Full Breakdown
Unicorn Rodeo Connects Israeli Startups with Texas Investors in Dallas
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Dallas will host Unicorn Rodeo, a Texas-style technology conference organized by the Texas-Israel Alliance. The program begins with an exclusive VIP dinner on October 20 and continues with a full conference day on October 21 at the W Hotel Dallas. The event is designed to link Israeli entrepreneurs with Texas-based investors, corporate executives and policymakers to foster commercial relationships between the two markets.
Background and Context
Trade between Texas and Israel is reported at roughly $4 billion, reflecting an established economic partnership with room for expansion. Texas, described as the world’s eighth-largest economy, offers Israeli companies a platform for investment, strategic partnerships and broader access to the U.S. market. Israel, in turn, holds the highest number of startups per capita globally, positioning it as a hub for technological innovation. The conference is presented as a conduit for translating Israeli innovation into the scale of Texas-based business and industry.
Key Figures and Participants
- Ben Lamm – founder and CEO of Colossal Biosciences
- Michael Fey – co-founder and CEO of Island
- Micha Breakstone – co-founder and CEO of Cellular Intelligence
- Eric L. Johnson – Mayor of Dallas
- Doug Deason – president of Deason Capital Services
- Adi Farjon Israel – consul general of Israel to the Southwest (opening keynote)
- Yossi Cohen – former Mossad director (closing keynote)
Program Highlights and Opportunities
The agenda features more than 50 speakers across 10 + sessions covering artificial intelligence, defense technology, cybersecurity, healthcare and biotechnology. An Israeli startup showcase will spotlight emerging companies, while a live Q&A with U.S. go-to-market experts will address practical challenges of entering and expanding in the American market. Dedicated networking periods are scheduled to facilitate meetings between potential investors, customers and partners.
Impact and Outlook
Organizers aim for Unicorn Rodeo to generate lasting partnerships that extend beyond the conference, supporting Israeli firms in establishing and growing U.S. operations. By leveraging Texas’s economic scale and Israel’s startup density, the event seeks to deepen bilateral trade and stimulate joint innovation initiatives.