Austin Next: Recent Episodes
Michael Scharf and Jason Scharf
Austin continues transforming into the next innovation powerhouse. In this podcast, we explore how Central Texas is growing…The people and companies, the Industries and infrastructure, the macro and micro trends that come together to create the future of Austin. We want to answer one basic question… What’s next Austin?
Innovation ecosystems thrive not just on groundbreaking ideas, but also on the stories that bring them to life. In this episode, I chat with Walt Maciborski, the main anchor for CBS Austin News and an Emmy and Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist. We dive into Austin's tech transformation from its humble beginnings to today's mix of tech giants and startups. Our conversation also explores the profound influence of narratives in shaping Austin's tech identity and its promising future as a 'Technopolis.'
Episode Highlights
- Walt's deep-rooted connection to Austin's tech scene dates back to the 1990s. From the Dell surge to the dot-com downturn, and now to today's groundbreaking startups, his journalistic journey gives him a unique vantage point on Austin's evolution.
- Austin's tech landscape thrives with firms like ICON, Lazarus 3D, Focused Energy, Paradromics, Helio, and Apptronik, showcasing a blend of innovation and real-world impact.
- "In 'Tech This Out,' Walt highlights both vital and lesser-known tech stories of Austin, emphasizing engaging, uplifting coverage over adversarial journalism.
- Narratives not only captivate but also attract investors and top-tier talent, driving a region's growth.
- Media serves a twofold purpose in any ecosystem's narrative: capturing its evolution and simultaneously shaping its trajectory. The key is crafting stories that celebrate triumphs while critically navigating challenges.
- What’s next Austin? “There's going to be an explosion here in the next year. I predict there's going to be a sense that we're not Silicon Hills. We're not the also-ran. There's going to be things coming out of Austin where they're going to say, ‘Wow, Austin Tech.’ The Austin Technopolis is its own thing. It's not something that's an also-ran or were trying to be in the shadow of Silicon Hills or Silicon Valley.”
Episode Links
Walt Maciborski
Website: https://www.waltmaciborski.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waltmaciborski
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/waltmac
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WaltMaciborskiTV/
Sponsors
Austin Private Wealth: https://austinprivatewealth.com/
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website: https://www.austinnextpodcast.com/
Austin Next Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinNxPodcast
Austin Next YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@austinnext
Jason Scharf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscharf/
In this episode, we dive deep into the AI wave and the nexus between academic research and commercial applications. Joining us is Risto Miikkulainen, an esteemed computer science professor at the University of Texas at Austin and AVP of Evolutionary Intelligence at Cognizant Technology Solutions. Together, we explore the journey to the current AI boom, delve into the era of digital natives, and assess Austin's pivotal role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.
Episode Highlights
- The recent explosion of progress in AI has been powered primarily by scaling up existing models with massive amounts of data and compute, rather than fundamental breakthroughs in new techniques.
- Unlike previous waves of technology adoption, these AI tools were in the hands of consumers before the enterprise, allowing for more fearless experimentation.
- In a real-world example, Jason's nine-year-old son created nonsensical prompts in Midjourney, yielding fascinating results that facilitated creative thinking and provided unique insights into the AI.
- The integration of AI into educational platforms like Khan Academy, along with decentralized research tools, raises the intriguing possibility of fostering 'citizen scientists.' However, there is still an open question about how fully this vision could be realized.
- Risto's current work specializes in using AI to create 'digital twins' of patients, enabling precise simulations to test and optimize various treatment strategies for conditions like stroke and dementia.
- UT Austin's new online master's programs extend its AI expertise globally while also potentially attracting more talent to Austin and aligning education with local industry needs.
- What’s next Austin? “We have lots of faculty and bright students who are learning about AI. Austin has a thriving startup community that hopefully will grow as a result. And one more factor is the medical school that was started. There are great opportunities, even for these large language models and generative AI in that domain. Try to encourage the AI folks and the medical folks to get together and identify these opportunities. That could be something that becomes a strength in Austin and we can become a world leader in it.”
Episode links
Risto Miikkulainen
Website: https://www.cs.utexas.edu/people/faculty-researchers/risto-miikkulainen
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risto-miikkulainen-ab43b9b8
Constant Therapy Health
Website: https://constanttherapyhealth.com/
Boston University Center for Brain Recovery: https://www.bu.edu/cbr/
AI Empowers Researchers to Bring Precision Medicine to Post-stroke Speech and Cognitive Rehabilitation
Sponsors
Austin Private Wealth: https://austinprivatewealth.com/
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website: https://www.austinnextpodcast.com/
Austin Next Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinNxPodcast
Austin Next YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@austinnext
Jason Scharf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscharf/
Why is Austin leading the charge as a beacon for creative minds and how are cities like it rewriting the blueprint for our economic future? Dive into this episode with Richard Florida, the trailblazer behind the "Creative Class" theory. As we explore Austin's magnetic pull and its broader implications for cities from Madison to Nashville, we'll uncover the intersection of traditional industries, tech-driven innovation, and the burgeoning global creator economy.
Episode Highlights
- Richard Florida developed the concept of the Creative Class to describe talented, highly skilled workers in technology, business, arts, and other innovative fields.
- The initial spark for the insights, theories, and eventual book “Rise of the Creative Class” stemmed from questioning why graduates from Carnegie Mellon were opting to move to Austin over Pittsburgh.
- Numerous heartland regions have the right foundation to adopt the Austin model, blending high-tech innovation in both the digital and physical realms. These cities stand uniquely positioned to bring together innovation, technology, and manufacturing revitalizing America's industrial foundation.
- Austin and Nashville represent the next phase of the Creative Class evolution, emerging as pivotal centers for the burgeoning creator economy, characterized by a seamless blend of technology, music/culture, and digital storytelling.
- What’s Next Austin? “I think Austin is part of this remaking of America around innovation and lifestyle, but with a real application to remaking our industrial base.”
