(This post originally appeared on the ATC Linkedin Blog on July 17, 2025)
Austin is a thriving tech hub with a well-earned spot in the national conversation. But looking only to Silicon Valley or New York as reference points risks missing what’s truly next.
This week was the annual meeting of the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) . This is an organization comprising over 60 independent tech councils that come together to share best practices. TECNA is also a leading lobbying organization in Washington, DC, representing small and mid-sized tech companies. When ATC gathers with tech leaders from places like Tampa, Maryland, Philadelphia, Delaware, Montreal, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Washington State, Milwaukee, and other regions, we gain insight into tech developments across the United States and Canada. Many communities are building significant momentum, and we should take note and look for opportunities to collaborate.
These communities are thriving not with comparing headlines or VC rounds, but through partnerships, workforce innovation, university collaboration, and civic engagement. The kind of growth that lasts.
Austin has always been bold and forward-thinking. That includes staying aware of how other innovation hubs are rising. Curiosity, not comparison, is where new ideas begin.
This is an open invitation to expand the conversation and create more value by engaging with peers across North America. If this interests you, ATC would like you to get involved.
For those attending CES in January, the Technology Councils of North America (TECNA) plans to organize a reception for tech company leaders from across the U.S. and Canada who will be present in Las Vegas. The goal: bring together voices from as many tech councils and innovation communities as possible. If you’re going, ATC wants to know. We want Austin to be well-represented.
Innovation isn’t confined to coasts or capitals. It is not about lists of venture funding. Progress happens when leaders make uncommon connections.