A Keynote Speech for Your Next Meeting or Conference
Austin is a global tech and innovation hub, but few people, even lifelong residents, understand how this Texas city became one of the top destinations for startups, scale-ups, and Fortune 500 tech companies. If you’re planning a conference or team meeting in Austin, booking a session on the history of Austin’s tech scene is one of the smartest ways to engage your attendees. This presentation is one that will impact the whole vibe of your conference.
Whether your audience is made up of locals or out-of-town visitors, this presentation delivers. Thom Singer, CSP (Certified Speaking Professional) is the CEO of the Austin Technology Council, and a resident of Austin for 35 years. In 2023 he created this Austin tech presentation to help people understand just how the region boomed as a tech hub.
For Local Attendees: Pride, Perspective, and Connection
Local audiences are often surprised and deeply engaged by this session. Why? Because Thom Singer walks through the ten core pillars that built Austin’s reputation across the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s, and 2020s. It’s more than just names and dates… it’s a story of civic collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit, policy wins, culture, and a bit of Austin weirdness. Locals leave feeling proud of their city and motivated to be part of what comes next.
For National or Global Attendees: A Case Study in Community Innovation
For visitors, this keynote is a deep dive into how one mid-sized city in Texas turned itself into a tech magnet, and what other communities can learn from it. Attendees from other cities and countries walk away with ideas, inspiration, and a fresh view of what it takes to build a thriving tech ecosystem.
A Dynamic, Fun, and Funny Keynote Speaker
Thom Singer is not the only person who knows the story of how Austin became Austin, but he’s one of the few who delivers it as a seasoned professional keynote speaker with 15+ years on stages around the world.
He’s also a wannabe stand-up comedian, which means the talk isn’t just informative, it’s actually fun. Attendees laugh, learn, and lean in. It’s not your typical “history lesson.” It’s part storytelling, part celebration, and part challenge to keep the momentum going. Let’s face it, a funny keynote speaker always is better than a boring one!
Singer has been speaking professionally to nonprofit groups, associations, and corporate meetings since 2023. This Austin tech presentation has been adapted to meet the needs of all audiences.
Book This Austin Conference Keynote
If you’re planning a team offsite, a corporate event, or a tech conference in Austin, this keynote adds local flavor and high value. It’s a perfect way to kick off a day of sessions, close an evening with energy, or bridge a lunch-and-learn with community relevance. Event experiences that are shared by an audience help create the whole mood for you meeting.
Whether you’re hosting venture capitalists, engineers, policy leaders, entrepreneurs, or students, this talk resonates.
Note: If your organization is a for-profit company or hosting an event outside of Austin, a donation to the Austin Technology Council is required to compensate ATC for Thom’s time and support of this initiative. For local non-profit organizations the fee is waived as long as you are in a collaborative mindset and agree to help promote ATC.
Contact Thom Singer
Want to learn more or check Thom’s availability? Visit ThomSinger.com or email him directly at thom@austintechnologycouncil.org