Episode links
Richard Florida
Website: https://creativeclass.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardflorida
X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/Richard_Florida
Richard Florida’s Books
Rise of the Creative Class
The Breakthrough Illusion
Beyond Mass Production
The New Urban Crisis
Sponsors
Austin Private Wealth: https://austinprivatewealth.com/
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website: https://www.austinnextpodcast.com/
Austin Next Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinNxPodcast
Austin Next YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@austinnext
Jason Scharf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscharf/
IntroThe startup ecosystem in Austin is experiencing a dynamic transformation, influenced by an influx of talent and marked changes in fundraising trends. Carta, an equity management platform that offers a distinctive lens into private market data, holds a unique vantage point to observe these shifts and more. Peter Walker, who helms Carta's Insights Team, joins us in this episode to shed light on the current landscape of US startup funding, the challenges of 2023, the intricacies of Austin's startup trajectory and its rising status as an epicenter for innovation and venture capital.
Episode Highlights
- Carta manages cap tables and equity for 38,000 startups, giving them unique insights into startup fundraising, valuations, employees, and compensation. This data covers about 50% of US startup funding.
- The fundraising environment in 2023 has been challenging for startups with activity significantly down from the 2021/2022 bubble, more down rounds and bridge rounds, though AI is an area still seeing excitement.
- Austin has around 380 pre-seed startups on Carta, with 175 seed and 174 series A. The numbers dramatically decrease in later rounds as the region is still is a maturing market and Silicon Valley still dominates Series C and beyond stage companies.
- 74% of Series A rounds in Austin in Q2 2023 were bridge rounds, above the 44%-56% bridge round rate seen in other top regions, showing the high impact of the bubble on Austin startups.
- Diversification across sectors is an advantage for Austin versus other regions more dependent on specific verticals like biotech or SaaS. This diversity makes Austin better positioned to withstand downturns impacting individual sectors.
- Growth drivers like university talent, experienced angels, connector events, and an influx of talent from other regions position Austin for continued growth into a top-tier startup hub.
- What’s Next Austin? “I don't get the sense that it needs to prove itself anymore as a great place for venture capital and startups. Now, what it has to do is double down on some of the deepening things that happen in places like the bay and elsewhere. Is there enough density of interesting people who are excited about hard problems that want to get together and talk nerdy stuff to each other? And I think that's the place that Austin is at now, where that's like the last bit of ecosystem you turn around and you say, there's so much new stuff happening here.”
Episode linksCarta & Austin Next Analyzing Austin's Innovation Landscape: A First Half 2023 Review
Carta
Website: https://carta.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carta--/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/cartainc
Peter Walker
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterjameswalker
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PeterJ_Walker
Sponsors
Austin Private Wealth: https://austinprivatewealth.com/
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website: https://www.austinnextpodcast.com/
Austin Next Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinNxPodcast
Austin Next YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@austinnext
Jason Scharf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscharf/
How do defined tracks and cultural status symbols passed on from previous generations affect a person’s life choices? When we break with those paths is that being self-employed, an entrepreneur, a creative, or something else? In this episode, we challenge the traditional notions of career paths and entrepreneurial journeys, with thought leader and author of "The Pathless Path" Paul Millerd. The conversation delves into his unconventional road to professional and creative fulfillment, how technology is creating more opportunity for people to follow the Pathless Path, and the role of storytellers & creatives in innovation ecosystems like Austin.
Episode Highlights
- Paul highlights the concepts from his book "The Pathless Path" that challenge traditional career paths and encourage unique, individual journeys in our evolving economy.
- Paul emphasizes the significant shift in work and career trajectories due to changing economic trends and advancements in technology, heralding new opportunities for autonomy and creativity.
- Alternative funding methods like the Thiel Fellowship and Emergent Ventures provide support for unconventional ideas and experiments, reshaping solopreneurship and entrepreneurship beyond just traditional VC-backed startups.
- The conversation underscores the role creatives historically have played in innovation ecosystems and how today that role is also being filled by digital storytellers, comedians, podcasters, creators, YouTubers, and Instagrammers.
- As Austin continues its rapid growth, rising costs pose a challenge to its creative scene, but acknowledging these obstacles allows for the formulation of strategies to maintain an inclusive and accessible hub for creativity and innovation.
- What’s next, Austin? “I actually do think storytellers, creators, YouTubers, Instagrammers, they're sort of underrated. They're storytellers that can link those different worlds. I think creative people are very natural at shifting between ideas and crowds and groups. Austin has been able to cultivate a scene around that, and I think it will continue to emerge and grow. What will it look like in ten years? The history of Austin is that scenes have always emerged and sort of faded away. So, what is the next scene? How do you keep cultivating that environment? Is it going to become too expensive to nurture and cultivate those scenes? I don't know. But yeah, it's going to be interesting to watch.”
Episode links
Paul Millerd’s Website: https://think-boundless.com/
Paul Millerd’s Podcast: https://think-boundless.com/podcast/
Paul Millerd’s YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaulMillerd
Paul Millerd’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/p_millerd/
The Pathless Path: https://think-boundless.com/the-pathless-path/
Sponsors
Austin Private Wealth: https://austinprivatewealth.com/
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website: https://www.austinnextpodcast.com/
Austin Next Twitter: https://twitter.com/AustinNxPodcast
Austin Next YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@austinnext
Jason Scharf LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonscharf/
In this culminating episode of Austin Next's first era, Jason engages with AndiBot, the AI-powered chatbot that amalgamates the insights of 19 innovation thinkers. Together, they explore AndiBot’s perspectives on how Austin can ascend to a superstar innovation hub. Later, Michael joins in for a reflective discussion on the AI's capabilities and the insights shared. Plus, don’t miss our special announcement that marks the beginning of a new chapter for Austin Next.
Episode Highlights
- The Austin Next Dynamic Innovation ChatBot, or AndiBot, is an AI-powered chatbot anchored on ChatGPT, and is powered by a “hivemind” that brings together the intellectual prowess of innovation trailblazers such as Clayton Christensen, Everett Rogers, and Mariana Mazzucato.
- Tasked with unraveling insights and forging new pathways, AndiBot endeavors to illuminate the steps necessary for Austin to transition from a thriving ecosystem to a superstar innovation hub.
