community and mentorship in the startup ecosystem. Founders share their journeys, challenges, and insights on leveraging technology to solve real-world problems, particularly in sectors like insurance, logistics, and women’s health.

Keywords

Texas AI Challenge, startups, venture capital, AI technology, entrepreneurship, telematics, logistics, women’s health, innovation, digital health

Takeaways

Customer validation is crucial for startup success.
AI should be viewed as a tool, not a solution.
Networking and community support are vital for founders.
Gamification can enhance user engagement in tech solutions.
Don’t wait for the perfect product; start with what you have.
Pivoting based on feedback is essential for growth.
Understanding your market and competition is key.
Leverage AI for research and development.
Storytelling is important for securing investment.
Women founders should take the leap and validate their ideas.

Titles

Empowering Startups at the Texas AI Challenge
Innovative Solutions in AI: A Startup Showcase

Sound Bites

“Customer validation is key.”
“Don’t be afraid to pivot.”
“Take the leap of faith.”

Resources

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Texas AI Challenge

02:43 Jamey Smith: Driven Telematics

11:05 Marcus Cooksey: DUKE.AI

21:36 Wade Myers: Eagle Venture Fund

31:52 David Evans: Sentiero Ventures

44:42 Ryan Brown: 1845 Venture Studio

56:53 AJ Palermo: Primoria AI

01:04:37 Val Yaromenko: Big Sister AI

01:12:00 Adam Redmond: Tully

01:17:36 Lamanda Ballard: FloEver Health

01:24:18 The End

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Have show ideas or want to be featured or take part? Let us know in the comments.

Special thanks to Mason Rawls for assisting with the production of this episode.

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