Austin Next

The combination of a booming population and an accelerating business sector, as well as the desire to "de-carbonize" creates a real challenge. In this episode we talk with Bill McCamley, the Executive Director at Transit Forward and Christy Cardenas, the Managing Partner at Grit Ventures.  The discussion delves into the diverse and rapidly changing world of energy generation, the role of transportation in energy consumption, and how Austin’s power grid will change over the next five years.

Episode Highlights

• Texas has a unique and diverse generation mix with a strong focus on natural gas and coal, but a growing interest in renewables like wind, solar, geothermal, and hydrogen.
• The advancements in battery storage technology, government funding for better batteries, and the emergence of new business models for mature battery technologies.
• The shift from gas stations to electric vehicle (EV) charging points and the challenges in figuring out the infrastructure for EV charging points.
• The impact of individual decisions on power consumption in a city like Austin and the role of transportation in energy consumption.
• The impact of housing development on the generation, distribution, and usage of power, with a focus on ETOD, multi-use development near transit lines, and reducing compatibility restrictions.
• What’s next Austin - Bill believes that building more density around transit corridors, changing housing ordinances to allow for multi-use development, and reducing compatibility restrictions will be key in the next four to five years for the generation, distribution, and usage of power in Austin.
• What’s next Austin - Christy “There is so much money and so much brain power chasing these solutions, whether it's fusion, nuclear fusion, better forms of generation, better forms of storage that we, as a state, with a huge component of our economy tied to oil and gas, best get in front of it and be a part of that energy revolution.”

Episode Links

Bill McCamley: Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram 

Christy Cardenas: Linkedin, Twitter

Grit Ventures: Website, Linkedin, Twitter

Transit Forward: Website, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube

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

Ethan Blumenthal is the CEO of OwnProp, a platform that enables investors–large and small–to invest in commercial and multi-family real estate. They do this by leveraging the power of the blockchain and NFTs. In this Spotlight episode, Ethan describes his background as a blockchain engineer and how he found his way to Austin to pursue a career in the crypto industry. He then explains OwnProp’s aim to lower the minimum investment and create a liquid secondary market for investment stakes. Ethan also shares the story of OwnProp's journey from its founding to its current stage, and its plans to open up investment opportunities to retail investors. He also discusses the difference between OwnProp and other tokenization startups in the market, emphasizing OwnProp's focus on prime assets with lucrative upside.

Episode links

OwnProp Website

OwnProp Twitter

OwnProp YouTube

Ethan Blumenthal Linkedin

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

William Hurley, better known as whurley, is the founder and CEO of StrangeWorks, a quantum computing startup that makes the power of quantum computing easily accessible and available to all. He shares expertise on the topic and explains what quantum computing is, how it works, and its potential impact on industries such as healthcare, material science, and artificial intelligence. We also dive into the democratizing power of technology and Austin’s growth as a deep tech hub. 

Episode Highlights

• “Quantum computing is the future of humanity. It is the computational ability that we need to build other forms of computing… They'll be amorphic, neuromorphic, DNA-based things.”
• Quantum mechanics’ unique properties allow computation of formerly intractable problems that classical computers require evaluation times of millions of years. 
• 2023 may be to quantum technology what 1963 was to the space race.
• When they launched Strangeworks, it was about humanizing quantum. The idea is to get into as many hands as possible.
• ChatGPT’s rapid massive adoption has shown the power of UX innovation on top of complex technology and quantum is ripe for such an innovation.
• What’s next Austin? “It needs to be community-focused, collaboratively driven with a cause, with a purpose. And that would be to build an ecosystem that supports an entrepreneur, whether they're me, or you, or some kid at UT or ACC or whatever that has an idea so that everybody can get a chance.”

Episode Links

Strangeworks: Website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn

William Hurley: LinkedIn, Facebook, Website, Twitter, Instagram

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

With an estimated 10 million more Texans calling the state home by 2036, it's important that we address the big challenges that come with growth. Texas 2036 is focused on providing nonpartisan ideas and data-driven solutions to break through the gridlock on issues that matter most to all Texans. In this episode, we are joined by AJ Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Texas 2036, and John Hryhorchuk, SVP of Policy and Advocacy. We delve into the role of Texas 2036 in shaping the state's narrative and vision for the future, as well as discussing the organization's focus on the intersection of policy, data, and advocacy. 

