The Dallas Entrepreneur Center

What The Dallas Entrepreneur Center does

The Dallas Entrepreneur Center (operating as The DEC Network) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization founded in 2013 to support entrepreneurs in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. It operates two physical coworking and innovation hubs — The DEC Network @ Redbird in South Dallas and Create FW in Fort Worth — offering tiered memberships (virtual, hotdesking, dedicated desks, private offices) at $100-$1,000/month, alongside hourly event space rentals. Its programming is organized around stage-based accelerators: Big iDEA (5-week ideation bootcamp), Your Start Up (13-week launch program), and Your Level Up (11-week scale program), each culminating in pitch competitions. The DEC runs a mentorship network of 250+ advisors, a free community membership program serving 900+ founders, and signature events including DFW Startup Week (the second largest Startup Week in the U.S.) and targeted summits like the Mompreneur Summit.

The organization's business model is a hybrid nonprofit revenue stack: recurring coworking subscriptions, transactional facility rentals, corporate sponsorships (Capital One for DFW Startup Week), and grants from financial institutions and municipal entities (notably $500,000 from the Fort Worth Local Development Corp in 2023 and $120,000 from Bank of America in 2024). In 2024, it launched the Entrepreneur of Color Credit Enhancement Fund to extend from education and workspace into direct capital facilitation for minority founders. The customer base spans early-stage and growth-stage entrepreneurs, with 73% of Southern Dallas participants being underrepresented business owners and 75% of founders being BIPOC or female, positioning the DEC as a mission-driven economic mobility organization rather than a venture-backed technology company. It maintains institutional partnerships with Techstars, SMU Cox, Google for Startups, Truist, Bank of America, Capital One, and the Dallas Regional Chamber, and is governed by a board led by Chairman Tim Hill and founder Trey Bowles (Chairman Emeritus), with Bill Chin serving as CEO.

Name

The Dallas Entrepreneur Center

Legal name

The DEC Network

Website

https://thedec.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The DEC Network is a 501c3 nonprofit founded in 2013 that supports North Texas entrepreneurs through coworking hubs in Dallas and Fort Worth, stage-based accelerators, a 250+ mentor network, and signature events like DFW Startup Week, with a mission focus on underrepresented founders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Entrepreneurship Support Services / Nonprofit Innovation Hub

NAICS

Professional Organizations (81392), Convention and Trade Show Organizers (561920)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Virtual/Hybrid Conference Production & Platform Management (THAHACAM)

Keywords

• Entrepreneurship support services
• Coworking space rentals
• Startup accelerator programs
• Small business mentorship
• Entrepreneur community events

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Coworking space memberships at RedBird (Dallas) and Create FW (Fort Worth) locations. Virtual membership, hotdesking, dedicated desk, and private office options available.
2. Event Space Rentals: Rental of conference rooms, training rooms, event centers, and office spaces at both locations. Pricing varies by room type and duration.
3. Donations and Grants: The DEC Network is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. They receive grants from organizations like Bank of America ($120,000) and Fort Worth Local Development Corp ($500,000). They actively seek donations through their 'Give Today' program.
4. Sponsorship Revenue: Corporate sponsorships for events, programs, and initiatives. Capital One sponsors DFW Startup Week. Title, platinum, bronze, track, and marketing sponsors for various events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

The DEC Network is a nonprofit entrepreneurial support organization that provides coworking space, accelerator bootcamps (Big iDEA, Your Start Up, Your Level Up), mentorship matching with 250+ mentors, signature events such as DFW Startup Week, and a free Community Membership for 900+ founders across the Dallas-Fort Worth region. It operates two physical hubs—The DEC Network @ RedBird in South Dallas and Create FW in Fort Worth—and offers paid facility rentals (conference rooms, event halls, podcast studios) alongside corporate-sponsored free programming.

Product overview

The DEC Network is a 501c3 nonprofit organization offering an integrated ecosystem of programs, spaces, and events to support entrepreneurs across North Texas. The core offerings include: (1) Two physical coworking locations at RedBird (Dallas) and Create FW (Fort Worth) providing flexible workspaces, private offices, and conference facilities; (2) Three accelerator bootcamp programs—Your Start Up Cohort (13-week launch stage), Big iDEA Cohort (5-week ideation stage), and Your Level Up Cohort (11-week scale stage)—each culminating in pitch competitions; (3) Signature events including DFW Startup Week (the second largest in the U.S.), Big Idea Pitch Competition, WEDallas Series, and Disrupt Dallas Series; (4) A Mentorship Program connecting entrepreneurs with over 250 vetted mentors; and (5) Free Community Membership providing access to resources and networking for 900+ founders. Facility rentals include event centers, conference rooms, and an upcoming podcast studio. The organization focuses on serving underrepresented entrepreneurs, with 73% of business owners in Southern Dallas being underrepresented.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DFW Startup Week: The second largest Startup Week in the U.S. and largest in Texas, hosted annually by The DEC Network to celebrate entrepreneurship and innovation across North Texas
• Big iDEA
• Your Start Up
• Your Level Up
• WEDallas
• Disrupt Dallas
• Create FW

