Technology is a notoriously cutthroat industry. The nonstop battles for venture capital and industry attention are known to split marriages, end friendships and start bitter rivalries.
Except here.
Before Austin was a technology hub, it was a laid back hippie town full of musicians and artists. While the weirdness that gave Austin its 20th century reputation has faded in the light of 21st century commercial success, some legacy of that old communal spirit lingers in the downright casual attitude towards what is supposed to be the cutthroat world of commerce. We asked a dozen of Austin’s technology pros what makes the local tech scene work.
Dan Graham
BuildASign Founder and CEO
"One of the great things about Austin in general is it’s a city that lauds the individual. No matter who you are or what you’re interested in, there’s a niche and a home for it here in Austin - whether you’re a bike enthusiast or a baking enthusiast or a technology enthusiast. That really influences the world of technology and entrepreneurialism. If I’m starting a new company, I never get a negative word. Instead, there are so many people telling me I should really go for that dream. That lauding of every individual’s uniqueness is unusual, and it’s what makes the general level of innovation we have here in Austin work. That’s my favorite thing about the local technology scene. It’s success comes from applauding everyone’s individualism."
Josh Baer
Capital Factory Director
"My favorite thing about Austin’s technology scene is the community we’ve built here. There’s an amazing openness and ability for people to get involved. Austin is growing and thriving and it’s the kind of place where entrepreneurs know they’re all going to change. They’re going to come up with ways to change and improve things. The fact that it’s so easy to plug into the community and is so easy to make an impact here is really special."
Stu Smith
Osmek User Experience Officer
"One of the best things about the Austin tech scene is it’s not cutthroat. Some of my colleagues in San Francisco describe how everyone is very anxious to sign a NDA before they’ll talk to you. It’s very tense and high stress. Here, people want to sit down and discuss what you’re working on. People are more friendly and laid back, and that extends to the tech scene as well."
Lani Rosales
AGBeat.com Founder and CEO
"I think what’s really unique, and I know it sounds cliché, but it’s passion and the drive. I feel like in some other cities people are building companies or apps for fame and glory. In Austin, I feel like people really are trying to make things better, solve problems and fix things instead of just becoming the next Facebook and making a bajillion dollars."
Arturo Coto
Tabbed Out Vice President of Marketing
"I came to Austin in 2004. I used to be the CEO of a software company that sold in 2008. What kept me here after the sale of that company was the openness of the community. People here share ideas and help each other out. It isn’t guarded. You go to other markets and it’s very secretive. I love stopping by the different incubators here in town, going to the networking events, and everyone is so open about what they’re doing and are ready to help people out. That just creates the right kind of environment for startups to thrive. I think that’s why so many are coming here. They’re finding a really strong support system in Austin."
Matthew Winters
Austin Visuals Founder
"The culture here is almost patriotic. Everyone is really into Austin local. I think that’s nice. I’m really impressed that people are very willing to sit down and have a meal with you. You can have a lot more real connections over coffee and conversations than in the big tech cities. Places beside Austin can be a less friendly environment. People here are still productive, but they still value community and person to person contacts, so they’ll take the time out, where other places the people don’t have time and aren’t as intent on building those necessary bonds."
"People in Austin are also into sharing their resources. Its more communal, cooperative, collaborative, so if you do a good job they brag about you to their friends or coworkers."
Q Manning
Rocksauce Studios Founder and CEO
"Austin has become App City USA, which is a wonderful thing for me. We have a lot of cool stuff here. TabbedOut, Gowalla - South by Southwest has become an app launching ground, and that’s great. That’s something we deserve to be proud of."
"I like how in general Austin is a more laid back city. I’m not the kind of guy who normally wears a suit, but I was going to the symphony, so I dressed up. When I got there, there were people dressed in suits, there were people in jeans, there were people in shorts, and on one cared. I’d say Austin tech is the same way. It’s that laid back ability Austin has to get real work done without being so cutthroat. There’s not a lot of trying to poach each other’s workers. We could be in competition, but instead we work together."
Matt McCloskey
Osmek CEO
"Austin’s tech scene works because of the culture. People are so relaxed and excited to work together and talk to one another. It’s great. There’s all sorts of tech, design and interesting things happening all the time. People want to know all about it."
Joseph Merante
2012 Code for America Fellow
"I like the vibrancy and connectedness. For such a small city, Austin has so many meetups and events and conferences. It’s everything people say it is. It’s a thriving community of interest - and not just in technology stuff. If you look around on different developer meetups and interest groups, you see the increasing overlap between the technology community and the civic and community groups. That’s been impressive and striking to me."
Sheena Colbath Harden
Austin Free-Net Director of Operations
"Austin’s technology scene works because of the people. We have such amazing, creative minds here. I love the fact that Austin is such a casual city. I interned at National Instruments, and when the CEO was on the floor he was in a Hawaiian shirt with flip flops and was really into talking to everyone on the floor. He wanted to make people comfortable, and it turned out that was normal for Austin technology CEOs. I feel like anyone could go to any high tech happy hour here and fit right in no matter who you are or how you’re dressed."
Cole Stevenson
Eye in the Sky CTO
"I think what really makes Austin’s technology scene work is the culture and the collaborative environment. It's a really big draw away from the San Francisco mentality. People like getting in these little work pods where they're collaborating closely on a particular issue. We're getting more progress in more areas because of these smaller teams and pods doing crazy and innovative things. People in Austin have a really good way of finding something that needs help. They’re really giving. And when they find that thing, somebody in the tech world always says 'Great! I have a way to fix this!'”
Anthony Erickson
Eye in the Sky CEO
"My favorite thing about Austin’s tech scene is the open-mindedness - both creatively and technologically. People come together and are way more into collaboration and discussing ideas. There can be such a snobbery in some cities about how to find the right person and how to break through barriers and how to network, but there’s a lot less of that here."
Do you agree that Austin's tech scene is a collaborative love-fest? Or do you disagree, and see hidden darkness? Weigh in with your comments!
