Capital One and The DEC Network partner to support small businesses during Dallas Startup Week

As the pandemic began, Ryan Joaquim learned how his small business Cut Form LLC could fill a growing void.

Joaquim’s daily work at his Garland-based apparel manufacturer included cutting fabric, leather, plastic and fiberglass. His materials soon went into personal protective equipment, and by using cashback rewards from his Capital One Spark 2% cash back reward card, Joaquim grew his D-FW production to over 60,000 face shields per week.

“It was natural to play a critical supply role to ensure our frontline healthcare workers don’t do their heroic work without PPE,” said Joaquim.

Joaquim and his team are well on their way to donating more than 40,000 face shields through an international charity and shipping more face shields abroad.

Dallas Startup Week featured sessions on a variety of topics, including marketing, personal development, and social impact.(Capital city)

The Growth of Dallas Startup Week

Small business owners like Joaquim play a vital role in the economic growth of a community. In North Texas, small businesses can turn to Capital One and The DEC Network for assistance.

Founded in 2013, The DEC is a Dallas-based nonprofit that helps entrepreneurs start, build, and grow their businesses. Through numerous innovation centers in D-FW, the DEC offers small businesses and entrepreneurs education, mentoring, community and advocacy. Capital One began its partnership with The DEC in 2014.

Capital One helped The DEC reimagine Dallas Startup Week in 2019, adding the Corporate Startup Innovation Summit, which looks at how startups and corporations can work together. As of 2013, Dallas Startup Week has reached more than 13,000 entrepreneurs with hundreds of sessions and notable speakers such as Mark Cuban, Kara Swisher, Nastia Liukin, and many more.

“Entrepreneurship is part of Capital One’s DNA,” said Sanjiv Yajnik, president, financial services, Capital One. “Our still founder-run company was started by entrepreneurs and continues to seek ways to help small businesses thrive and grow. Capital One has been working with The DEC for a long time and its mission remains vital as small businesses and startups enter our ever-changing environment and make economic growth in North Texas achievable and sustainable. “

Since 2013, Dallas Startup Week has reached more than 13,000 entrepreneurs with hundreds of sessions and notable speakers. This year’s hybrid sessions have helped meet the needs of attendees in our ever-changing climate.(Capital city)

An invaluable collaboration

Looking beyond the pandemic, small business optimism and confidence are growing, and many business owners expect conditions to continue to improve by the end of the year.

According to the Capital One Small Business Survey conducted by Morning Consult in June 2021, 72% of business owners say their company’s financial condition is the same as or better than it was before the pandemic. Almost three quarters (73%) of respondents expected business conditions in their region to improve in the next three months.

DEC CEO Bill Chinn said while 2020 was all about helping companies with high potential stay afloat, 2021 was about helping them turn around.

“Dallas Startup Week was a great example of developing content to help companies reopen or restart themselves in a completely different market,” said Chinn.

This year’s Dallas Startup Week took place on August 1-5, virtually and in person at Southern Methodist University, and featured sessions on marketing, personal development, and social impact. Chinn says the increased number of hybrid sessions will meet participants’ needs and help them navigate the ever-changing climate.

Dallas Startup Week once again demonstrated the value of bringing the entrepreneurial community together – and having Capital One as a partner is a very beneficial collaboration for Chinn.

“While the sponsorship money certainly helps [The DEC] Producing a high quality show, what helps us the most is the mentoring, ”said Chinn. “We are a small organization and it is invaluable to have strategic advice from a very capable Fortune 500 company.”

To learn more, visit Capital One and The DEC online.

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