Products and services

• Co-Working Space at The DEC Network @ RedBird (Dallas)
• Co-Working Space at Create FW (Fort Worth)
• Big iDEA Cohort
• Your Start Up Cohort
• Your Level Up Cohort
• Mentorship Program
• DFW Startup Week
• Big Idea Pitch Competition
• WEDallas Series
• Disrupt Dallas Series
• Event Center & Conference Rooms at RedBird (Facility Rentals)
• Event Hall at Create FW (Fort Worth Facility Rental)
• Community Membership
• Entrepreneur of Color Credit Enhancement Fund

Quantifiable outcome

• 4,365+ entrepreneurs served in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• Capital OneflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Capital One is the Title Sponsor of DFW Startup Week 2026. Also partners on WE Dallas (Women Entrepreneurs) program, WEDallas Mompreneur Summit, and WeDallas sponsored by Capital One Fall Cohort/Pitch Competition.
• Dell for StartupsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Dell for Startups partnership provides technology resources and support for startups in The DEC Network ecosystem.
• SMU Cox School of BusinesscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for DFW Startup Week 2026 at SMU Collins Center. SMU Cox Spears Institute partnership for entrepreneurship education and programs. Joint accelerator programming through SMU Cox Caruth Institute.
• TechstarscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrey Bowles serves as Managing Director of Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth Accelerator, operating from The DEC Network's Fort Worth center. Techstars Startup Weekend Dallas events hosted in partnership.
• Smart Business ConceptsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered for second year to produce WomenXTech Summit - one-day event for women in technology.
• PNC BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPNC Workshop: Small Business Financial Statements - community financial education course designed to help entrepreneurs understand financial statements.
• Whitley PennminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWhitley Penn Office Hours providing tax and financial guidance at Fort Worth location.
• Vela WoodminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSilver Sponsor of The DEC Network Golf Classic 2026. Kevin Vela, Managing Partner at Vela Wood, is a frequent speaker and mentor.
• Dallas Regional ChambercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to connect entrepreneurs with regional resources and support. Ben Bhatti from Dallas Regional Chamber introduced Myngly to Dallas Startup Week.
• North Texas Angel Network (NTAN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-chairmanship with NTAN (Ichan Stall). Executive Director Mike Wilkes helps connect early-stage companies with angel investors. Trey Bowles serves as Co-chairman.
• Dallas and DeSoto School DistrictsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBuilding Intellect Tutorial Services works with Dallas and DeSoto school districts through The DEC Network's mentorship and support.

Scale indicators21 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• 1871: Chicago-based nonprofit tech hub and incubator providing coworking, programming, and community for startups. Highly comparable as a nonprofit entrepreneur support organization combining physical workspace, mentorship, and events—essentially The DEC's Chicago analog.
• MassChallenge: Global nonprofit accelerator running equity-free cohorts and corporate partnerships for early-stage founders. Directly comparable as a nonprofit entrepreneur accelerator with corporate-funded cohorts and a focus on diverse, high-impact founders.
• SeedSpot: Phoenix-based nonprofit social impact accelerator supporting underrepresented founders through cohorts, mentorship, and capital connections. Closely comparable given shared nonprofit model, focus on underrepresented entrepreneurs, and free programming structure.
• Impact Hub: Global network of impact-focused coworking and innovation hubs combining workspace, events, and accelerator programs. Directly comparable operating model with coworking plus programming, though organized as a global franchise vs. The DEC's regional nonprofit.
• Village Capital: Nonprofit supporting underestimated founders globally through peer-selected investment-readiness programs. Highly comparable focus on founders of color and underserved entrepreneurs with cohort-based programming.

Broad incumbents

• Techstars: Global for-profit accelerator operating equity-based programs with corporate partners. Comparable as accelerator partner (Techstars Physical Health Fort Worth operates inside The DEC's hub), though for-profit and at much larger scale.
• gener8tor: U.S.-based for-profit accelerator network running multiple cohorts annually with corporate and university partners. Comparable as accelerator competitor for early-stage founders, though equity-based rather than free.
• WeWork Labs / WeWork: Global coworking operator with startup-focused programming and event spaces. Comparable coworking-plus-events offering, though for-profit, much larger, and serving a broader (not entrepreneur-exclusive) audience.

Regional players

• Opportunity Hub (OHUB): Atlanta-based entrepreneur support organization focused on closing the Black wealth gap through coworking, programs, and capital access. Directly comparable mission around underrepresented founders and integrated coworking-plus-programming model in a different regional market.
• TechPlace / BioEnterprise (Cleveland): Regional nonprofit entrepreneur support organization combining coworking, programs, and ecosystem coordination in Cleveland. Comparable as a regional nonprofit hub, though focused on industry verticals like healthcare and sustainability.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thedectx
• Facebookfacebook.com/DallasEntrepreneurCenter
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thedecnetwork
• Instagraminstagram.com/thedecnetwork
• TikToktiktok.com/place/The-DEC-Network-21568226268635388

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Dallas Entrepreneur Center