- Characterizing an innovation superstar hub, AndiBot outlines the quintessential traits: setting global trends, attracting a diverse talent pool, nurturing groundbreaking innovations, fostering a spirited entrepreneurial culture, establishing global collaborations, and achieving brand ubiquity in innovation.
- AndiBot evaluates Austin’s innovation ecosystem at 7.5 with Silicon Valley as the pinnacle scoring a 10. She commends Austin's startup landscape, academic strength, and appeal to tech giants, but signals the imperatives of escalating startup density, talent diversity, capital influx, and global network expansion.
- Jason and Michael reflect on the AndiBot interview and discuss the shift from coding to prompting in AI technology, signaling the emergence of more sophisticated and intuitive user interfaces.
- Exploring Austin's startup landscape, they articulate the connection between productivity and external perception, proposing that a boost in perceived value could stimulate infrastructural improvements.
- Jason spotlights Austin’s ability to “punch above its weight” noting the discrepancies between Austin's startup infrastructure rank (25th in the country) and its high ranking in exit values (6th in the nation, 9th globally) according to a recent Dealroom report.
- This episode marks a transition as Michael is taking a step back from the podcast and will return as the occasional guest.
- What’s next Austin? “I honestly believe only good things are going to happen next. I think we're going to have a recession nationwide within the next six months. But Austin, as we've discussed, is the last in and the first out. We need to keep Austin weird. It has worked so far for this town.”
Episode Links
The Next Generation of Tech Ecosystems Report by Dealroom
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website
Austin Next Twitter
Austin Next LinkedIn
Austin Next YouTube
Michael Scharf LinkedIn
Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
In this episode, we dive into the world of patient capital and its potential to bring about transformative changes in climate technology. Joining us is David J. Neff, Operating Partner at Ecliptic Capital, who sheds light on Ecliptic's forward-thinking climatetech investment strategy, how they find innovations, and Austin's future as hub for the sector.
Episode Highlights
- Ecliptic Capital champions climatetech by prioritizing investments in adaptation, building and electrification, and then climate-friendly materials, aiming for long-term impact on climate issues and sustainable innovation.
- David outlines a triad for university tech transfer success: forging ties with venture capital, aligning mutual goals, and employing discerning professionals to sift groundbreaking technology from incremental improvements.
- The episode tackles the intricate regulatory landscape in climatetech, spotlighting the prolonged time to market and evolving environmental regulations as challenges.
- David emphasizes Austin's potential to transcend its software and SaaS prowess and emerge as a stronghold for climate technology and material science innovation.
- What’s next for Ecliptic Capital? “I think what's next for Ecliptic Capital is continuing a laser focus on really working with our founders, the people we've deployed capital to you. So I think we're continuing to do that. I think in fall of this year, we'll start talking about fund two and raising for fund two with very similar thesis.”
- What’s next Austin? “I hope people are thinking about climate. And the climate crisis is one of the fundamental biggest problems of this generation and the next generation. They quit that big tech job to go work on climate and I hope I see a lot more of that in Austin. It would make me very, very happy and our kids and our grandkids very happy that that's the problem you chose to work on.”
Episode links
David J. Neff: LinkedIn, Twitter
Ecliptic Capital: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter
Embracing Systemic Complexity: The Ecliptic Capital Climate Thesis
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website
Austin Next Twitter
Austin Next LinkedIn
Austin Next YouTube
Michael Scharf LinkedIn
Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
In this episode, we take a discerning look at Startup Genome's Annual Ecosystem Report, seeking to comprehend what the data reveals about Austin's innovation landscape, while also critically examining and challenging it where discrepancies arise. Forrest Wright, Research Assessment Lead at Startup Genome, joins us to decode the metrics and shed light on Austin’s present and future trajectory in the innovation sector.
Episode Highlights
- Startup Genome's insightful report evaluates 290+ global startup ecosystems by scrutinizing six pivotal metrics: performance, funding, market reach, connectedness, talent, and knowledge.
- Despite a global 35% decline in startup funding in 2022, an unexpected trend emerged - the amount of funding per startup saw a significant surge, with AI cementing its position as a leading sector.
- Singapore's meteoric rise in the rankings from 18th to 8th is attributed to an influx of venture capital funding, the creation of 4 billion-dollar exits, and the emergence of 18 unicorns, including Coda Payments, which secured an impressive $690M in Series C.
- Demonstrating resilience and harboring potential for growth, Austin holds steady at 25th in the rankings despite a 30% fall in large-scale exits, countered by its burgeoning count of 12 unicorns.
- Breyer Capital, Bedrock Capital, and 8VC are among the heavyweights moving to Austin, signaling a strong belief in its ecosystem. This migration starkly contrasts Startup Genome's more retrospective rankings and the forward-looking confidence expressed by these industry leaders.
- What’s next Austin? “The future is really bright. I think it actually bodes really well for Austin is you have these stalwart AI companies already there like SparkCognition, Mythic, and Tethr. I think they've all raised north of a hundred million dollars and some of them much more than that. And so I think this is a lot of built-in institutional knowledge that's going to be a real advantage for Austin compared to a lot of companies that are starting now to kind of jump on the bandwagon. Austin's going to have a real advantage there.”
Episode Links
Forrest Wright: LinkedIn
Startup Genome: Website, LinkedIn, TwitterStartup Genome Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2023
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website
Austin Next Twitter
Austin Next LinkedIn
Austin Next YouTube
Michael Scharf LinkedIn
Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We are traveling back to our very first episode with John Sibley Butler of UT Austin. Professor Butler has been a part of the ecosystem for decades and takes us through a journey from the beginning of the ecosystem to what it is today. We can't explore what's next before we know where we have been.
Original episode aired July 13, 2021
Episode Links
John Sibley Butler: UT Austin Bio, LinkedIn, Twitter
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Michael and Jason take a moment to reflect back on what we learned in 22, the new questions we are asking in '23, and some surprising additional elements we are adding to the show.
