Austin Tech Connect

Austin Tech Connect is the go to podcast for all things Technology in the Austin, Texas region. The show is hosted by the CEO of Austin Technology Council, Thom Singer. Each week he sits down with leaders in technology & business from the greater Austin area to explore success stories, business advice, and visions for the future of Austin Tech. The Austin Technology Council has been bringing people together and serving the local tech ecosystem for over 30 years. If you are looking for the "Whose Who" of the Austin Technology Community, you need to be listening to the Austin Tech Connect Podcast. The Austin Tech Community is vibrant ecosystem of companies, non-profits, universities, and government agencies that are committed to keeping Austin as a leading technology center. Over the past three decades the city of Austin, Texas has transformed from a college town that is the State Capital, into a fast growing tech center. Homegrown startups grow into international leaders, and many other companies have opened offices in Austin or moved their headquarters. The future of Austin is looking good and this podcast is the show that will expose you to the visionary thought leaders who are mapping out the path to tomorrow.

State of Funding For Growth Companies 11/01/2024

Break Down Silos with Taylor Capito 10/22/2024

Break Down Silos with Taylor Capito This week on the Austin Tech Connect podcast is one of the most fun conversations you will find on any tech blog. Local entrepreneur Taylor Capito from GenRAIT joins host Thom Singer for a look at tech impacting humanity, innovation, mentors, inspiration, Star Trek, and the movie Flubber. Taylor is the perfect example of leaders who make a difference in our Austin tech ecosystem. She shares her story and her views of what makes Austin great. She also goes deep into ways to "Go Change It" if you see things that need attention. Taylor is a real "DOER".... and if you do not know here company, GenRAIT.... you should be getting to know all that she is doing to change the world. She is one who believes deeping in collaboration and thinks in tech, life, and Austin, we need to break down silos....and find ways to share and work together. About Taylor Capito: Taylor Capito is a passionate founder and CEO dedicated to revolutionizing the use of biological data to enhance health and longevity. With a background in cybersecurity, big data, and AI/Machine Learning, Taylor’s personal health journey inspired her to undertake the mission to transform the life sciences sector. She has significant experience as a leader in product-driven development practices, having led initiatives at Cisco and Palo Alto Networks. As the founder of GenRAIT, Taylor continues to innovate in the life sciences tech space, empowering researchers to leverage data for groundbreaking discoveries. About GenRAIT: GenRAIT stands at the vanguard of merging genomic research with cutting-edge AI technology, aiming to revolutionize personalized medicine. GenRAIT's platform, GenLab, allows researchers to leverage the vast, untapped potential of genomic data in their drug discovery and diagnostic research. At GenRAIT, we believe in the power of collaboration and want to partner with researchers to unlock the future of discovery. The goal: targeted, predictive modeling is possible in biology, and people live longer, healthier lives as a result. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/33587767

Dr James Truchard Shares His Wisdom 10/08/2024

Austin Tech Week 2024 with Jacqueline Hughes 09/24/2024

Austin Tech Week 2024 with Jacqueline Hughes On this weeks episode of “Austin Tech Connect” we hear from Jacqueline and Hughes, the cofounder and co-producer of Austin Tech Week (Formerly Austin Startup Week). Coming up October 28 through November ….. Austin Tech week is going to be an amazing conglomeration of events all over town. (take note - the ATC “C-Suite Summit and Industry Think Tank Will take place on October 28 from 1 PM to 6 PM) About Jacqueline Hughes Jacqueline Hughes is a human-centric event producer with over 13 years of experience supporting innovation leaders through transformative experiences designed to connect, educate, and inspire. Over the past decade, she has produced best-in-class events for two industry-leading organizations, overseeing events at Techstars and Kauffman Fellows, driving powerful connections and catalyzing growth for founders, VCs, and LPs globally. Jacqueline is also the co-founder and co-producer of Austin Startup Week, now Austin Tech Week, which has connected thousands of attendees with resources, education, and one another over the past 13 years. Most recently, she launched an events consultancy, working with companies like Recast Capital, VentureLab, and Ensemble VC to deliver impactful events and programs. Her passion lies in designing experiences that not only build community but also inspire action About Austin Tech Week Austin Tech Week is a five day celebration, uniting the brightest minds in Austin’s tech ecosystem. For over a decade, this annual event has drawn thousands of local entrepreneurs, tech leaders, and friends together to connect, learn, and maximize business impact. Be part of this thrilling evolution from Austin Tech Week that echoes the extraordinary growth of startups since our inception in 2011. What began as a celebration of entrepreneurship has matured into a dynamic explosion of innovation, spotlighting the very companies that once ignited our startup community and have now become the luminaries of Austin's tech landscape. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/33174167

