Austin Technology Council

The 2024 “C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank” was a success!

We had some great presentations and deep conversations.

Thanks to our sponsors- Weaver, MUFG, Pierpont, Precina, and St Edward’s University. (Community support is the only way ATC can host events!!)

We need our community to engage and for our leaders to show up!!!

Get ready for 2025 - we have some great events in the works including the Gateway Happy Hour (just before SXSW), the Austin Tech Hall of Fame reception, and the 2025 C-Suite Summit (plus monthly networking breakfasts).

🚀 Calling all Austin tech leaders! The “C-Suite Summit” is happening this Monday, and you won’t want to miss it. This half-day event is your chance to be part of a powerful conversation about the future of Austin’s tech industry. 🌆✨

Join us for inspiring keynotes, in-depth roundtable discussions, and future-focused insights with some of the most influential voices in the tech community. This year, we’re expanding the popular roundtable ‘Think Tank’ session to dive even deeper into the challenges and opportunities facing our industry.

With incredible speakers like Razat Gaurav, CEO of Planview, and John Nehme, President/CEO at Allies Against Slavery, you’ll walk away with fresh perspectives and actionable ideas. Plus, don’t miss the chance to connect with peers and future leaders during our networking happy hour. 🍻💡

Now more than ever, public events like this are vital to fostering the kind of collaboration that drives growth and innovation in our community. Austin is a boomtown, and you have a role to play in its continued success. 🌱🏙️

Don’t sit on the sidelines—come shape what’s next for Austin tech. Secure your spot today at https://atc.ticketbud.com/2024-c-suite-summit-and-industry-think-tank.

Let’s connect, collaborate, and create the future together. See you at the “C-Suite Summit!” 🙌🔍

Monday is the big day... the 2024 "C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank". Now is the time to make sure your company has one or more of your leadership team planning to attend.

The event is on October 28th (Kicking off Austin Tech Week) from 1-6PM at St Edward's University (Ragsdale Ballroom).

Agenda-

Opening keynote: Razat Gaurav - CEO Planview

Featured Panel on the "State of Funding for Small and Mid-Sized Tech Companies (with leaders from MUFG, Sapphire Ventures, Latham & Watkins, and TalentGuard)

The "Industry Think Tank" (top rated part of last year's Summit) where leaders talk about the issues facing Austin.

Closing Keynote: John Nehme - President & CEO Allies Against Slavery

Then we cap off the day with a great Happy Hour.

Sponsors: MUFG, Weaver, Pierpont, Precina, and St Edward's University.

If your company want to be engaged in the conversation about the future of Austin, make sure you have your voice at the table.

This event is for leaders in TECH COMPANIES and a few sponsors.

As we look to the future of our tech ecosystem, ATC is seeking civic minded leaders who want to talk about how we go from here to our next phase in the world. Austin is poised for continued success....but to make it happen we need YOU.

Two weeks until the highly anticipated 2024 C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank! This is the moment for Austin’s tech leaders to unite and shape the future of our vibrant community.

Austin’s legendary tech scene was built by visionary leaders who came together for the city’s greater good. At the Austin Technology Council (ATC), we believe those expectations have been exceeded, but now it’s time to envision Austin in 2050. The actions we take today will define our tomorrow.

Join us for a unique experience unlike any other. We invite your company to send a representative to this pivotal gathering. Your leadership is crucial in guiding our community forward.

If you’re a tech leader in Austin, your presence is essential. Let’s continue the legacy of innovation and collaboration that made Austin legendary.

Only you and your peers can ensure a prosperous future for our tech ecosystem.

Get signed up now for this half day event on October 28th. Austin’s tech scene is at the forefront of change… nit just for our region- but for the world!

Coming up on October 28… Is the ATC “C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank”.

As with all event events in our community… They could never happen if it wasn’t for the support of local sponsors .

The Austin Technology Council is so appreciative of the organizations that step up to help us put on events!!

Cheers to:

Weaver

Pierpont

MUFU

St Edward’s University

If you work for a technology company… Make sure one of your leaders is signed up for this event !!

Hey Austin friends —- Start your Tuesday right! 🚀

Join us at the September Round Table Breakfast for an in-depth look at “IP Valuation: practical insights on due diligence, licensing, and enforcement”, brought to you by Knobbe Martens.

🤝 Great networking + expert knowledge – the perfect combo to fuel your business growth and keep Austin tech thriving.

📅 Tuesday, September 17th
📍 Venue- Calavista Software 8:30-10 AM

https://atc.ticketbud.com/september-roundtable-breakfast

RSVP at ATC website and let’s connect over breakfast!

Last night ATC and Angelou Ecomonics hosted a happy hour to welcome 15 delegates from Tampere, Finland who are visiting Austin.

What was expected to be a small gathering of our tech community became over 100 people who represented Austin’s eclectic tech scene.

People came early and stayed late.

