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What Austin Tech Really Means

By: Thom Singer |
Published: July 10, 2025 |
Austin Tech is about the culture. It is the people and it is part of the vibe in every real company that is here. Austin tech is about the people. The Austin Technology Council is working hard to keep the special parts of our tech community alive.

Austin Tech: A Legacy Built on Innovation, Community, and Vision

When people talk about “Austin Tech,” they often focus on today’s headlines…AI startups, venture funding, IPOs, and unicorn founders. But the real story of Austin Tech goes deeper. It’s a story of community, collaboration, conversations, and long-term vision.

Austin didn’t just “become” a tech hub. We built it… over decades.

Back in the 1960s and 70s, Austin wasn’t on any national radar as a technology powerhouse. But a group of civic leaders, university visionaries, and local business founders began planting the seeds. They weren’t chasing the spotlight. They were investing in the future. As Dr. George Kozmetsky once said, “If we do not build a more dynamic business community… where will our grandchildren work?” It was a vision of creating a place with lots of opportunities for future generations. That became a mission.

What followed was a decades-long commitment to making Austin a place where innovation thrives. From early semiconductor and defense companies to the software boom of the 90s, the startup surges of the 2000s, and now a diverse ecosystem spanning space tech, med tech, clean tech, and AI… Austin Tech has never stood still.

But the foundation has always been the same: smart people, connected by trust, supported by a city that believes in building up, not shutting down.

Today, when people say “Austin Tech,” they’re talking about:

  • A vibrant network of startups, scaleups, and multinationals

  • Investors who want to help… not just profit

  • Law firms, banks, consultants, and service providers who are part of the ecosystem

  • Academic institutions like UT Austin, St Edward’s, and ACC producing talent and research

  • Founders and engineers who actually live here… and show up

  • A community that values creativity, grit, and being a good neighbor

Austin Tech isn’t a trend. It’s a culture.

While some cities try to copy our playbook, the truth is there is no single formula. You can’t fake a community. What Austin has is real, earned, and sustained by people who care. People who are proud to build here. To invest here, hire here, and to stay here.

At the Austin Technology Council, we celebrate that every day. We’re here to connect, educate, and advocate for the companies that make Austin Tech what it is. Whether you’re founding your first startup or leading a global company, this is your community.

We believe the best way to grow the future is to honor our past while showing up for today. That’s what Austin Tech has always been about.

And while the rest of the world is trying to become “the next Austin,” we’ll keep doing what we’ve always done… collaborating, innovating, and building something that lasts.

Welcome to Austin Tech. It means more here. And we welcome you to engage in the community. Find a place for your voice. Give back and help others.  Become a real Austinite.

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