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Bringing back the wooly mammoth, computer aided design for biology, is this a sci-fi novel or just a taste of what’s going on at the intersection of biology, technology, and Austin. Our next guest is Ben Lamm, CEO and Founder of Colossal Biosciences, Founder and Board Member of Form Bio, and a serial technology entrepreneur driven to solve the most complex challenges facing our planet. We talk about the Austin Bio Sector, how his team is leaning into our new distributed model of work, and what's next for the region.
What's next Austin?
Episode Links
- Ben Lamm: LinkedIn, Twitter
- Colossal Biosciences: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn
- Form Bio: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Austin Next did our first live recording on LinkedIn Live. Jason was joined by Jawad Ali (Austin Medtech Connect), and Dennis McWilliams (Santé Ventures) for a discussion on how we actually define the bio sector here in Austin, what makes us unique, our challenges, and more.
What's next Austin?
Episode Links
- Jawad Ali
- Austin Medtech Connect
- Dennis McWilliams
- Sante Ventures
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The Informa Tech AI/IoT/Quantum Computing conference landed in Austin November 2nd and 3rd. Austin Next was there, listening, learning, and supporting the conference. With speakers ranging from chess champions and NFL quarterbacks to Austin’s Mayor and UT’s Athletic Director, everyone was here to talk and learn about changes and the intersections in the IoT, quantum computing and AI worlds. In the midst of a busy conference, we snagged Jenalea Howell, the VP AI & IoT Markets at Informa Tech for a discussion of conferences, Austin, and what it’s like to return home.
What’s next Austin?
Episode Links
Jenalea Howell
The AI Summit Austin
Sponsors
- Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Steve Case is one of America’s best-known and most accomplished entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Case co-founded AOL in 1985 and under his leadership and vision, AOL became the largest and most valuable Internet company of its time. Moving beyond AOL, Case formed Revolution, a DC based investment firm focused on innovation beyond the coasts. On today's episode, we discuss his new book, their investments in Central Texas, and why Austin might be different than the rest.
Episode Links
- Steve Case Twitter
- Revolution
- Rise of the Rest: How Entrepreneurs in Surprising Places are Building the New American Dream
Sponsors
- Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Bob Campbell is a visionary senior business leader with a track record of building successful businesses while advising corporate and government leaders on management and policy issues. He is a management consultant; corporate board member; non-profit board member; private equity advisor, and active angel investor. We talk about his long history here, what's changed, and how the larger macro trends are affecting our region.
What's Next Austin?
Episode Links
- Bob Campbell
Sponsors
Austin Next has partnered with IoT World and the AI Summit, here in Austin on November 2 and 3. This is THE place to learn and discover how to achieve successful IoT, AI (and even Quantum Computing) implementations for your customers or your organization. And Austin Next will be there live! More important, because the tech industry is undergoing significant change and many of us are finding ourselves involved in hiring freezes or even layoffs. Informa, producers of the show and Austin Next want to help.
So, if you're #OpenToWork, 250 tickets are now available for the November event for anyone who has been laid-off from a technical role in the past three months. Usually, $2,300, these All-Access Passes grant you unrivaled access to learning opportunities across the six stages at the event. But they also include access to more intimate workshops, the Austin After Hours parties, and a packed exhibition hall – because there's no denying the power of a strong professional network.
There is more information here, and here is the link to apply for the All-Access Passes
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
News from Austin Next!
Austin Next has partnered with IoT World and the AI Summit, here in Austin on November 2 and 3.
This is THE place to learn and discover how to achieve successful IoT, AI (and even Quantum Computing) implementations for your customers or your organization. And Austin Next will be there live!
More important, because the tech industry is undergoing significant change and many of us are finding ourselves involved in hiring freezes or even layoffs. Informa, producers of the show and Austin Next want to help. So, if you're #OpenToWork, 250 tickets are now available for the November event for anyone who has been laid-off from a technical role in the past three months.
Usually $2,300, these All-Access Passes grant you unrivaled access to learning opportunities across the six stages at the event. But they also include access to more intimate workshops, the Austin After Hours parties, and a packed exhibition hall – because there's no denying the power a strong professional network.
There is more information here, and here is the link to apply for the All-Access Passes…
We continue our dive into the Houston innovation ecosystem from an investor point of view. Dougal Cameron is a co-founder and the managing director of Golden Section, a venture capital firm, engineering organization, and early-stage venture partner serving business software companies from ideation to $5M in revenue. We talk about the types and scale of startups, the Houston LP market, and how our ecosystems can connect.
What's Next Houston?
Episode Links:
- Dougal Cameron
- Golden Section
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Austin Next is still on the road and today we are visiting another point of the Texas Triangle. Houston has been on a tear the last few years growing from $400M in annual startup funding in 2018 to crossing the $2B threshold last year. There is the Texas Medical Center, the Ion, Rice University, and many more influential and growing institutions. Today we dive into the Houston innovation ecosystem with Lawson Gow and Chris Buckner the forces now behind Houston Exponential.
What's next Houston?
Episode Links:
- Houston Exponential
- Houston Exponential Twitter
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Today we continue our visit to San Antonio and working to discover the unique innovation ecosystem here in the Alamo City. And no discussion would be complete without talking about the investors here. Juan “Sebastian” Garzon serves as Executive Director for Alamo Angels and Programs Manager for VelocityTX. In these roles, Sebastian supports early-stage companies by providing them access to funding and resources to accelerate their growth. The growth of this angel network is impressive and their future even more so.
What's next San Antonio?
Episode Links:
- Alamo Angels
- Velocity TX
- Juan Sebastian Garzon
Austin Next Links:
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
A lot of conversations today talk about the competition & cooperation between San Antonio and Austin. Two growing cities separated by a strip of Interstate 35. Cities with very different histories, different experiences…but both growing innovation systems. For our San Antonio visit, we start with Port San Antonio, It’s the Alamo City’s large and dynamic technology and innovation campus. A 1,900-acre platform just southwest of downtown San Antonio and a place that provides connected solutions in an increasingly connected world.
What's next San Antonio?
