TechFW recently promoted Caitlin McMinn to executive director, overseeing the nonprofit that serves as an incubator and accelerator for tech-based startups across the city.
In early September, officials named McMinn to lead TechFW’s strategic initiatives and programming for the organization that provides support and resources to help local entrepreneurs scale up.
McMinn joined the 27-year-old nonprofit in April as managing director. She brings a combination of strategic vision and operational skills to her new role, officials from the nonprofit said.
After a career in the finance sector, McMinn launched a consulting business in 2020, specializing in sales enablement and overhauls of human resource systems and business operations.
“Helping businesses go from idea to sustainable success is what motivates me,” she said. “The joy of my career has been working across so many areas of business.”
McMinn replaces Ryan Brown, who was CEO of TechFW from March 2024 to May of this year. Brown replaced Hayden Blackburn, who held a variety of leadership roles at the organization from 2016 to 2024.
TechFW has supported more than 200 companies since its founding in 1998.
Based at the Guinn Entrepreneurial Campus at 1120 S. Freeway, the group seeks to empower tech entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into scalable businesses without taking equity. TechFW provides them with resources, support and community at every stage of their journey, from idea to market.
The nonprofit also works with universities by providing programs, mentorships and resources to students, faculty and researchers.
One of McMinn’s first initiatives will be to reengage with community partners to update them on who TechFW is and what it’s doing.
“We’re here to help,” she said. “We’ve got plenty of networking opportunities and other initiatives going on for entrepreneurs and others out there.”
McMinn said the organization is doing a lot of listening to its members in light of the shifting leadership changes at TechFW in the past few years.
“We just want to make sure that we’re remaining relevant in this space and that we’re offering programs that have value for our members,” she said. “That’s a big one for the internal team, just kind of tweaking things based on the feedback we receive.”
Officials at the nonprofit are planning a brand refresh over the coming months.
“We’re not changing who we are or what we’re doing, just updating and getting back out there,” she said.
TechFW board chair Melissa Acosta said McMinn has demonstrated leadership skills that will prove key to the organization’s future.
“In a very short time, Caitlin has shown an ability to efficiently organize and plan programming, gain partnerships and lead a team that will move our efforts forward,” Acosta said.
A native of Keller, McMinn lives in Benbrook with her husband, Cody Kersh.
“I’m excited to bring my skills to the table and strengthen the Fort Worth entrepreneurial ecosystem as a whole,” McMinn said. “Being around innovation, creativity and energy? I absolutely love that.”
Bob Francis is business editor for the Fort Worth Report. Contact him at bob.francis@fortworthreport.org.
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