The Austin Technology Council is committed to supporting all-things that help our tech community. This interview is with the founder of F.I.E.S.T.A., a local organization dedicated to helping the newcomers to Austin find their place in our tech ecosystem.     Cherie Werner is a natural community builder, and in this conversation you will hear her story, how she came to found FIESTA, and ways her group is impacting lives.    About Cherie Werner   Cherie Werner is a native Texan and a proud Austinite of 34 years. She finds great joy in making meaningful connections and helping others pursue their dreams and passions.

In 1985, she embarked on a lifelong journey with her best friend, Jon Werner, the CTO for FIESTA.   Together, they’ve mentored high school students, walked dozens of couples through premarital counseling, and collaborated on exciting startup ventures like Bones in Motion and KOYA Innovations. Her most memorable career accomplishment was raising and launching three daughters. This ultimately prepared her for her current role as "the startup mama," and provided her with many transferable job skills that she utilizes in all aspects of her work today.

She is the Founder and CEO - Chief Empowerment Officer of FIESTA, an inclusive community primarily focused on early-stage founders. She cares deeply about fostering meaningful connections, which she believes can only be accomplished through collaborating with other ecosystem builders. She helps founders be seen and navigate the Austin tech arena as every founder is on a unique journey, so they must find their tribes to succeed.  She hosts two monthly events and provides helpful resources such as a community events calendar.About FIESTA

FIESTA is the fastest-growing founder's Meetup in Austin.  While FIESTA means party it also stands for Founders, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Startups, Techies, and Austin Newcomers, we’re like the Ellis Isle of Austin. You begin here, and we help you navigate this vast ecosystem to find valuable resources and connections and we always welcome you back.  At FIESTA, you'll find a welcoming and supportive environment that embraces diversity and fosters collaboration. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a seasoned founder, or someone interested in the startup scene, FIESTA offers a dynamic space to learn, grow, and make meaningful connections.  You might land here but we know the value of finding your tribe (s) in order to flourish. 

FIESTA has hosted over 55 events and welcomed more than 7,500 attendees since July 2021 alone. Notably, the community achieved an impressive 65% growth in the last two years. Averaging close to 300 attendees monthly, FIESTA has grown to include a monthly women's event called GatHERing TogetHER. Given how large FIESTA is, we help folks find their tribes to help them succeed and thus partner with many of the community leaders in the fitness, CPG, AI, hardware space, etc. We also collaborate with other organizations to host one-off events.  With so many founders visiting Austin and attending FIESTA, there is a steady request to bring the FIESTA experience to their hometowns. However, our greatest need is investment to hire individuals to help us build our resources and offerings.  You can find us at https://www.fiesta.community/ and on LinkedIn and Instagram at fiesta community.