Round Rock Startup Day 2025

A Celebration of Innovation, with Play Maker Recruiting Taking Top Honors!

Round Rock, TX – May 2, 2025 — Energy, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit were on full display as the Round Rock Chamber hosted its annual Round Rock Startup Day on May 1, 2025. Held at the Texas State University Round Rock Campus, the event brought together founders, small business owners, investors, and regional leaders for a full day of learning, networking, and celebration of local innovation.

The highlight of the day was the Pitch Competition Finals, where five outstanding startup finalists presented their ventures to a panel of judges and a live audience. After a spirited round of pitches and questions, Play Maker Recruiting was named the winner, earning top honors for its dynamic business model and compelling vision for transforming athlete recruitment.

Founded to streamline the recruitment process for high school athletes and college programs, Play Maker Recruiting impressed the judges with its platform’s blend of data, accessibility, and user experience. The company walked away with the grand prize package designed to help propel their business forward, including a cash award, professional services, and a Dell Technology package.

In addition to the judges’ pick, attendees had the opportunity to vote for their favorite pitch during the competition. NanoScale Labs, a cutting-edge startup focused on developing next-generation environmental sensing technology, earned the title of Crowd Favorite. Their innovative approach to compact, real-time air quality monitoring captured the audience’s attention and enthusiasm, underscoring the community’s strong support for tech-driven solutions. Learn more at nanoscale-labs.com.

In addition to the pitch competition, the day featured a lineup of workshops, panels, and networking opportunities focused on everything from funding strategies to scaling operations. The event also served as a showcase for Round Rock’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, reinforcing the city’s position as a vibrant hub for innovation in Central Texas.

For more information on future events or how to get involved in Round Rock’s startup community, visit roundrockchamber.org.