Excited to be at SXSW for the Startup Grind panel, led by Startup Grind Austin Chapter Director Andi Gillentine. The discussion will include Jim Butler (Manager at City of Austin), Susan Davenport (Sr VP Global Technology Strategies Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce), Kevin Koym (Founding Partner Tech Ranch Austin), and Bijoy Goswami Founder BootstrapU. Andi just made us cheer loudly for these people in true Startup Grind style. It's a little early but we did it.
Jim Butler is first up. Austin works with the University of Texas which is close to downtown. They work with the school on the curriculum to service, promote, and grow entrepreneurship. Small business development program provides classes, events, and other resources to help. Austin works on improving arts, music, and make Austin into a place that's not solely focused on business.
Susan Davenport is next. Austin has one of the strongest business communities in the country. "The quality of life here has so much depth." Respect for the entrepreneur. Austin is the fastest growing city in the US (via Forbes). Entrepreneurship is embedded in that growth. 13% of all jobs here are technology jobs. Tech accounts for the majority of new jobs. "We have the strong Texas economy to back us up." "Quality of life is key." This is clearly something that locals feel Austin has that can differentiate it - 240 live music venues in the greater county area. Cost of living - medium home price is $206,000. Wow. That's like a shared studio rate in the gang district where I live.
Kevin Koym (Founding Partner Tech Ranch Austin) - started 7 companies, lived in as many cities. Kevin claims there is something special about Austin. The community ethic of we're going to help each other. Build a community around individuals. People in Austin are looking you in the eyes and smiling. The community (culture) of helping is ingrained into the local culture. The power has shifted to entrepreneur guilds. Almost like open source, entrepreneurship is adapting the same concept.
Bijoy Goswami (Founder BootstrapU) - Austin is "Be Yourself." Austin supports and embraces the idea of you figuring out who you are. The influence of music clearly plays a big impact in the Austin 'community.' There are hundreds and thousands of communities. In the Valley everyone is trying to go very BIG. Here we don't mind if it's big, but those people are given the same standing as someone building a bookstore or bootstrapping a business. "All of us are building this child named Austin and trying to help him along his journey."