The City of Frisco has officially unveiled Origin, a new 6,200-square-foot innovation hub in the Baylor Scott & White Sports Therapy & Research building at The Star.
The hub is a joint initiative between the Frisco Economic Development Corporation (Frisco EDC) and the global innovation platform Plug and Play, aimed at supporting startups, entrepreneurs, and venture capital activity across Texas and beyond.
The grand opening was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Frisco Mayor Jeff Cheney, city officials, and industry leaders. A video shared by the City of Frisco on X captures the excitement: “We’re excited to officially announce that Origin and Plug and Play have opened the innovation hub at the Baylor Scott and White building at The Star.”
An innovation hub for entrepreneurs and startups is now open at @thestarinfrisco. It’s called Origin and the networking space was created through a public-private partnership between the @FriscoTXEDC and @PlugandPlayTC. Learn more in this week’s #ProgressinMotion. pic.twitter.com/J76xeh5m78
— City of Frisco,Texas (@CityOfFriscoTx) May 22, 2025
Mayor Cheney emphasized the facility’s long-term impact, saying, “We will for years hear of ideas, innovations, things that become household names that are a result of this facility.”
Innovation Meets Sports City USA
Located in what’s known as Sports City USA, Origin places startups in the heart of a city home to the Dallas Cowboys, FC Dallas, PGA of America, and other professional sports entities. Plug and Play’s Frisco Sportstech Director, David Steele, remarked, “It’s a natural space for Plug and Play to grow. When you look at this being the first sportstech office for Plug and Play globally, what better place than Sports City USA.”
Purpose-Built for Collaboration and Growth
Origin’s flexible design includes private offices, co-working areas, and conference rooms. The University of North Texas is already using the facility, which plans to host a sports innovation incubator there.
“It’s just the perfect location. We get to introduce our members to the wonderful people here in Frisco. All the sport teams, the agencies, the leagues—everybody is here,” said a UNT representative.
A Long-Term Strategy
The hub’s creation is the result of a five-year strategy by Frisco EDC to diversify the city’s economy and attract innovation-oriented businesses. Gloria Salinas, SVP of Frisco EDC, noted, “The City of Frisco and our residents not only are dedicated to innovation, but make sure the city and the EDC are pursuing projects like this.”
Plug and Play, headquartered in Silicon Valley, chose Frisco for its largest U.S. expansion outside California. The company plans to host networking events, special presentations, and workshops, further embedding Origin into the city’s innovation ecosystem.
Venture Capital Destination
As detailed in a press release by Frisco EDC, Origin is not just a startup workspace—it’s also intended to attract venture capital firms and investors to the region.
“To recruit more great companies—Fortune 500 companies like Keurig Dr Pepper and TIAA—we need to create environments where startups thrive,” Steele explained.
Origin will also serve as a soft landing zone for international companies and startups looking to enter the U.S. market, according to Plug and Play and city officials.
Public-Private Partnership Success
Frisco leaders credited the city’s development model for enabling Origin’s success.
“To accomplish what we wanted to accomplish as a city, we knew we had to go find the right partners. That’s how we built the City of Frisco—with public-private partnerships. Plug and Play was a perfect fit,” the launch video states.
As Origin begins operations, it represents Frisco’s commitment to bold, future-forward planning. Its strategic location within The Star—Frisco’s premier sports and entertainment district—positions it as a nexus of sports, innovation, and economic transformation.