Episode Links
- Port San Antonio
- Port San Antonio Twitter
- Jim Perschbach LinkedIn
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Lately, we've been talking and writing a lot about networking. Why is it so important to us? People are social animals. And no matter how much we can get done remotely, we need a connection with other people. But just as important networking groups are where the creative collisions happen. These collisions are critical to an innovation culture like Austin's, these collisions are often where we find our business ideas, our collaborators, and sometimes even our employees. So today, we wanted to celebrate three organizations that foster great networking and take a different approach.
Episode Links:
- Ambition in Motion
- Ambition in Motion Executive Mastermind Group Page
- Garrett Mintz
- Austin Forum on Technology and Society
- Jay Boisseau
- Jay Boisseau Twitter
- Austin Medtech Connect
- Jawad Ali
Austin Next Links:
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
The US and perhaps the world’s economies seem to be headed for a rough patch. Given the growth of the Austin/Central Texas area over the past couple of years, the question is how resilient is the Austin economy, and are we ready for what comes next? Today, we’re joined by Roland Pena, Senior VP Global Technology & Innovation with Opportunity Austin at the Austin Chamber of Commerce and we dive into the data to see how Austin might respond to this downturn.
What's Next Austin?
Episode Links
- Roland Pena
- Austin Historical Job Growth and Unemployment
- Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce Ecosystem Dashboard
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
A lot of things have changed since we last had Thom Singer on the podcast. We talk about Thom's new role, what the networking environment looks like now, and how that impacts the creative collisions between the foundations of Austin.
What's next Austin?
Notable Links
- Our first conversation with Thom Singer
- Austin Technology Council
- Austin Technology Twitter
- Thom Singer
- Thom Singer Twitter
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Today, the Austin Next team and the Boom ATX podcast team get together. Lee Snedaker and Glenn Hart have been talking about Austin for about as long as we have. And they have the advantage of much deeper knowledge about Austin’s history and culture.
We had a wide-ranging discussion, from real estate to startups, from music to restaurants, and much more.
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The growth of our ecosystem and the critical mass of startups coming to Austin leads to unique opportunities to experiment with support infrastructure. One of those experiments is the Draper Startup House, a global entrepreneurship ecosystem including a network of co-living houses and a pre-seed “pop-up” accelerator program. Today we are joined by the co-founders Katie Russel and Daniel Wiegand to talk the mission, the importance of storytelling for startups, and why Austin.
What's next Austin?
Notable Links:
- Draper Startup House Accelerator
- Draper Startup House Co-living
- Draper Startup House LinkedIn
- Draper Startup House Instagram
- Draper Startup House Twitter
Austin Next Links
- Austin Next Website
- Austin Next Twitter
- Austin Next LinkedIn
- Michael Scharf LinkedIn
- Jason Scharf LinkedIn
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We are back with Part 2 of our discussion with Brett. In this episode we cover the expanding Austin region, identifying talent, the intersection of philosophy, politics, and innovation, and of course what comes next.
What's Next Austin? Notable Links:
Brett Hurt
Brett Hurt Twitter
The Entrepreneur Essentials
data.world
data.world Podcast Catalog & Cocktails
Don't Mess with Texas Innovation
Texas Startup Manifesto
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Brett Hurt is a serial entrepreneur, launching Bazaarvoice, Coremetrics and now data.world. Over that time, he's learned a lot about software, people, software and soul. His latest company, data.world, is a B Corp, or as he calls it, Capitalism 2.0. Brett invited us to his home to talk about growing up in Austin, and the tension between the creative and the capitalist class.
Notable Links
Austin Next SXSW Panel Picker Voting
Brett Hurt
Brett Hurt Twitter
The Entrepreneur Essentials
data.world
data.world Podcast Catalog & Cocktails
Don't Mess with Texas Innovation
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Clearly the Austin entrepreneurial ecosystem has been growing dramatically for the last several years. And, with that growth has come a lot of new investors. Whether it be VCs building larger funds, entrepreneurs reinvesting earnings, incubators and angels willing to help startups, there are a lot of people getting involved. Today we are talking with CS Freeland, co-founder and executive director of the Austin Venture Association (AVA). We cover why do we need an organization AVA, the origin story, and the evolution of the venture environment here in Austin. Capital that is leveling up raises...What's next Austin. Notable Links:
Austin Next SXSW Panel Picker Voting
CS Freeland
Austin Venture Association
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Often how we live, work and play is determined by where we live, work, and play. The buildings we occupy can range from condos and offices in the central business district, to the wide-open spaces needed to test drones and farm equipment. Today with speak Todd Runkle on how Austin is evolving, how innovation districts play a role, and the growth of Central Living Districts. Where we are and how we live, work, and play is... What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We met and talked to Peter Rex, who with his team at Rex LLC owns substantial real estate in Austin and across the United States. Since 2018, Peter has focused a lot of his time and energy on Rex Tech Ventures, his technology incubator and PropTech software companies. Rex Tech has now grown to ten companies and together they are looking to solve some of the most difficult problems in the real estate industry. We talked about Why Austin, the convergence of tech and real estate, and even a little blockchain and web3.
It’s the disruptors who make…What’s next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
One of Austin’s superpowers is that we live in the future. We are both inventing the future and it’s being deployed here in Central Texas. We’re joined today by Jeff DeCoux founder and CEO of the Autonomy Institute to talk about one of our key challenges to build this future and that's infrastructure. A 21st century technical foundation is the bridge to What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The road to being an entrepreneur has many twists and turns. Starting that journey from a nontraditional starting point, in this case the music world, can create even more unexpected challenges. Today we are talking with Casey McPherson and hear about his journey from accomplished musician to genetic disease advocate and life science leader. We learn about the role of creatives in an innovation ecosystem and how he sees the bio economy playing out here in Austin. These unlikely journeys form...What's next Austin?
Notable Links: Casey McPherson To Cure A Rose Foundation Everlum.Bio
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
What an amazing year it has been. This week it's just the two of us reflecting back on where the podcast has been, what we have seen in the ecosystem, the insights that our guests have shared, and what comes next for both the podcast and Austin.
