Austin Next

Are the cities in the Texas Triangle on the right track to success? With their expansive population growth and focus on economic growth, the cities of the Texas Triangle have been on an upward trajectory in recent years. To answer these questions and more, we welcome back to the show Cullum Clark, director of the George W. Bush Institute and SMU's Economic Growth Initiative. Cullum discusses the Texas Triangle and its implications for economic growth, infrastructure, and housing.

Episode Highlights

• The Texas Triangle has been more successful in balancing growth while preserving the unique character and identity of each city. 
• Every county across the San Antonio and Austin metros grew, while the core urban counties in Houston and Dallas lost population.
• Cullum's key for regions is to prioritize education, human capital, livability, and being business-friendly to attract and retain talent and companies.
• Austin's multi-hub economy has a diverse industry base with a unique mix of a big public university, the state capital, and the biggest tourist destination.  
• What’s next Austin? “I think that when you look at everything that's working in 21st Century America, Austin truly has it all. To be a place that kind of benefits from being a kind of, having a cultural cool factor, benefits from being a center of tech benefits from being a major higher ed center. There is an economic anchor as well. I'm absolutely as bullish as I could be and I would encourage others to be as well. The future of the Texas Triangle is very bright.”

Episode links

Cullum Clark: Twitter, Website

George W. Bush Center: Website

The Texas Triangle: An Emerging Metropolitan Model in the Lone Star State

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Generative AI has been a hot topic in the tech world in recent years, and Austin is staking its claim with Jasper AI, a local unicorn making waves in the industry. Today, we had the pleasure of talking to Austin Distel, Senior Director of Marketing at Jasper AI, to shed some light on the topic. During our conversation, we discussed where Jasper AI fits in the tech stack, how Austin's tech ecosystem is playing a role in this area, and what the future holds for generative AI as a vital part of innovation.

Episode Highlights

• Austin Distel believes that generative AI is a growing industry and that collaboration among companies is beneficial.
• The responsible use of AI and mindful consideration of ethical concerns in content creation is a growing area of discussion.
• Jasper AI is focused on creating new, unique, and original content based on data-driven insights to help businesses make decisions.
• Jasper's goal is to augment human creativity, not replace it.
• There is potential for the technology to impact industries beyond e-commerce and advertising, such as fashion and entertainment.
• The generative AI ecosystem is still growing and there is a lot of potential for innovation.
• What’s next Austin? “Today the generative AI is the smallest it'll ever be. It's growing. It's gonna be part of our ecosystem more and more and more. And so that just means that there's more opportunity. I think we're all gonna make each other better. So that's why I would love to get into the same room. Let's have conversations, let's make our products better together, and maybe team up.”

Episode links

Austin Distel: Twitter, LinkedIn

Jasper AI: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Clay Johnston, CMO and Co-Founder of Harbor Health, proposed a vision of health that would give people more knowledge and control over their care options. Harbor Health was born during Dr. Johnston’s time as the inaugural Dean of the Dell Med School and took its place in Austin’s growing Bio + Health ecosystem.  We discuss his time as dean, innovation in healthcare business models, and Austin’s future in this sector. 

Episode Highlights

• As the inaugural Dean of the Dell Med School at UT Austin, Dr. Johnston got an up-close look at the business of health and experimented with new models.
• Harbor Health's mission is to redesign the healthcare system to achieve better health outcomes and reduce wasteful healthcare spending.
• The financial structure of Harbor Health, which moves away from the standard fee for service allows people to make decisions about their healthcare, while understanding the financial impact of their choices.
• Amazon's acquisition of One Medical and PillPack creates new competition in the primary care & consumer space, putting them head-to-head with companies like CVS, Walmart, and Walgreens.
• Austin is primed for digital health innovation, including new ways of delivering services and designing care.
• What’s Next Austin? “Our plan is to grow. Our plan is to provide a real option for people in Austin that doesn't just look and feel different, isn't just about convenience, but really is embracing a new approach to the health system about empowering our members. I know we've grown rapidly, but we have plenty of capacity for folks who are ready to have a new kind of care.”

Episode links

Clay Johnston: Twitter, LinkedIn

Harbor Health: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

This is a topic that we have had many conversations about off-air and thought it might be interesting and worthwhile to record and share with our listeners. We talk about downtown Austin's role within a multi-hub innovation region, the tension between physical proximity and remote work and their impact agglomeration effects, and the scale that only a central business district can bring. 

