The Jerusalem Post Group, in collaboration with the Texas-Israel Alliance (TIA), announced the launch of "Unicorn Rodeo," a two-day international conference to be held in Dallas, Texas, USA, on April 29–30, 2026. Under the headline "Start-up Nation Meets the Scale-Up State," the conference will bring together government leaders from the U.S. and Israel, investors, and entrepreneurs, aiming to connect innovation, capital, and top policy leaders to generate tangible economic results.
As the world’s eighth-largest economy, Texas can serve as a significant platform for Israeli companies looking to scale in the U.S. The Unicorn Rodeo conference is intended to be a first-of-its-kind bridge between Israel’s impressive innovation engine and Texas’s strong business ecosystem and economic growth.
Inbar Ashkenazi, CEO of the Jerusalem Post Group, said: "Unicorn Rodeo represents an important milestone for the Jerusalem Post Group. It strengthens our position as a global platform for discussion and influence on key topics such as innovation, energy, industry, and economic growth. Together with the Texas-Israel Alliance, we are connecting Israeli innovation with one of the most dynamic markets in the U.S."
The Consul General of Israel in the Southwestern U.S., Libiya Link-Raviv, emphasized the conference's importance in strengthening bilateral ties: "Texas and Israel enjoy a unique and strong partnership across many sectors, built on shared values, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a positive approach. Our complementary economies offer a perfect fit, as Texas rapidly becomes a natural gateway for Israeli companies seeking to expand in the U.S. In this sense, Unicorn Rodeo is a perfect showcase of how focused partnerships can accelerate innovation and deepen relations between us."
The event also reflects the development of the Texas-Israel Alliance since its founding in 2007. Dudi Wiseman, the alliance's founder, controlling shareholder, and active chairman of Sonol, said: "We established the alliance based on the belief that Texas and Israel could become strong economic partners. It is exciting to see this vision evolve and help launch a conference that brings it into a new era of growth and opportunity."
For the alliance’s current leadership, Unicorn Rodeo advances a clear long-term mission. Tal Shmueli, partner at Texas Venture Partners and CEO of the Texas-Israel Alliance, said: "Thanks to its business environment and strong alignment of values, Texas is emerging as the preferred expansion destination for Israeli-founded companies. We are on a sure path to meet our goal - bringing 100 Israeli companies to the ‘Lone Star State’ over the next decade."
Doug Dyson, Chairman of the Texas-Israel Alliance and a Texas businessman and social leader, added: "Texas’s business culture and ability to grow companies, combined with Israeli technological excellence and a proven record of producing ‘unicorns’ (companies valued at $1 billion or more), create a rare advantage. Unicorn Rodeo brings these forces together, and we believe the economic impact will be significant and long-term for both Texas and Israel."
The conference will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), health, energy, and security. It will feature a rich program of panels and keynote speeches with industry leaders from Israel and the U.S., as well as a gala reception, reverse pitches by Texas investors, and a closing party.