The happy hour was proof that when our community comes together, great things happen. The energy in the room was electric, filled with genuine conversations and new connections. It's a reminder that showing up, engaging, and collaborating is where the magic happens for us all.

Our next event is the Austrin Technology Council September Roundtable Breakfast on the 17th at Calavista Software. Sign up now at the ATC website!

The future of Austin’s tech community is brighter than ever, but we can't rely on the strategies that brought us here to take us to the next level.

To shape what’s next, we need our tech leaders to come together, share their insights, and drive the conversation forward.

On October 28th, the Austin Technology Council is hosting the “C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank” at St. Edward’s University—a unique gathering for tech company executives (and just a few key sponsors).

This is an opportunity to learn, grow, and influence the future of Austin’s tech landscape.

We want your tech company to designate a senior leader to be present to participate in this event.

Hey Austin friends- the Austin Technology Council is hosting an event next week….

ATC August Roundtable Breakfast with Angelos Angelou.

Economic Forcast of Austin.

Get your seat now!!!! Tickets on ATC website.

Don't miss this one!

August 14th
8:30 AM to 10:00 AM
At Calavista Software

These monthly breakfasts are always informatative and good networking.

Tell a friend.

With the announcement of Twitter / X relocation of its headquarters to Austin - there were several articles this week that criticized Austin. One in Bloomberg had the headline that we are a city of “stagnant tech dreams”.

We at the Austin Technology Council disagree with the premise of this - and other articles - that claim Texas lacks in the self proclaimed comparisons to San Jose / San Francisco.

I’m not sure Austin's goal has ever been to “rival” or copy Silicon Valley. For 30 years, Austin has seen amazing growth in population and the economy, with companies continually relocating offices and headquarters here. And it’s not just Austin—Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio (not to mention College Station) are experiencing a fast yet quiet boom in tech companies and tech workers.

It's not about Austin alone becoming the tech hub of Texas. As these cities work together, the Texas Technology Triangle will emerge as an innovation powerhouse. While the geography of Texas is big, those four cities are all within a three-hour drive of each other. No one in Austin is trying to “rival” the Valley or talk down the amazing entrepreneurs and businesses that continue to thrive there… but they who live there and write for the press sure seem to want to compare themselves to us!

The area’s growth from 700k people in 1990 to 2.2 million in 2024 wasn’t just a pandemic blip; it’s been a consistent demographic surge. The city itself went from the 25th largest to the 11th over 30 years.

While Texas has issues and it’s hard in today’s world to get “leaders” to rise to the challenges of tomorrow… But we believe a community of smart, innovative, and civic-minded leaders can have an impact. This is how Austin was built 30+ years ago …. And it is how we will thrive into the future.

Austin has no desire to play some petty comparisons game with “the Valley”. We just want to be the best Austin…. And that means a big table with lots of seats to hear from all who care about our tech community.

Our focus remains on fostering innovation and collaboration, not competing with Silicon Valley.

Please help us work for a better Austin. ATC can be that “big table”, but we need YOU. Austin’s best days are ahead.

“Business Meets Broadway” - Join us for a play at Zach Scott on June 26th.

The Austin Technology Council and the Association for Corporate Growth… Are hosting a night at the Zach Scott Theatre for the show “The Lehman Trilogy”

This play is the winner of 5 Tony awards —- is playing for three weeks at the Zach Scott theater.

June 26th we will host a networking happy hour (cash bar) before the play starts.

You can find more information about tickets on the ATC website… And you will save 20% when using the code ATXTECH.

(Special Note from Thom)—-my daughter has seen the play… And she said she did not expect a play about “Lehman Brothers” to be this good… But said it’s a great play).

The Lehman Trilogy (winner of 5 Tony Awards) portrays the captivating saga of a family and a company that shaped the world, featuring three actors who portray multiple generations of the Lehman brothers. From their hopeful arrival in New York in 1844 to the dramatic collapse of Lehman Brothers 163 years later, this epic tale explores the rise and fall of the iconic firm, intertwining personal dreams with a global financial crisis.

Age Recommendation: 13 and up

Runtime: 3 hours and 30 minutes including 2 10-minute intermissions

The first annual “Austin Tech Hall
Fame” and “First Time Founder Award event was a lot of fun.

Congratulations to all the honorees and thanks to all who showed up to support the event!!!

And thank you to the sponsors- nonprofits like ATC can't do anything without community focused companies that support the cause! Cheers to KPMG, Wells Fargo Technology Banking Group, Egan Nelson LLP, Calavista Software, BP-3, and GVG Agency.

SOLD OUT> Tickets are almost gone for the first year event (Cocktail Reception) for the “Austin Tech Hall of Fame” and the “First Time Founder Awards”on June 4th. Don’t miss out.

We will honor eight “foundational/legacy” inductees, one 2024 inductee, and the first time founder. This celebrates the past, present, and future of the Austin tech scene.

As we build this new program-
We will add more foundational / legacy leaders who have made Austin a world class tech hub and innovation center over the past four decades. If you don’t see someone on this year’s list - be sure to nominate them next year!