Episode Highlights

• Austin is evolving as a multi-hub innovation metro with growth happening from Bastrop to Georgetown to San Macros in addition to the continued convergence of the Austin San Antonio mega region. 
• Not all industries work in a central business district given space, price, and types of talent i.e., manufacturing doesn’t work downtown, while software development fits very well.
• Intellectual density is key for a thriving innovation ecosystem and there is a challenge building that density in a physically larger region and with the growth and continued demand for remote work
• The potential of downtown Austin becoming a central location for cross-sector convergence, and how the entertainment district, arts, and parks can be used to drive creative collisions.
• What’s next downtown Austin?
  • Michael: “Downtown is going to continue to be the kind of vibrant Austin-specific area that it always has been. Come back to me in two years where we are on the other side of this and all these companies are growing, all these companies are putting more people downtown, as well as other places the residential towers are opening and people are moving there.” 
  • Jason: “As downtown embraces and understands truly what its role in that ecosystem is I think then it's going to thrive at a new inflection point as we are hitting a new inflection point in Austin.”

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Austin Next takes you on an exclusive, behind-the-scenes journey of SXSW 2023, showcasing the city's innovation-driven culture. Michael is the newbie this year, so we get his first-timer impressions. We had the pleasure of interviewing five companies making an impact at the festival: NeuraLight, Gigaroo, EverCase, Thrive360, and Eden Data. Our discussions center on their cutting-edge products, their experiences at SXSW, and their future goals.  We also caught up with J&J Innovation again to discuss their sponsorship and activity.

Episode Highlights

• Austin shows up at SXSW in as many ways as there are companies, whether they are looking for promotion, funding, sales, or just winning the innovation competitions, the Austin innovation community supports and needs SXSW.

• SXSW Innovation Award Finalist NeuraLight's ocular signature technology for revolutionizing neurodegenerative disease diagnosis and treatment.

• SXSW Pitch Finalist Gigaroo is an app that connects Gen Z job seekers with ideal positions via customized questionnaires.

• SXSW Pitch Finalist EverCase has innovated food preservation that reduces food waste by keeping food at freezing temperatures without ice formation.

• Thrive360 offers mental health and self-care experiences from practicing doctors and therapists in 2D and virtual reality, with B2B and B2C platforms.

• Eden Data is a cybersecurity company that provides security and compliance expertise on subscription for startups and scale-ups.

• J&J sponsored the Health and MedTech Track and is committed to accelerating healthcare solutions with technology and a growing presence in Austin. 

Episode Links

SXSW YouTube playlist

Neuralight: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Micha Breakstone

Gigaroo: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Adir Oden

EverCase: Website, LinkedIn, Paul Levins

Thrive360: Website, LinkedIn, Christy Lamka

Eden Data: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn, Taylor Hersom

J&J Innovation: Website, Twitter, Stacy Feld LinkedIn, Stacy Feld Twitter

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, delves into the role the organization plays in shaping the future of Austin's workforce. We'll explore how Workforce Solutions Capital Area supports the local workforce, what is the state of the talent market today, and how the region is balancing the constant shifts of supply and demand for labor and skills.

Episode Highlights

• Workforce Solutions Capital Area supports individuals in finding jobs by providing career guidance, scholarships, and outsourcing services to employers and companies by providing labor market information and investing in talent pipelines
• Recent partnership with Austin Transit Partnership aims to plan for jobs created by infrastructure and mobility projects in Austin, building up the local talent pool
• Workforce Solutions Capital Area also collaborates with other workforce boards in Texas and sees the region as a super region for job opportunities
• Innovative companies recognize the value of starting talent development earlier and investing in the local community
• Five growing sectors with high demand for talent are healthcare, IT, manufacturing, skilled trades & construction, and mobility & infrastructure
• What's next Austin? “Keep your eye on mobility and infrastructure. I think that this is what's next and what's big for Austin with approximately 25 billion coming to our community. Are we going to implement this money business as usual, or are we going to see it as an opportunity to really grow Austinite’s skills?”

Episode Links

Tamara Atkinson: LinkedIn

Workforce Solutions Capital Area: Website, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Join us for an exciting week at SXSW 2023. We're going to as many panels, meetups, activations, and events as we can. While we won't have a new podcast episode, catch us on Twitter and YouTube as we explore why innovators choose SXSW, how the Austin ecosystem shines, and catch up with some of our prior guests. Stay tuned to find out what's next for Austin!

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Melinda Richter and Stacy Feld of Johnson & Johnson Innovation discuss healthcare innovation and technology, including J&J's involvement in SXSW, the potential for Austin as a major biohub, and both the challenges and opportunities the sector faces.

