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Austin Next

Austin Next

Jason Scharf

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1 Creator

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1 Creator

Austin's evolution into a global innovation superstar is at the heart of Austin Next. We uncover insights into the region's transformation and what it means for ecosystem building. Our exploration extends to emerging trends, technologies, and their convergence. Using Austin as our real-world case study and experts from around the world, we aim to understand the true nature and mechanics of innovation.
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Top 10 Austin Next Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best Austin Next episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to Austin Next for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite Austin Next episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

In this culminating episode of Austin Next's first era, Jason engages with AndiBot, the AI-powered chatbot that amalgamates the insights of 19 innovation thinkers. Together, they explore AndiBot’s perspectives on how Austin can ascend to a superstar innovation hub. Later, Michael joins in for a reflective discussion on the AI's capabilities and the insights shared. Plus, don’t miss our special announcement that marks the beginning of a new chapter for Austin Next.

Episode Highlights

  • The Austin Next Dynamic Innovation ChatBot, or AndiBot, is an AI-powered chatbot anchored on ChatGPT, and is powered by a “hivemind” that brings together the intellectual prowess of innovation trailblazers such as Clayton Christensen, Everett Rogers, and Mariana Mazzucato.
  • Tasked with unraveling insights and forging new pathways, AndiBot endeavors to illuminate the steps necessary for Austin to transition from a thriving ecosystem to a superstar innovation hub.
  • Characterizing an innovation superstar hub, AndiBot outlines the quintessential traits: setting global trends, attracting a diverse talent pool, nurturing groundbreaking innovations, fostering a spirited entrepreneurial culture, establishing global collaborations, and achieving brand ubiquity in innovation.
  • AndiBot evaluates Austin’s innovation ecosystem at 7.5 with Silicon Valley as the pinnacle scoring a 10. She commends Austin's startup landscape, academic strength, and appeal to tech giants, but signals the imperatives of escalating startup density, talent diversity, capital influx, and global network expansion.
  • Jason and Michael reflect on the AndiBot interview and discuss the shift from coding to prompting in AI technology, signaling the emergence of more sophisticated and intuitive user interfaces.
  • Exploring Austin's startup landscape, they articulate the connection between productivity and external perception, proposing that a boost in perceived value could stimulate infrastructural improvements.
  • Jason spotlights Austin’s ability to “punch above its weight” noting the discrepancies between Austin's startup infrastructure rank (25th in the country) and its high ranking in exit values (6th in the nation, 9th globally) according to a recent Dealroom report.
  • This episode marks a transition as Michael is taking a step back from the podcast and will return as the occasional guest.
  • What’s next Austin? “I honestly believe only good things are going to happen next. I think we're going to have a recession nationwide within the next six months. But Austin, as we've discussed, is the last in and the first out. We need to keep Austin weird. It has worked so far for this town.”

Episode Links

The Next Generation of Tech Ecosystems Report by Dealroom


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

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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
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We are traveling back to our very first episode with John Sibley Butler of UT Austin. Professor Butler has been a part of the ecosystem for decades and takes us through a journey from the beginning of the ecosystem to what it is today. We can't explore what's next before we know where we have been.

Original episode aired July 13, 2021

Episode Links

John Sibley Butler: UT Austin Bio, LinkedIn, Twitter


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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Bob Campbell is a visionary senior business leader with a track record of building successful businesses while advising corporate and government leaders on management and policy issues. He is a management consultant; corporate board member; non-profit board member; private equity advisor, and active angel investor. We talk about his long history here, what's changed, and how the larger macro trends are affecting our region.

What's Next Austin?

Episode Links


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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
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We continue our dive into the Houston innovation ecosystem from an investor point of view. Dougal Cameron is a co-founder and the managing director of Golden Section, a venture capital firm, engineering organization, and early-stage venture partner serving business software companies from ideation to $5M in revenue. We talk about the types and scale of startups, the Houston LP market, and how our ecosystems can connect.

What's Next Houston?

Episode Links:


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Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn
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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

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Podcast Q&A

Why did you start this show?

We started the podcast as a way to meet interesting people when we moved in Austin in 2021. We noticed a gap in the podcast space where discussions often centered around the "cool company of the week," but seldom touched on the wider narrative of regional innovation. We sought to fill this void by creating a platform that goes beyond spotlighting individual companies, instead focusing on how the Austin region is evolving into the next innovation powerhouse.

What do you hope listeners gain from listening to your show?

We aim to provide three key insights through our podcast. First, we delve into Austin's transformation into the next superstar innovation hub, offering an inside look at the region's evolution. Second, we provide perspectives on the mechanics of building robust ecosystems, using Austin as a real-world case study. Lastly, we discuss broader trends and technologies, positioning Austin as a window into the wider innovative world.

Which episode should someone start with?

Begin with our first episode with Professor John Butler for a comprehensive history of Austin's innovation ecosystem. This lays the groundwork to understand Austin's transformative journey. Then, listen to "The Tech Tipping Point" with Brett Hurt and William "whurley" Hurley. This episode delves into the pivotal convergence of technologies like AI and quantum computing, and highlights Austin's role in shaping these global trends.

Which have been your favourite episodes so far?

Can you pick a favorite child?

What is your vision for your show?

Help drive Austin's transformation into the next innovation powerhouse, while meeting amazing people along the way.

How did you come up with the name for your podcast?

Austin Next came to us in less of a eureka moment and more of a that makes sense moment. It reflects our fundamental question: "What's Next?". It's all about what's next for this vibrant city, from technological advancements to the macro innovation trends and down to the evolving startup ecosystem. Plus, it's catchy, don't you think? 😁

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FAQ

How many episodes does Austin Next have?

Austin Next currently has 150 episodes available.

What topics does Austin Next cover?

The podcast is about Austin, Venture Capital, Texas, Startups, Podcasts, Technology, Business and Innovation.

What is the most popular episode on Austin Next?

The episode title 'A New Era Begins for Austin Next and the Future of Austin's Thriving Innovation Ecosystem' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on Austin Next?

The average episode length on Austin Next is 41 minutes.

How often are episodes of Austin Next released?

Episodes of Austin Next are typically released every 7 days.

When was the first episode of Austin Next?

The first episode of Austin Next was released on Jun 27, 2021.

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