Innovation Week 2026 unites programs across UT Austin and UT System into one exciting week of events for students, faculty, staff, & industry partners showcasing student innovation, research translation and workforce development.
A collaboration of UT System, Dell Medical School, TEXAS Entrepreneurship, Discovery to Impact, Industry Engagement, UT Career Success, and the Office of Career & Life Design.
Schedule of Events:
Monday, April 27
UT Innovation Week Opening Reception
5 – 7pm | Hosted by UT System
To kick-off the week, The University of Texas System will host an opening reception highlighting innovation across all 13 institutions. Designed to convene key stakeholders, the event will provide a setting for connection, dialogue, and the exploration of future collaborations and partnerships. This gathering will underscore the breadth of innovation within the UT System and further strengthen the relationships that drive progress for Texas and beyond.
By invitation only.
Tuesday, April 28
Discovery to Impact Venture Showcase
9am – 1pm | University of Texas at Austin (final location TBA)
Discovery to Impact Venture Showcase is UT Austin’s premier startup showcase, designed to connect top UT-affiliated ventures with a curated group of invited venture capitalists, industry experts, and entrepreneurial mentors. Selected startups will have the chance to pitch to a panel of VCs and participate in exclusive networking sessions during the event. We welcome applications from startups founded by UT faculty, students, or alumni across all sectors.
Learn More >>
Wednesday, April 29
UT Austin Industry and Innovation Night: Conversations on the Future of Work
5 – 7pm | Texas Innovation Center
Explore the future of workforce development through a dynamic evening of conversation and connection. Experience how UT Austin students are using design thinking to navigate career decisions, hear from industry and civic leaders on shaping Central Texas talent pipelines, and join an executive fireside chat with Opportunity Austin’s President & CEO on the region’s workforce and investment future.
Learn More >>
Thursday, April 30
Dell Medical School: Texas Health Catalyst Roundup & Rodeo
2 – 6pm | Capital Factory
We invite you to The Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship’s Spring 2026 Texas Health Catalyst Roundup & Rodeo. This event brings together Austin’s innovation & entrepreneurship community to support our finalists from this spring’s Texas Health Catalyst cohort to present their innovations and progress toward commercialization.
Texas Health Catalyst (TxHC) is a collaborative program between Dell Medical School, Cockrell School of Engineering, College of Pharmacy, College of Natural Sciences, and Discovery to Impact that accelerates healthcare innovations from across UT Austin.
Learn More >>
Friday, May 1
TEXAS Entrepreneurship: Celebrating Student Entrepreneurship Day!
Students are at the center of our mission at the University of Texas at Austin and on Friday the McCombs School of Business Entrepreneurship ecosystem is hosting a full day of activities that feature student entrepreneurs from across campus. The morning kicks off with the Brumley Institute for Graduate Entrepreneurship’s Spring 2026 TVL Investment Competition. The semi-finals run from 9am-12pm and will feature 30 graduate student founders competing across five divisions to secure a spot in the afternoon Finals Round, on stage in Crum Auditorium. The semi-finals are open to the public, however, the spotlight focus is on our afternoon programming. Feel free to just join us for the afternoon or for any of the following events:
Lunch + Link | 12pm – 1pm | Robert B. Rowling Hall
TEXAS Entrepreneurship is hosting an inaugural Lunch + Link, where those interested in supporting or mentoring student entrepreneurs can attend a roundtable style lunch. Share a meal with undergraduate, graduate, and alumni founders as well as community partners and industry experts. Advanced signup is required.
Innovation Power Hour: A Discovery to Impact IP Showcase | 1pm-2pm | Robert B. Rowling Hall
In partnership with Discovery to Impact, the Innovation Power Hour spotlights five cutting-edge technologies developed by leading researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. This exclusive showcase features our Texas Proof of Concept (POC) awardees, each presenting their innovations in a high-impact, five-minute format. Join us at Crum Auditorium to explore the market applications of these transformative discoveries and engage with the minds shaping the future of industry and healthcare.
TVL Investment Competition Finals & Award Ceremony | 2pm – 5pm | Robert B. Rowling Hall
Join the Brumley Institute for Graduate Entrepreneurship for the Spring 2026 TVL Investment Competition Finals round and award ceremony. UT’s top graduate student startups pitch live to a panel of investors as they compete for a $50,000 prize pool and in-kind support. Finalists advance from morning semifinals to the 2–5 PM championship round, followed by honoring standout ventures across health, sustainability, energy, technology commercialization, and more.