Episode Highlights

• J&J's sponsorship of the Health and MedTech track at SXSW signifies a shift for both J&J and the overall festival, showing its growing prominence.
• JLABS is an example of J&J's approach between internal and external collaboration to help early-stage innovators by giving them access to resources and expertise they need to bring their solutions to market.
• Consumerization of healthcare is a trend that can make healthcare more affordable and accessible but finding the right business model can be difficult.
• Austin is a potential hub for healthcare innovation, and discussions about healthcare innovations and business models at SXSW could lead to a more efficient and effective healthcare system.
• J&J recognizes the importance of leveraging data and insights to become more effective and efficient in providing care and solutions.
• The future of telehealth is likely to include continued growth and innovation, as healthcare providers and patients become more comfortable with remote care and technology continues to improve.
• What's next for Austin?
  • Stacy Feld: "Continuing to unlock the value of the rich academic and clinical institutions, not just with UT and Austin, but across the Texas Triangle and to find the synergies and pair our disease area expertise and the resources that we have with entrepreneurs and with academics." 
  • Melinda Richter: "What's next for Austin is to become that next big player for health tech, solving equity and access issues, changing patient care and lives, and leading the charge. All of those things together combined with such a diverse population, people coming from all over the world."
• What's next for J&J in Austin?
  • Stacy Feld: "Building new early relationships with entrepreneurs, launching new companies out of academia, and continuing to invest in building long-term relationships." 
  • Melinda Richter: "There's going to be an amazing hub at SXSW with lots of J&J folks from around the company in different disciplines. And so we really want to have these conversations with everybody. So please reach out, come see us, and certainly, we want to continue to grow that conversation over time."

Episode Links

Top 10 Tips for Standing Out at Pitch Competitions
Melinda Richter: LinkedIn, Twitter

Stacy Feld: LinkedIn, Twitter

J&J Innovation: Website, Twitter

JLABS: Website, Twitter

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

SXSW is one of the most anticipated annual events that celebrate the convergence of music, film, and technology in Austin, Texas. We welcome Hugh Forrest, SXSW Co-President & Chief Programming Officer back to the podcast to explore the latest developments and insights from SXSW and learn how this dynamic event continues to inspire and shape the future of creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Episode Highlights

• The importance of SXSW in the Austin community and its core nature as a creative and entrepreneurial event.
• Tips for first-time attendees of SXSW, including how to plan and make the most of their experience.
• What's new in SXSW 2023, including the addition of new tracks, sponsors, and the use of generative AI.
• An overview of the Health & MedTech and 2050 tracks at the SXSW conference.
• Balancing optimism and skepticism in the age of AI, with insights from SXSW on climate change and technological innovation.
• The launch of SXSW Sydney and what to expect from this new event.

Episode Links

Hugh Forrest: LinkedIn, Twitter

SXSW: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

The Texas Legislature's Innovation & Technology Caucus plays a key role in shaping the state's tech policy. In this episode, we are joined by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione and Rep. John Bucy III to discuss the role of the IT Caucus, the challenges the state faces in promoting tech innovation, and their efforts to address those challenges. We look at the future of tech innovation in Texas, and how the Caucus is working to position the state as a leader in the field.

Episode Highlights

• The Innovation & Technology Caucus began in 2015 but gained attention in 2020-2021due to the increased presence of technology in Texas.
• The Caucus aims to promote a healthy environment for innovation and growth in a bipartisan way by learning about what is happening in Texas and bridging the gap between the Senate and the House.
• The narrative of innovation in Texas has been changing rapidly due to certain events, such as Tesla's arrival putting electric vehicles on the radar and recent developments in crypto and blockchain.
• Examples of policy opportunities include using AI to modernize Texas government services, workforce development & education, and regulatory frameworks that create a friendly environment while ensuring accountability (such as was done with autonomous vehicles).
• Self-regulatory frameworks can provide a middle ground for regulating industries, but government intervention may be necessary in cases where self-regulation fails.
• What's next for Texas and what's next for Austin?
  • Rep. Giovanni Capriglione: "Texas is going to come out of this session with a better workforce, more plans on how to improve our research, how to help and improve our companies and technologies, and also with lower property taxes."
  • Rep. John H. Bucy III: An upcoming higher education session focused on workforce development, particularly in community colleges and public universities. And for Austin, the importance of addressing electric system vulnerabilities and supporting Austin Energy while ensuring the needs of the community are met.

Episode Links

Rep. Giovanni Capriglione: Website, Twitter
Rep. John Bucy III: Website, Twitter
Innovation & Technology Caucus of the Texas Legislature : Website, Twitter

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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
Ecosystem Metacognition Substack