Austin Next Newsletter Survey
What's next Austin Next Podcast?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Cities are changing as rapidly as ever due increased migration patterns, new hubs of innovation, and an evolving way we work. What does the city of the future look like and is Austin the new leader of that trend? Today we bring in Cullum Clark the Director of the George W. Bush Institute & SMU Economic Growth Initiative and an Adjunct Professor of Economics at SMU. We talk about Austin’s transformation, what does a future city model look like, and how do we plan for the future.
The city of the future is...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We see all of these best of city lists. Best places to live, most affordable, growing tech employment, and so on. How does Austin stack up when looking at our overall startup environment? Today we are bringing on Farshad Fahimi (Director of Data Strategy), who is going to walk us through Startup Genome’s annual ranking of the global ecosystem. We discuss the big observations in this year's report, what does the data say about Austin, and how does our future look. Rankings influence narratives and narratives create...What's next Austin Links:
Startup Genome's Global Startup Ecosystem Report 2022
Austin Next Medium article with additional analysis
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Infrastructure is one of the key issues impacting Austin’s rapid growth. Whether it’s water, roadways and transit, or power, we must ensure that we have the resources to handle our growth. Today, we focus on power… Joining us is Christy Cardenas Managing Partner Grit Ventures. Grit Ventures focuses, in part, on new energy sources, distribution systems, and transportation. We talk about the current energy situation, how we make a transition to new sources while working together with traditional producers, what does innovation look like with abundant energy, and finally where does Austin fit into all of this.
We need the lights on to see...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Austin has been growing at breakneck speed. Over the past year, we were #1 in percentage population growth and #3 in employment growth. This doesn't event tell the whole story. The entire metro from Bastrop to Dripping Springs and San Marcos to Temple is maturing and changing. We are establishing numerous innovation hubs that operate independently from each other and come together into mesh network that is our region. We talk today with John Garrett, Founder and CEO of Community Impact Newspaper about this hyper-local phenomena and what is means for media, innovation, and the future of Austin.
You can also check out their wonderful podcast The Austin Breakdown to get unique insights into the region.
Austin is more than just Austin and that is the foundation for What's Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Our region not only builds futuristic technologies, but they are deployed and tested here as well. More and more when you hear autonomous vehicles, rockets, drones, and personal flying vehicles you think Austin. Today we are speaking with Brad Bentz, Co-Founder and Partner at ATX Partners a local venture firm that recently raised $150M for their 3rd fund, and now has over $300M under management. ATX’s tagline is “investing in people pioneering the future,” so we thought who better to talk about how this superpower drives What's Next Austin.
The future is now and What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
With the changing nature of work, new regional ecosystems flourishing, and massive domestic migration the demands to our infrastructure are changing and evolving. One of the most fundamental parts of this equation is the question of how we move people and goods from point A to point B. We have seen a surge in new technologies such as mass electrification and driverless vehicles and new modalities like delivery drones and even tunnels. Austin is becoming an epicenter for transportation tech both in terms of innovation and deployment. Today we talk with Meg Merritt and Joseph Kopser about where this industry has been, where its going, and how it fits into the broader growth of the region.
What moves Austin moves...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licen
Texas has long been a home for the semiconductor industry. I guess it started with a little company named Texas Instruments, but today in the Austin area, we have Samsung, NXP, Micron, AMD, and Intel, But, this growth doesn’t happen in a vacuum, it takes a lot of people doing a lot of work. So today, we’re going to take a deeper look into this part of our ecosystem and try to better understand where Austin’s semiconductor industry is coming from and where it’s going. SEMI is the international organization representing semiconductor manufacturers and joining us today is David Anderson. At the time of this recording, David was President, SEMI Americas. His responsibilities covered all programs in the region. But more importantly he managed and nurtured relationships with SEMI as well as with local association and constituents in industry, government, and academia. David came to SEMI with a lot of experience, having held positions at Fairchild Semiconductor, National Semiconductor, the Semiconductor Industry Suppliers Association, and SEMATECH, where he helped launch their global initiative. David has moved onto a new position at NY Creates, and we wish him well.
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licen
Capital is the fuel that drives the innovation ecosystem. Grants can make up an important component in funding and catalyzing innovation. The biggest source of grants is of course the US government through numerous agencies and programs. Today we talk with Elizabeth (Ela) Mirowski a Program Director for the SBIR/STTR program at the National Science Foundation. We talk about the programs available to small companies, how the NSF is evolving, and how Austin fits into all of this. Grants and other nondilutive funding are key for...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by EveryWord Media Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Today we’re going to expand our focus a bit, and look at the entire state of Texas, not just Austin. We want to dig into what has brought so much attention, and new people to the Lone Star State, how it’s impacting business, culture, and innovation. The concept of a super-region isn’t new. But the idea of a Texas Triangle is something new and unique. And that’s what we explored with Ed Curtis, Founder and CEO of YTexas.
All of Texas is accelerating...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We have gone deep and we have gone wide in looking at the sectors and factors that drive the growth of the Austin region. Today we are going to take a holistic look at the entire metro from San Macros to Taylor and Bastrop to Dripping Springs. This super-region is powering forward into the next great innovation epicenter. To understand what is at the heart of this region, what is bringing new people and companies, and what this evolution looks like we have Laura Huffman, President and CEO of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce.
All of Austin powers...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
A common plank in ecosystem development is having a strong research-focused university churning out discoveries and intellectual property that can then be spinout our licensed into the private sector. In Austin, we have one such university with UT, but that movement of technology from academia to industry is not magic. Tech transfer organizations sit at the crux of this bridge trying to balance the needs of the university with the needs of their startup and corporate partners. Today we have Les Nichols, Director of the Office of Technology Commercialization or OTC at UT Austin to talk about how this is done, the challenges they face, and the role this function plays in our innovation ecosystem .
Innovations from academia help drive…What’s next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Work is changing, whether that is how we work (remote, hybrid, in-person), the tools we use, or how we govern these organizations. One of the superpowers of Austin is that "We are living in the future" and in this case, it means the future of work is being developed, tested, and deployed here first. To understand how Austin is the source of these trends and tools, we interview Razat Gaurav, CEO of Austin-based Planview. We talk about their place in the region, how they are creating these new platforms, and the future of Austin.
