Starting in 2024, the Austin Technology Council will be launching the “AUSTIN TECH HALL OF FAME” and the “FIRST TIME FOUNDER AWARD”.

(Actually – we are apparently re-launching this idea…as in preparing to announce the Austin Tech Hall of Fame, it turns out the Austin Technology Council started this for one year in 2013.  We are in the process of seeing if it was done any other years, and currently only one entry appears in a Google search: Bill Wood, of Silverton Partners was announced as the first member of ATC’s Austin Tech Hall of Fame in May (and a tweet was sent by Kip McClanahan on 5/13/13 congratulation Wood for this honor). Because of this – Bill Wood will automatically be added to the original group of legacy inductees  and anyone else we can discover that was inducted will automatically be included.

This Hall of Fame, and this new award are being created by the Austin Technology Council, and we hope to partner with some other organizations in Austin.

The purpose of the Austin Tech Hall of Fame is to honor the people who have come before that contributed to the Austin technology community growing into the international tech city that it is today.

For the first four years we will induct five “Legacy Hall of Fame Honorees” (those who made their mark with their success and contribution to the tech community before 2020, and one current honoree (who is making a giant business and civic impact in present time).  The Legacy Hall of Fame honorees will cap out at 20 members.  Nominations can be submitted by anyone in the community during the nomination period (Dates TBD), and for the initial year will be voted on by the board of directors of the Austin Technology Council.

The First Time Founder Award will be celebrated and presented at the same event as the Hall of Fame, and will be awarded to a local tech entrepreneur who is serving in the CEO role of his tech company. The requirement is that this must be the first time he or she has founded a company that has achieved funding or grew above 10 employees.  The criteria of this will be determined before the nomination period by the board of the Austin Technology Council, and for the first year will be voted on by the ATC board of directors.

In future years, 2025 and beyond, the ATC will from a committee and select outside judges.

The event itself, for the first year, will be a simple cocktail reception to be held at a location TBD (The ATC wants to create something long lasting, and is not looking to get ahead of our skis).  This will not be at a fancy hotel or club for the venue…but something reflective of our tech community.  We are open to suggestions. Any tech company who has an appropriate space that would like to host the first year’s event should let us know. For subsequent years the location and style of the event will be determined by the committee.

The Austin Technology Council is excited to begin this new legacy event that will be scheduled for May or June 2024. Unlike our first attempt, we want to induct several people the first few years to be sure to honor as many people who have impacted our community over thirty years.

Stay tuned to the ATC newsletter and social media for upcoming announcements about this exciting new program. Anyone in the tech community can submit nominations.

For more information, or if you want to sponsor this event (or for other organizations, if you want to be a community partner) contact Thom Singer at Thom @AustinTechnologyCouncil.org.

Since joining the Austin Technology Council, I have had the pleasure to talk one-to-one with 100+ CEOs and other business leaders to discuss Austin and the future of our tech ecosystem. We are a very fortunate community, in that we have a plethora of visionary leaders who care deeply about our region, the people who live here, and everything regarding cutting edge technology.

In these conversations I often ask about the “ROI of Community” and what that means to them and their company. Most are deeply committed to making Austin even better tomorrow than it is today (and it is pretty great).

There are lots of points of view about the “ROI of Community”, but our region is filled with people who care deeply and want to see Austin thrive. I believe that we all need to find a way to add to the greater good and set Austin what is next.

The Austin Technology Council is looking to help all tech companies in our region find their paths to continued success. We are a community organization and we are looking for the best ways to serve all constituencies.  As the ATC looks to grow, expand, and change as we look toward the next decade – our organization needs to get back to the grassroots beginnings of tech leaders sharing ideas. This is where we need you and the leaders in your company. Without the enthusiastic sharing of voices, Austin cannot stay ready for the future. We need you!

Supporting your community (through ATC or in many other ways) can bring a range of benefits to a company and the individual employees. Engaged companies stay up-to-date with the latest industry trends, regulations and best practices, which can help them to make informed business decisions and remain competitive.

Additionally, participating in community events provides valuable networking opportunities, allowing people to connect with other industry professionals and build valuable relationships. Human connections are the secret weapon to business success.

ATC can help companies to increase their visibility and establish themselves as leaders in the community. By participating in events, committees, the podcast, and our think-tank style leadership conversations, members can showcase their thought leadership and inspire others.

Supporting ATC (and other community groups) can provide a range of benefits to a company and help to enhance its reputation and success within its industry. By participating in business associations, companies can gain valuable knowledge and connections, increase their visibility, and establish themselves as leaders in their field.

There is a reason that over fifty cities and regions around North America have active technology councils. When a community comes together for the common good, the community will find more success than if the leaders are in silos or working separately. ATC is currently partnering with several of these groups in other cities to find best practices, share resources, and to introduce our members to peers across the United States and beyond.

It is through community, collaboration, and conversations that we can come together to create roadmaps for a sustainable business environment in Austin.

We invite you to help us recruit the most active leaders in our area to lend their voice to shaping the future. Are you the missing link for explosive growth for our community? We want to hear from you.

Have a great weekend.

Thom Singer

CEO – Austin Technology Council