Brilliant Things Happen When Smart People Spend Time Together with Razat Gaurav 09/17/2024

Doing Good with Karen Gordon 09/10/2024

Doing Good with Karen Gordon In episode 90 of "Austin Tech Connect", Thom Singer talks to Karen Gordon, CEO of Dynamics. Karen is a serial entrepreneur, who is passionate about helping people harness the power of differences to amplify outcome. About Karen Gordon Karen Gordon is the CEO of 5 Dynamics, a company that is focused on making the world a better place one relationship at a time. 5 Dynamics’ proprietary software, Simpli5, creates cultures fueled by self and interpersonal awareness to bolster productive collaboration, boost morale, accelerate timelines, and deliver better results. Most leaders tend to focus on what people do, instead of how they do it. In 3 minutes or less, Simpli5 determines how a person works through different phases of a project–ideation, alignment, planning and execution. Using these analyses, Simpli5 delivers customized development resources to leaders and their team members. Before launching 5 Dynamics in 2010, Karen led GTCI, a data and telecommunications company, to over 1100% growth, landing GTCI on the Inc. 500 list two years in a row. She is a former Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist and was included in the Dallas Top 25 businesses list. Louisiana Tech University named Karen its 2006 Alumnus of the Year in the College of Liberal Arts. Her thought leadership has been shared in Money Inc, Entrepreneur, The CEO Magazine, The Future of Everything, and many other publications. Her entrepreneurial spirit, love of learning, and commitment to excellence are attributes that she brings to all of her endeavors. Karen’s TEDx presentation on “The Myth of Difficult People” continues to be watched by thousands of people each year. As an author, educator and entrepreneur, she has over 25 years of experience leading organizations to reach their highest potential. She has created and managed many businesses ranging from a martial arts studio, to a telecommunications and data company, to an employee experience platform. She is currently in the process of developing a retreat space in the woods of Maine that will focus on leadership development programs. Karen splits her time between Austin, TX and Wilton, Maine. When in Maine, she can be found at her lakeside camp enjoying nature with a good book, a glass of wine and her faithful dogs, Winston and Jasmine. Karen has also served on multiple non-profit boards over the years that share her passions of helping children, animal welfare, and social justice. About Simpli5 Simpli5, powered by 5 Dynamics, unleashes human potential by blending psychology, neuroscience, and technology to help individuals and teams navigate complex social and professional dynamics with creativity, empathy, critical thinking, and confidence. Their innovative platform analyzes individual’s and team’s working styles by acknowledging their affinity for different phases of a project cycle, which empowers adjustments and corrections that lead to improved collaboration, personal satisfaction, and superior outcomes. Simpli5’s roots are grounded in the work of Mike Sturm, an educator, a social psychologist, and a learning diagnostician. Originally applied in educational settings, this model was quickly brought by working parents into business applications. Today, Simpli5 fosters cultures driven by employee and team effectiveness, self-awareness, and interpersonal understanding. It equips leaders and teams with the insights they need to adjust leadership styles, predict performance, and address organizational challenges throughout a project’s lifecycle. Their methodology is being utilized in diverse organizations and learning institutions, from Stanford and Harvard to LinkedIn, Sutter Health, UKG, and IDEO. The methodology can be applied any place where two or more people are working together on a shared outcome. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/32970542

