Cs Freeland
Texas Venture Gala: May 2026 (Check out the link on my profile)
Austin, Texas
Invests in
Sectors:
Locations:
Min Investment:
$10,000.00Max Investment:
$10,000.00Target Investment:
$10,000.00
Skills
Education
Lists including CS
Investments
Work Experience
2022
Executive Director & Texas Venture Newsletter Editor
2022
Texas Venture Alliance amplifies the ecosystem of entrepreneur support. We organize events and resources, co-created with the statewide innovation economy including Texas' two sister signature experiences: 1) The Texas Venture Gala & Forum, the state’s high-end, high-powered gathering of Texas investors & innovators, and 2) the Texas Venture Fest a 3,000 person, 25+ co-hosted event in 15+ cities. We partner with 80+ greater venture organizations every year. Texas Venture Alliance is the only organization recognized in the Texas State Governor Greg Abbott’s five year economic development plan,“Bigger. Better. Texas.”, and we're the largest and most collaborative network in the state. I’m also the editor of the Texas Venture Newsletter, a 2x per month statewide newsletter featuring venture-focused activities and resources with a 10,000+ readership. Sign up and share this resource for entrepreneurs and startup investors via the “Featured” section on my profile.
Founding Organizer
2024
2025: Current speaker highlights are: Presidential Cabinet Member / US SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler; US Senator Ted Cruz, Office of the Governor Greg Abbott Executive Director, Adriana Cruz; Deep Eddy Vodka / Sweet Leaf Tea / Waterloo Sparkling Water Founder & Asto Consumer Partners Cofounder, Clayton Christopher; Former Mayor of Austin & Commonweal Ventures Senior Advisor Steve Adler, Former Silicon Labs CEO & Circuit Founder Tyson Tuttle, Texas Association of Business (the state chamber of commerce) CEO, Glenn Hamer, with more added soon. 2024: Office of the Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Executive Director, Adriana Cruz, kicked off the Texas Venture Gala & Forum Breakfast Keynote, followed by a variety of 50+ investors on breakout sessions throughout the day including: venture capitalists, LPs, corporates, heads of angel networks from across the state, family offices, emerging managers, incubators, accelerators, city chambers & economic development corporation startup funds, and more. Additional influential contributors to Texas' statewide innovation featured are the CEOs of the Texas Higher Education Commission, Texas Economic Development Corporation, and the Texas State Chamber of Commerce, along with top leaders from the Texas State Legislature. The Gala dinner keynote was longest tenured NASA CEO, Dan Goldin who served under three presidential administrations. This is a sister signature event to the Texas Venture Fest, the statewide and simultaneous experience cohosted in 13 cities, 19 venues, and 3,000 Texans to amplify the ecosystem of startup support. www.texasventuregala.com
2022
Organizer
2022
"The Lone Star State shouldn’t have lone star founders." The Texas Venture Fest features the ecosystem of entrepreneur support across the state. I created this unique statewide event that is simultaneously co-hosted with 15+ cities, 20+ venues, and 3,000+ Texans. www.texasventurefest.com It's a record-breaking event and Texas-sized proud moment for the state. From our small towns to the some nation's biggest metropoles, Texas Venture Fest started in downtown Austin, hosted and sponsored by 10 VC firms, had 3 venture shuttle stops, and attracted 1,300 attendees in October 2022. This is a sister signature event to the Texas Venture Gala & Forum where we convene all the Texas Venture Fest cohosts under one roof.
2025
Fellow
2025
I was selected as one of the 34 Fellows (out of 4x as many applicants) to partake in learning, sharing notes, and meeting with others from across the country for this program, with kickoff in Washington, DC at the US Chamber of Commerce.
Member
2024
This will be my second year as a member. Also served as a judge for the trade industry awards. I more recently participated in the Artificial Intelligence Political Archive where my submissions and others can be used by academics, journalists, political consultants and policy makers to understand the use of generative AI in elections. In total, nine of my work submissions either have won gold or silver Pollie's (the industry awards / gala for political consultants), and/or are up for recognition across a variety of different categories. I have focused on mayoral and state legislative efforts, and all in Texas.
2021 - 2022
Founding Executive Director
2021 - 2022
I was a founder of the Austin Venture Association and led as the Executive Director. Managed a 14 person board membership, planned events hosting 700+ people in total, created and published a monthly newsletter, managed multiple social media channels, and secured 10+ media hits. First video of me talking about a local startup investors' club, calling it Venture Austin Club (a concept I launched a few months beforehand): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R07gvEOtLnI I left the Austin Venture Association to start a statewide effort, most importantly to connect Texas' greater venture community and to add an advocacy component for what is now Texas Venture Alliance.
2020 - 2021
Founder
2020 - 2021
At the onset of pandemic, I came up with an idea for short term stay and a curated experience catering to the startup and venture community. I partnered with 3 luxury hotels in downtown Austin to offer a total of 20 startup and business leaders short term stay— it was a blast and I’ve always wanted to live in nice hotels!
2018 - 2021
Alumni Board of Directors
2018 - 2021
Served on the endowment, finance, and bobcats awards committees, and promoted and attended fundraisers.
2020 - 2021
Snacks Dictator
2020 - 2021
This was an immediate pandemic response where I launched a business as quick reaction to the onset of the pandemic by first purchasing thousands of dollars of shelf-stable goods from local entrepreneurs. My cofounder and I boxed up products and shipped them across the country. My cofounder and I ended up working with over 60 Austin SMBs to help them stay afloat. I'm a picky eater so this was also a great selection of local snacks!
2019 - 2020
Member
2019 - 2020
Powered by the World Economic Forum's Global Shapers, Shaper Impact has a global network and is an impact investor newsletter connecting thousands of social enterprises and impact startups with thousands of impact investors and angels. I helped scout and diligence impact startups to our cause and newsletter. I also helped keep the website up-to-date.