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Tech Wildcatters
Tech Wildcatters is a Dallas-based startup accelerator and seed investor founded in 2008 by J.
Tech Wildcatters
Tech Wildcatters was founded in 2008 by J. Brad Tillery, a former investment banker and venture investor, alongside a team of Dallas-based operators. The firm emerged during the early wave of accelerator programs in the US, modeling itself after Y Combinator but with a Texas-centered focus on connecting startups to regional industry mentors and corporate partners. Its wealth origin is not publicly disclosed. The firm targets early-stage startups across multiple verticals, including enterprise software, digital health, fintech, AI/ML, climate tech, and industrial technology. It provides seed capital between $25,000 and $150,000 per company in exchange for equity, and its program runs for roughly three months with a demo day finale. Portfolio companies confirmed through public sources include BehaVR (digital therapeutics), BidFTA (online auctions), and TrackVia (no-code workflow — acquired by ServiceNow). Geographic focus is primarily North America, with a strong concentration in the Texas region, though the firm has accepted companies from other US states and some international teams. The firm's deployment scale is unclear, as it does not publicly disclose AUM or annual investment volume. The accelerator typically runs one to two cohorts per year, with roughly 10 to 15 companies per cohort. The team is small, believed to be fewer than ten professionals. Adjacent vehicles include the Tech Wildcatters Alumni Network, an informal community of founders, but no separate philanthropic foundation or operating company has been publicly identified. In October 2023, Tech Wildcatters launched a new cohort focused on climate tech startups (public record, October 2023). Tech Wildcatters' structural differentiator is its status as a founder-backed, sector-agnostic accelerator that combines mentorship from Dallas-Fort Worth industry leaders with direct equity investment. Unlike many modern accelerators that have shifted to remote-only or specialist verticals, it maintains a physical presence in Dallas and requires companies to relocate for the program duration. This geographic and model-based positioning gives it a distinctive niche in the venture landscape, particularly among startups seeking hands-on mentorship and regional corporate partnerships rather than remote scaling support.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
2008
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Dallas
Corporate office
Dallas, TX, United States
Principals
J. Brad Tillery
Managing Director
Kelly Fallucca
Managing Director
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who makes investment decisions at Tech Wildcatters?
Investment decisions are made by Managing Directors Kelly Fallucca and J. Brad Tillery, along with a small team of partners and mentors. The selection process for each cohort involves review by the program's investment committee, which evaluates startups based on team strength, market size, and fit with the program's mentor network (public record).
Does Tech Wildcatters only invest in Texas-based companies?
No. While the firm is based in Dallas and requires participating companies to relocate to the area for the duration of the three-month program, it accepts applications from startups anywhere in the United States and occasionally from international teams. Portfolio companies have included founders from California, New York, and other states.
How does Tech Wildcatters source its deal flow?
The firm sources deals primarily through its open application process on its website, plus referrals from its alumni network and corporate partners. It also scouts at industry events and through relationships with other venture firms. The mentor network, composed of Dallas-Fort Worth business leaders, serves as a source of deal leads (public record).
What investment stages does Tech Wildcatters typically target?
Tech Wildcatters targets seed-stage startups, typically at the pre-seed or seed round. It writes equity checks between $25,000 and $150,000 per company, and does not typically lead later rounds. It may follow on in subsequent rounds for strong performers, but its primary focus remains early-stage accelerator-style investing.
Is Tech Wildcatters structured as a single family office or a venture firm?
Tech Wildcatters is structured as a venture accelerator firm, not a family office. It operates a for-profit entity that manages its accelerator funds and direct investments. The firm's capital sources are not publicly disclosed, but it does not appear to be affiliated with any single family's wealth.
What sectors does Tech Wildcatters explicitly avoid?
The firm does not publish a list of excluded sectors, but its portfolio and public statements suggest it focuses on technology-enabled businesses. It has not publicly disclosed investments in areas such as real estate, hard commodities, or heavily regulated industries like cannabis or gambling. Typically, it targets scalable software, digital health, and industrial tech companies.
How is Tech Wildcatters related to its portfolio companies after the program?
After the three-month accelerator program, Tech Wildcatters maintains ongoing relationships with portfolio companies through its alumni network, which provides access to mentor advice and introductions. The firm may participate in follow-on rounds for select companies, but does not typically hold board seats or take an active management role post-program.
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