Episode Highlights

• The budget for the current legislative session in Texas is expected to be different due to the historic surplus.
• The stability of Texas' state budget is due to a combination of factors, including a lack of state income tax, a reliance on sales tax, property taxes, oil industry taxes, and economic stabilization funds.
• The Texas 2036 organization and legislators are discussing the state's K-12 and university systems. 
• There is a growing recognition that there are multiple pathways to earning a living wage in Texas, and that skills-based hiring and industry-based credentials are becoming increasingly important.
• There are new ideas in community college funding by moving away from a model focused on credit hours and towards performance-based funding model looking at student outcomes.
• What’s next Austin? “We are blessed to have so many people moving to Texas. We're blessed to have population growth. We need more water, right? We need more roads. We need to make sure our education system is working for our children.”

Episode Links

Texas 2036: Website, LinkedIn, Twitter

Texas 2036 Strategic Plan

AJ Rodriguez: LinkedIn, Twitter

John Hryhorchuk: LinkedIn, Twitter

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

Jonathan Schupack, Executive Director & Market Lead for CIBC Innovation Banking, talks about his role in lending and serving innovation companies all over the world, including software, hardware, life sciences, and cleantech companies. In this spotlight episode, Jonathan shares how he intends to utilize Austin's robust startup ecosystem to connect with founders and provide them with access to capital. Find out why Austin is an ideal location for starting a business, and what measures CIBC is taking to support companies during possible economic turmoil.

Episode Links:

Jonathan Schupack

CIBC Innovation Banking

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

Constance Y. White is the manager of the Art in Public Places Program for the city of Austin. In this episode, we will go over the intersection of art and technology in the city of Austin and explore how the program drives innovation to benefit artists, innovators, and residents. We will also discuss the program's goals of improving the quality of life for citizens, making art more accessible, and contributing to the city’s tourism. Constance also shares her thoughts on the visual art that represents Austin, the program's creative process, and the challenges they encounter.

Episode Highlights

• How creativity plays a vital role in driving innovation in both the technology sector and the community of Austin.
• Austin's Art in Public Spaces Program is funded through capital improvement projects and 2% of capital construction costs are allocated towards public art, which is higher than the average rate of 1% for similar programs across the country.
• There are over 400 distinct objects and installations in the collection with 60 open contracts
• Austin has been known for its visual art like our famous murals, but new technology such as augmented reality is making its mark
• What’s next for Austin? “Continuing to be open to the world of ideas, but also understanding the portal of influence from our local artists and our local constituents”

Episode Links 

Constance Y. White

Austin Art in Public Places Program: Website, Facebook, Instagram

Austin Public Art Archive

Austin Public Art Virtual Self-Guided Tour

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

Gary Hoover, founder of Hoover Academy and Executive Director at American Business History Center, shares his lessons for entrepreneurs and innovators today, including the importance of being curious, studying, and understanding the world. In this spotlight episode, he expresses his thoughts on the difference in the level of innovation today versus breakthrough innovations before, and how it's difficult to predict the patterns of evolution. He also delves into his favorite topics to lecture on at the University of Texas at Austin.

Episode Links 

American Business History Center 

Gary's GoFundMe Page 

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

Roy Spence is the co-founder and chairman of GSD&M, an Austin-based advertising agency. With his significant background in the advertising industry, Roy and his team have played a pivotal role in shaping Austin's reputation as a city of ideas and innovation. Roy is also the founder of Make It Movement, a non-profit organization that helps young people discover their own purpose. In this episode, we will delve into Roy's journey as a business leader and advertising pioneer, exploring the early days of GSD&M, how he navigated the challenges of preserving the core values and purpose of Austin, the role of large events in shaping Austin's narrative, and his vision for the future of Austin. The episode will also shed light on Roy's thoughts on the intersection of purpose, values, and business.

Episode Highlights

• The fundamental challenge that Austin faces with our hypergrowth is navigating the tension between persevering the core and stimulating progress
• The original GSD&M Plan - "Well, we wanna stay together. We wanna stay in Austin. We wanna make a difference and get rich. And we’ve lived up to our business plan"
• "We will continue the journey of punching above our weight...if we will continue to be not just a city of innovation...but a city of new ideas"
• The Make It Movement is about letting young people discover what they could become great at and let them start learning to become great. Whether it's a lawyer or whether it's a welder.
• What's next Austin - "We gotta rediscover what made us. I think Austin should do a citywide purpose project"

Episode Links 

Roy Spence 

GSD&M 

Make It Movement 

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

2023 is here and so is a whole new season of Austin Next. We are back and looking at the future of Austin and our transformation from a thriving ecosystem into a superstar region.

What's next Austin?

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

One of the biggest changes over the last few years in the Austin region is the influx of new venture capital firms and the raising of record funds by our homegrown firms. We spoke with long-time local VC, Brian Smith Managing Director of S3 Ventures about how the funding environment evolved, where is funding being deployed, and what the future holds. Since the airing of this episode S3 has expanded their team and announced a $250M Fund VII. 

Original episode aired October 26, 2021

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