Austin Next
Michael Scharf and Jason Scharf
Austin, Texas is adapting to and building the future in real time. The Austin Next Podcast is an exploration of our region's transformation into the next innovation powerhouse. We want to answer one basic question...What's next Austin?
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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
J&J Innovation: Website, Twitter
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
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
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
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
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Website
Austin Next Twitter
Austin Next LinkedIn
Austin Next YouTube
Michael Scharf LinkedIn
Jason Scharf LinkedIn
02/14/23 • 39 min
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
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
02/09/23 • 9 min
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
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
02/07/23 • 45 min
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
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
Texas 2036: Data-Driven Solutions for a Growing Texas with AJ Rodriguez and John Hryhorchuk
Austin Next
01/31/23 • 44 min
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
AJ Rodriguez: LinkedIn, Twitter
John Hryhorchuk: LinkedIn, Twitter
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
Austin Next Spotlight: CIBC Innovation
Austin Next
01/26/23 • 12 min
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:
Sponsors
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Austin Next Links
Art Meets Tech: Insights from Constance Y. White, Manager of Austin's Art and Public Places Program
Austin Next
01/24/23 • 35 min
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
Austin Art in Public Places Program: Website, Facebook, Instagram
Austin Public Art Virtual Self-Guided Tour
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
Austin Next is at SXSW 2023
Austin Next
03/10/23 • 1 min
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!
Sponsors
Check out all of the sponsors mentioned here
Austin Next Links
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