Mentorship Matters
Austin has long been a city that welcomes innovation, champions entrepreneurship, and celebrates disruption. And we continue to punch above our weight in many areas of the tech world. But as the ecosystem matures, the next critical step is clear… we must focus more intentionally on mentorship. This is necessary if we are going to be Fueling Growth in Austin tech for the next thirty years.
We have the talent. We have the ambition. And we have an incredible community spirit.
But we are not yet doing enough to develop the people who will carry our city’s innovation story into the future.
Inside Companies: Creating a Culture of Growth
Mentorship is not just about startups or young professionals seeking advice. It has to be part of the DNA inside companies. We need more CEOs and senior leaders who make it a priority to develop talent… not just manage it.
When employees are encouraged to stretch themselves, when they are challenged and coached rather than simply managed, something powerful happens. They grow. And when people grow, companies grow.
It should not be rare to see an engineer move into senior management and eventually the CEO role. That path must be more visible and more possible. It starts with a culture of mentorship where team members are taught how to think strategically, lead people, and make bold decisions. Upskilling has to be an ongoing initiative. It is not just about sending someone to a leadership seminar. It is about making development part of the everyday rhythm of work.
The companies that focus on this now will be the ones that thrive in the next decade.
Startups Need More Than Capital in Fueling Growth In Austin Tech
Austin has built a name for itself as a strong startup city. And that is great. But we cannot build the next wave of great companies by focusing only on capital. When conversations in the community are dominated by whether funding is up or down, we miss the bigger picture.
Great founders need great mentors. Not just board members or investors. They need seasoned entrepreneurs who will grab a coffee, answer a late-night text, or offer a reality check when things get hard.
Mentorship does not always have to be formal. In fact, some of the best relationships come from serendipity. But that only happens when people show up. We need more senior leaders attending community events, being available to chat, and keeping their doors open to those just getting started.
If mentorship only happens inside selective accelerators or curated groups, we lose the spark that made Austin so unique in the first place.
The Missing Conversation: Growth
When you talk to people in the Silicon Valley the word “growth” comes up a lot. Growth of companies. Growth of product. Growth of people.
In Austin, we are incredibly good at celebrating success, but we need to talk more about how we build it. What are we doing to help our top talent grow? What conversations are we having about long-term career paths? Are we making room for rising stars at the table? Are we thinking about fueling growth in Austin tech through people?
Let’s start putting growth of people at the center of every conversation. It should not be a side topic. It should be the core of how we define success in our community.
A Community-Wide Responsibility
This is not just a job for companies or investors. Mentorship is a full community effort. Trade associations, co-working spaces, chambers, universities, alumni groups, and tech meetups all have a role to play. Groups like the Austin Technology Council have to actively be promoting this message.
Let’s create more intentional collisions… places where people at all stages of their careers can come together and learn from each other. We need more intergenerational conversations, more cross-discipline discussions, and more stories being shared over coffee and tacos.
Austin does an okay job of this today. But we can, and should, do an amazing job.
The Time Is Now
The Austin tech community has accomplished a lot. But we are just getting started. If we want to ensure this next decade is one of bold innovation and inclusive opportunity, we must invest in people. There must be a vibe of embracing more community, collaboration, and conversations.
Mentorship and human interaction are not a nice-to-haves. It is the foundation for everything we hope to build.
Let’s talk more about growth. Let’s create more space for mentorship. Let’s build the next generation of Austin.
The Austin Technology Council – Fueling Growth in Austin Tech
The Austin Technology Council is not trying to be the group for everyone. No single organization, or individual, can meet the needs of a tech ecosystem as dynamic and evolving as Austin’s. Real progress happens when we work together, lift each other up, and celebrate shared wins. ATC is focused on being a strong thread that runs through the fabric of our community, helping support the whole. Over the past three years, we’ve made significant changes; launching new programs, evolving how we show up, and strengthening our partnerships with other organizations who share our collaborative spirit. As we look to 2025 and beyond, we see this as a fresh start. In many ways, we are a blank slate, open to new ideas and bold leadership. The question we are asking is: who are the next generation of leaders ready to leave their mark on the world? If that might be you, we invite your voice, your vision, and your involvement.