How we work is...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We are changing up the format this week as we are flying without a net and without a guest. This time is just a conversation between our hosts. Jason had the opportunity to attend SXSW. Hear one point of view on how Austin was represented at the festival. What we learned, what caught our eye, and how we are already thinking about SXSW 2023. Here’s how SXSW influenced...What's Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We are hitting the road again and learning about all the other "emerging" ecosystems. This time we are heading to the Southeast and making pitstops in Atlanta and Nashville. We are joined by Blake Patton, Managing Partner Tech Square Ventures, and Brian Moyer, President and CEO at the Greater Nashville Technology Council to discuss their regions. We discuss their history, what's the secret sauce that is driving their growth, and how are they adapting to the changing dynamics of work and innovation.
What's next everywhere else!
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
This is another in our Unique to Austin series where we look at what gives Austin its special sauce. There is nothing more unique about Austin than SXSW. Over the past 30 years, Austin has grown, matured, and adapted to everything new, and SXSW has as well. Today, after two years of dealing with the pandemic, SXSW is back and it’s live. From March 11 through the 20th, there will be hundreds of presentations across dozens of topics, as well as workshops, seminars, screenings, and of course music. Today we are joined by Hugh Forrest, SXSW's Chief Programming Officer to talk about the event's history, this year's event, how it integrates/mirrors/supports the Austin ecosystem, and what the future holds.
SXSW helps define...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
A key enabler of Austin’s growth are the unique institutions, events, and infrastructure that only exists in our region. In 2018, Army Futures Command chose our city as its base of operations. We wanted to learn why, how it connects with our broader innovation ecosystem, and what role it plays in empowering our future growth. We spoke with Brance Hudzietz, Corporate Ventures lead and Entrepreneur in Residence for The Army Applications Laboratory a division of the Army Futures Command to help answer these questions.
What's unique to Austin creates...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Over the course of the pandemic, migration trends already taking place were accelerated. It’s an open secret that the middle of the US is now a key engine of our nation’s growth. We’ve seen the ups and downs economically, mostly tied to manufacturing. But today, places like Austin, Denver, Chicago, and Nashville are tech and innovation hubs as well. We wanted to explore the growth and changes in this region in more detail, and so we are joined by Dale Buss, the founder and executive director of The Flyover Coalition.
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Austin is not the only ecosystem in the news as the next big thing. The past few years have seen massive disruption, geographic migration, and increased capital flows outside of the traditional big innovation centers of Silicon Valley, New York, Los Angeles, and Boston. We want to see what these other growing regions are up to, what's accelerating their next phase, and what can we learn from each other? We are joined by Jackie DiMonte Partner at Chicago Ventures, Charlie Lass Founder and CEO of Dallas Inc, and Fred Grier the former Technology and Life Science Reporter of the San Diego Business Journal to discuss their respective regions.
What's next everywhere else!
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
For Austin to solidify its role as the next great innovation powerhouse, we must research what has come before and what are the trends pushing us forward. One area of study that greatly affects our future is the exploration of the very nature of progress itself…what is it, what drives it, and how does it affect our region’s future? Today we are talking with Jason Crawford, Founder and CEO of the Roots of Progress, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a new philosophy of progress.
How we view innovation and progress lays the foundation for...What's Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We continue our conversations about talent, who companies need and how to get them. Are we positioned for the future needs of our region and its sectors? We’ve talked about the pipeline, we’ve discussed middle management, it’s time to turn to executive talent. More than any time in the past, it is the decision-making prowess of a senior team that drives its success, or its failure. Top tier talent isn’t grown overnight. The question for Austin firms is do you nurture your internal talent, recruit to the region, or is it the dog eat dog world of Austin companies pulling from the same local pool. To help us understand how Central Texas businesses are dealing with this challenge is Lisa Novak, VP Employee Experience at data.world.
How does executive talent shape...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Talent remains a hot topic in everyone of our discussions. Do we have enough workers, do we have the right skill sets, how are we positioned for the future needs of the region and sectors? We have demand for high end manufacturing workers, more frontline healthcare staff, and other more stereotypical blue collars. Migration is one method to grow our talent base, but the other and likely more sustainable is to develop our homegrown labor force. Today we speak with Garrett Groves, Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives for the Austin Community College District on how they are building this talent pipeline for the region. The next generation of workers will drive...What's next Austin.
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Everyone we have interviewed on the podcast has mentioned talent as a key issue facing Austin as it quickly ramps up its innovation ecosystem. And a big part of that is developing mid-level managers that can make decisions and propel businesses forward. Joining us is Bjorn Billhardt, CEO of Abilitie to discuss how we are training these managers and the talent battle the region faces. The next generation of leaders will drive...What's next Austin. Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Over the course of this podcast, we have explored the Austin ecosystem from a variety of different angles. The sectors here, the major trends, and the entrepreneurial support system. One question that has percolated through has been why has Austin continued to punch above its weight when it comes to funding, startups, growth, etc. What is it about Austin that is resonating beyond our borders? Today we explore our observations of the Austin Narrative and the regional superpowers that are underlying it with Amber Gunst, CEO of the Austin Technology council. The stories that travel are helping shape…. What’s Next Austin? Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The innovation space is wider and more expansive than the traditional tech verticals. It extends to the food we eat, the health/beauty solutions we use, the products we utilize to clean our home, and many more. Joining us is Kirstin Ross, Managing Director of SKU a CPG focused accelerator here in Austin
Austin's reach expands beyond the city into every store and for every consumer...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The space race runs through Texas now. All types of rockets, satellites, control software, and the underlying infrastructure of the industry are being created and grown here in Austin. Our Austin Sector Deep Dive Series continues with Melanie Stricklan, CEO of Slingshot Aerospace & Michael Ciannilli NASA's Director of the Apollo, Challenger, Columbia Lessons Learned Program.
Is the final frontier...What's Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Austin is more than the live music capital of the world or the latest tech-wonderland. Central Texas has a notable and growing manufacturing base as well. Today, we’re going to go deeper into this part of our home and try to better understand where our manufacturing industry comes from and where it’s going. Joining us is Ed Latson, Executive Director of the Austin Regional Manufacturing Association.