There is a frequently asked question about this program- “How were the people selected?” This project for 2024 began with a call for nominations in April (via ATC newsletter, social media, and it was covered by many local media outlets)… Anyone in the local tech community could nominate… You did not have to be affiliated with the Austin Technology Council to be nominated or to nominate. We received over 50 nominations!!! Then the ATC board selected and voted on this year’s honorees. (Starting next year, we will create an independent committee for the planning of the Austin Tech Hall of Fame- we welcome ATC members who want to have a voice in this ongoing project to let us know your thoughts!!)

There are so many people who deserve to be part of this hall of fame - and it will take several years to get everyone who has contributed to our community included. We ask everyone in the Austin tech ecosystem to support this effort and help us year-over-year by providing nominations, attending the event, sponsoring the event, and volunteering for the committee. This is a community project and your support is desired and necessary!

Austin was build with a spirit of community, collaboration, and conversations by civic minded leaders across business, academia, government, etc… the tech leaders, service providers, and many others had a vision and lead by example. We honor this spirit and then people who paved the way for the place we all call home today!

Thanks to our sponsors:

Wells Fargo, VeUP, KPMG, Calavista Software, BP-3, GVG Agency. (Still time to add your company to our list of sponsors).

Thanks to our “Community Partners”:

Opportunity Austin, The Austin Chamber of Commerce, Association for Corporate Growth, Austin Venture Association, DivInc, Austin Women in Technology, Austin Technology Incubator, F.I.E.S.T.A., and the Austin Regional Manufactures Association (still time for other tech non-profits to be part of our support team- when local business non-profits work together… the whole community wins!!

The Austin Technology Council has announced the details about the "Austin Tech Hall of Fame" and "First Time Founder Award" event on June 4, 2024.

There are many of people who helped shape the foundation of Austin's tech scene.... But you cannot start a Hall of Fame by dropping 50 names all at once. Thus ATC is launching the Hall of Fame over the next several years--- adding eight "Foundational / Legacy Inductees" each year.

We will also have a current year inductee and we will announce the annual "First Time Founder Award" at the same event on June 4th.

ATC opened up nominations to the whole community, and received over 50 amazing nominees. It is exciting to review the names of the many people that forged and are currently forging Austin's tech ecosystem. The next several years will be fun as the local tech community celebrates many key leaders in our community.

This year's "Foundational / Legacy Inductees" are"

John Sibley Butler
Michael Dell
Lori Hawkins
Bobby Inman
Laura Kilcrease
George Kozmetsky
Jimmy Treybig
James Truchard

The 2024 Austin Tech Hall of Fame Inductee and the First Time Founder will be announced at the party.

For the first year the event will be a simple cocktail reception at one of the ATC member's offices ("Thank You" to Calavista Software for hosting this event- great views of the Hill Country and free parking!)

ATC (and other local non-profits) could never host these events without sponsors. Here are the local organizations supporting this event:

Title Sponsor: Wells Fargo Technology Banking Group
First Time Found Sponsor: VeUP
Sustaining Sponsors: KPMG, Calavista Software, and BP-3
Supporting Sponsor: GVG Agency
Community Partners: Opportunity Austin, Austin Chamber, Austin Technology Incubator, Austin Venture Association, DiviInc, and the Associations for Corporate Growth.

If you are part of the Austin tech ecosystem- we hope you will come out and “Celebrate Austin Tech”. Tickets available (until they sell out) at the ATC website.

Tickets are now on sale for the “Austin Tech Hall of Fame” and “First Time Founder Award”.

Thanks to our title sponsors- KPMG, Wells Fargo, and VeUP.

We expect this event to sell out… So make sure you get your tickets early .

Austin Technology Council board members Ronnie Sheth (Senen Group) and James Beecham (ALTR) joined ATC CEO Thom Singer for the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) annual Washington DC “Fly-In”.

Sixteen tech councils from across the country came to our nation’s capital to hear from government leaders and a variety of experts on topics around AI policy, pending legislation, and other issues that matter to technology companies across the country.

Government legislation has a direct impact on technology companies, and often those impacted do not know about that impact until votes are taken and the laws make the news.

When most people think about the “technology industry” they think of the five largest Big Tech companies, and new startups. The reality is there are hundreds of thousands of small and midsize, growth oriented tech companies that are impacted by government regulations. These companies cannot afford the time or money to focus on pending legislation or hire lobbyists. That is where TECNA and their 60+ member technology councils are working to make a difference.

The Austin Technology Council is becoming more active with TECNA and their work in the area of policy.

In the afternoon all the delegations had meetings on The Hill with the offices of their senators and congressmen. The ATC team met with staff members from the offices of John Cornyn, Ted Cruz, and Lloyd Doggett.

If you are interested in learning more about how TECNA is working on policy issues focused on ensuring the voice of small and mid-sized businesses are heard in Washington, or if you want to participate in next year’s Washington DC “Fly-In”, get involved with ATC.