Howdy Frisco -
FISD students held their annual INCubator Pitch Night this week, and three teams walked away with real startup funding. The winning pitch? A cologne that uses "MoodSync technology" to adapt your scent to your mood and environment.
I have so many questions. I also have zero doubt that kid is going to be running a company someday. Frisco is raising some sharp ones.
Now, to the week. ⬇️
🚐 FRISCO JUST GOT ITS OWN ON-DEMAND TRANSIT AND IT'S ACTUALLY LIVE
As of May 5, Frisco has a brand new microtransit service called GoZone, and it's live right now.
Here's the quick version: it's basically a shared rideshare van, booked through an app, that picks you up within 20-30 minutes and drops you off wherever you're headed within the coverage zone (roughly a third of Frisco). Rides run Monday through Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and cost between $3-$5 per trip.
The city approved a $15 million contract with the Denton County Transportation Authority back in April, with most of that funded federally. Frisco's share is about $3.3M, and the contract runs through at least 2029.
One detail I didn't expect: it connects to DART via the Northwest Plano Park and Ride station - so theoretically you could chain a GoZone ride to a train and get downtown without driving. In Frisco. Wild.
For my Legacy West commute, it doesn't solve much. But I can absolutely imagine this being useful for residents who don't want to drive to a doctor's office, a nail salon, or that new Portillo's (more on that in a second).
To book: download the GoZone app and enter your pickup and drop-off. More info at friscotexas.gov/Transit.
🍦 PORTILLO'S IS OPEN, BASKIN-ROBBINS SOFT-OPENED, AND FIREFLY PARK KEEPS GETTING BETTER
A lot happened in north Frisco business land in the last month, and I'm just going to give you the ones that actually matter.
Already open:
Portillo's - Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, char-grilled burgers, and that chocolate cake everyone talks about. Opened April 21 at 16499 FM 423. Emily and I have been circling this one since the sign went up. It's happening soon.
Baskin-Robbins - Soft opened May 1 at 5251 Panther Creek Pkwy. My three-year-old doesn't know this exists yet and I'm actively choosing to protect that information.
Wingstop - New location at 11025 Preston Road, open since April 7. The wing options continue to multiply in this city and I respect it.
TXB - Convenience store with made-to-order food, Subway, a walk-in beer cooler, and 16 gas pumps. Open at 15355 Preston Road since March 31. A walk-in beer cooler is genuinely a personality statement.
Coming soon (fall 2027) at Firefly Park:
This is the one to watch. Three new tenants were announced for the Firefly Park development at 16190 Mahard Pkwy:
Frenchie - French-American dining with croissants, crepes, steak frites, and profiteroles
Second Rodeo - Brewery and beer garden with free live music
Woodhouse Spa - 90+ location luxury spa brand
Fall 2027 feels like forever away, but Firefly Park is shaping up to be a genuinely great spot. I drive past that corridor regularly and the development pace is picking up fast.
One feel-good note: The Miracle League of Frisco's field at Harold Bacchus Community Park received $1.4 million in upgrades, including a new wheelchair-friendly cushioned surface. If you're not familiar with the Miracle League, it provides baseball for children with disabilities. The renovations were celebrated April 18.
🏫 51,000 LOW-INCOME TEXAS KIDS JUST GOT SCHOOL CHOICE MONEY
This one's a little more serious, but it's too big to skip.
Texas launched the Education Freedom Accounts (TEFA) program this year, basically a school choice savings account that gives families state funds to use for private school or homeschooling instead of their local public school. This week, 51,000 low-income students were notified they received second-round funding.
The numbers:
$1 billion allocated by lawmakers for year one
~$10,474 per accepted student for private school expenses
Up to $2,000 for homeschooling families
Up to $30,000 for students with disabilities
Nearly 96,000 students total have been accepted so far, out of 274,000 who applied.
What caught my attention in the data: 68% of the low-income students accepted this week were already in private school or homeschooling before the program launched. So the "rescuing kids from public schools" framing is a little more complicated than the headlines suggest.
The program has genuine supporters and genuine critics. Proponents say it expands options for families who felt stuck. Critics argue it redirects money from public school districts that are already stretched.
More at the comptroller's TEFA portal.
🏡 Frisco Sellers: The Smart Way to Beat This Market
Homes are now sitting 54 days (up from 49). 80% sold below asking. Over a third took price cuts. Median price down ~1.8% YoY.
Not a crash… Frisco’s still pulling buyers from LA, Seattle, DC, and San Francisco like crazy. Demand is real. Buyers are just choosier.
So my wife Emily built an AI matching system that actually does the homework. She analyzes neighborhood comps, buyer search patterns, school district trends, what pricing psychology is working right now, and each agent’s real track record in your exact price range.
No random agents. Just the specialist who’s winning in your slice of Frisco today.
✅ Free for you (agents pay her)
✅ Takes 10 minutes
If you’re thinking about listing in the next 6-12 months, quit guessing.
📅 This Weekend in Frisco
Friday, May 8
🎬 Movie Night in The District - The Lego Movie @ PGA District | 7 PM Outdoor movies on the big screen at 3255 PGA Parkway, every Friday. Bring a lawn blanket, grab food from the District restaurants, and flag down a roaming beverage cart.
Saturday, May 9
🚙 Rigs & Coffee - Calvary Overland 5 Year Anniversary | 9 AM - 1 PM Hundreds of overland rigs, giveaways, raffles, and hands-on workshops at Fellowship Church (12277 Dallas Pkwy). Free to attend. One of the biggest overland communities in Texas and it started right here.
🥕 Frisco Rotary Farmers Market at Kaleidoscope Park | 9 AM - 1 PM New vendors, live music, a balloon artist, and knife sharpening at 3000 Internet Blvd. Saturday farmers market season is in full swing.
💐 Free Tulips at Stonebriar Centre | 12-2 PM Stonebriar is giving away tulip bundles in front of Nordstrom while supplies last. Free flowers, no catch.
🌸 Mother's Day Eve at The Star District | 11 AM - 2 PM Complimentary flower bouquets, five-minute chair massages by Hiatus, a candy cart, and discounts at shops and restaurants throughout The Star (corner of Star Blvd and Winning Drive).
🎻 Mother's Day Weekend at Kaleidoscope Park | 7 PM Plano Symphony Orchestra quartet performing outside at Kaleidoscope Park (6635 Warren Parkway), with a Bloom Bar where you can build a fresh floral arrangement. Palato's has a parkside to-go window for dinner.
Sunday, May 10
🎵 The Conductor's Spellbook at Frisco Public Library | 2 PM The Allen Philharmonic brings an interactive kids' concert to the Frisco Public Library (8000 Dallas Pkwy), featuring narration, characters, and selections from Lord of the Rings. Free, but tickets distributed in the lobby starting at 1:30 PM first-come first-served.
🐶 Bark in the Park - Frisco RoughRiders | 6:05 PM Bring your dog to Dell Diamond (7300 Rough Riders Trail). Your game ticket doubles as your dog's free entry. Lawn and sections 123-126 are dog-friendly. Tickets start at $11 at bit.ly/480Ubu3.