We build things in Austin...What's next Austin
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Venture capital is just one source of funding available to early-stage companies. These sources both compete with and complement VC money. They range from existing methods such as angels and debt vehicles to new sources like crowdfunding. Austin is home to a growing variety of options for this alternative capital and so we are going to try something new with this episode. In this episode, we have 4 mini-interviews with individuals that are active in this space. Nick Spiller, fundraising coach and host of the Beta Business podcast; Rick Timmins, former board chair of CTAN; Elizabeth Jennings, Board Member for SWAN Impact Network; and Kyle Robertson, entrepreneur, and free-agent investor. They provide a look at the organizations and players in town and also provide differing perspectives on the fundraising environment. With capital flowing we can move towards...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
As we continue our look at the Austin capital environment, we turn to the newcomers to the region. Over the past 18 months, we have had numerous VC firms either opening up offices here or an outright move. This influx of capital is one of the many drivers for why 2021 has been a historic year in Austin startup fundraising. In this episode, we talk with Garheng Kong, Founder and Managing Partner of HealthQuest Capital. HealthQuest is one of those new firms that has newly put a presence in the Austin region. Drawing new capital into the ecosystem is a driving force of...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The fuel that makes startups grow has always been capital. This is produced from revenue, debt, angels, crowdfunding, and venture capital. Austin has seen a record year in both funds being raised and companies raising rounds. Not only have the funds been flying, but new investors have decided to make the region their home. In this episode, we are starting our series on the Austin capital environment. How it evolved, where the funding is being deployed, and what the future holds. We start with a long-time local VC, Brian Smith Managing Director of S3 Ventures. Knowing where the capital is flowing will help us answer...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We interview Amos Schwartzfarb, Managing Director of TechStars Austin about how private incubators support the innovation ecosystem here in Central TX
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
History has shown that a strong university is a key element for an innovation ecosystem to thrive. The good news is that Austin is the home of the University of Texas, one of the largest and strongest universities in the US, and I’m not just talking about football.
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The pandemic opened a lot of people's eyes to the importance of the life sciences industry. The 21st century is being called the bio century and Austin has the opportunity to be right in the middle of that next wave. We continue our Austin Sector Deep Dive Series with Scott Collins, President BioAustinCTX The next generation of innovation in health will drive forward...What's next Austin?
Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
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The Live Music Capital of the world is one of many slogans for our fine city. Music is just one of many forms of media that have been taking hold in the region. This includes film, gaming, and yes podcasting too. One fascinating collision between our growing media footprint and our technology hub is mediatech. We continue our Austin Sector Deep Dive Series with Paul O'Brien, CEO of MediaTech Ventures. This burgeoning sector helps shape the narrative of...What's Next Austin? '
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
One of the strengths of the Austin innovation ecosystem is the wide sector diversification that plays within our region. All of these different industries provide multiple shots on goals for future unicorns, a hedge against a downturn in any single market, and opportunities for interesting and unique collaborations. We are going to break open the silos and provide a glimpse into each of these sectors. In today's episode, we are going to start with one of the newest technologies Blockchain/Crypto with Lee Bratcher, President of the Texas Blockchain Council. Each of these industries provides its own path to...What's Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
The building blocks of any ecosystem are the companies that have been founded or migrated here; however, it is the mortar between those blocks that makes a strong foundation. The mortar of an ecosystem is the people, culture, and ideas that flow throughout. Today we are speaking with Thom Singer, the Human Connection Catalyst on how the movement, interaction, and creative collisions of talent and innovation are changing, adapting, and growing in the region. With this solid bedrock for future growth...What's next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
We talk a lot about how Austin is transforming into the next great innovation powerhouse, but how do you define a growing innovation powerhouse. What do the academics say are the right ways to measure an ecosystem’s growth and how does Austin stack up. In this episode, we speak with Ross Devol, President and CEO of Heartland Forward. We talk about his latest research, where Austin ranks, and what trends are creating both headwinds and tailwinds for our community. Understanding the data helps us understand…What’s Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
No innovation ecosystem exists in a silo and one of the significant growth drivers are the companies that are deciding to move here from other regions. Whether it is a satellite office or a new headquarters, these organizations have a big impact on the local community. In this episode, we talk with Jason Ball the President and CEO of the Round Rock Chamber on who is coming here, what is driving the transition, and the challenges they face once here. It’s the marriage of our home-grown enterprises with the continued inflow of new companies that sets the stage for…What’s Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Episode 2: Interview with Marc Nathan Part of the evolution of Austin into the next great innovation powerhouse is the change in the types of companies that are being started here. The history of Austin is deeply connected to personal computers, enterprise software, and semiconductors. Today the next generation of companies are coming from CPG, consumer technology, life sciences, media tech, space, and more. We have a growing number of unicorns and “soonicrons.” Marc Nathan, a local player and reporter, on the startup ecosystem, walks us through who those companies are and how they are changing the landscape of what it means to be a startup in Austin. Understanding what is being built will help us answer…What’s Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Before we can see what’s next for Austin, we have to know where we have been. To walk us through the history of the Austin innovation ecosystem, we interviewed John Sibley Butler from UT Austin. Professor Butler has been a part of the ecosystem for decades and sees the various waves of growth. Come listen for the history lesson that will help us answer…. What’s Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License
Over the last decade, Austin has exploded into the national consciousness as the next great innovation powerhouse. That has only accelerated over the past 18 months as talent, capital, and companies are making the move. Homegrown companies across the spectrum are becoming unicorns and having significant exits. Austin’s flywheel is gaining momentum. During this last surge, we moved here as well. A father and son team that has seen some ecosystems grow, some stagnate, and some never take off. To understand what the future holds for Austin’s innovation ecosystem and how to accelerate its growth, we will talk with local players, hear from outside perspectives, and dive into the latest academic research. In the end, we are driven by the need to answer one basic question...What’s Next Austin?
Podcast Production Services by NCC Audio Our music is “Tech Talk” by Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons 4.0 License