Austin Hall of Fame Inductee Admiral Bobby Inman 09/03/2024

Pattern Breakers with Mike Maples Jr. 08/27/2024

Pattern Breakers with Mike Maples Jr. In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer chats with Mike Maples Jr., the visionary founding partner of Floodgate and the author of the compelling new book Pattern Breakers: Why Some Startups Change the Future. The conversation dives deep into the mindset and strategies that differentiate the startups that truly disrupt industries from those that merely follow the rules. Mike shares his journey from his early entrepreneurial days in Austin to becoming one of the most respected venture capitalists in Silicon Valley, investing in radical startups at their earliest stages. We discuss the concept of "pattern breaking"—how startups that succeed against the odds often do so by challenging conventional wisdom and introducing ideas that are not only innovative but also non-consensus. Mike reveals the critical importance of timing and inflection points, explaining how recognizing and harnessing these moments can make or break a startup. He also shares personal anecdotes, including the unexpected success of Twitch, a company he invested in without fully understanding its potential at the time. Listeners will gain valuable insights into the unique challenges and rewards of investing in and building disruptive companies, as well as practical advice for entrepreneurs who aspire to be at the forefront of innovation. Whether you're a startup founder, an investor, or simply someone interested in the future of technology, this episode offers a wealth of knowledge and inspiration. Mike’s reflections on the importance of resilience, the role of storytelling in building a movement, and the necessity of embracing risk make this a conversation you won’t want to miss. About Mike Maples Jr Mike Maples is a co-founding Partner at Floodgate. He has been on the Forbes Midas List eight times in the last decade and was also named a “Rising Star” by FORTUNE and profiled by Harvard Business School for his lifetime contributions to entrepreneurship. Before becoming a full-time investor, Mike was involved as a founder and operating executive at back-to-back startup IPOs, including Tivoli Systems (IPO TIVS, acquired by IBM) and Motive (IPO MOTV, acquired by Alcatel-Lucent.) Some of Mike’s investments include Twitter, , Clover Health, Okta, Outreach, Chegg, Demandforce, and Applied Intuition. Mike is known for coining the term “Thunder Lizards,” which is a metaphor derived from Godzilla that describes the tiny number of truly exceptional companies that are wildly disruptive capitalist mutations. Mike likes to think of himself as a hunter of the “atomic eggs” that beget these companies. Mike is the author of the National Bestselling book Pattern Breakers and host of the Pattern Breakers podcast, which shares startup lessons from the super performers. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/32748672

A Legacy of Leadership in Austin Tech with Joyce Durst 08/20/2024

A Legacy of Leadership in Austin Tech with Joyce Durst In this episode of "Austin Tech Connect," Thom Singer welcomes back Joyce Durst, founder and CEO of Growth Acceleration Partners, who was recently honored as the 2024 inductee into the Austin Tech Hall of Fame. As one of the few repeat guests on the show, Joyce shares her journey in the Austin tech community, reflecting on how the city has evolved since she first arrived 30 years ago. They delve into the importance of mentorship, community involvement, and the responsibility of today's leaders to pave the way for the next generation. Joyce discusses the need for a renewed focus on inclusivity and collaboration within the tech industry, emphasizing how critical it is for young professionals to get involved in boards, committees, and nonprofit organizations. She also highlights the challenges facing women and underrepresented groups in tech, and the importance of creating environments where everyone can thrive. Thom and Joyce explore what it means for Austin to continue its growth as a leading tech hub and innovation center, discussing how the community can better support startups and mid-sized companies. They talk about the role of organizations like the Austin Technology Council in fostering a culture of giving back and ensuring that Austin remains a place where tech companies can grow and succeed. The episode is a call to action for all members of the Austin tech community to engage, support, and mentor, ensuring a bright future for the city’s tech ecosystem. About Joyce Durst Joyce Durst is the CEO and cofounder of Growth Acceleration Partners, a consulting and technology services company headquartered in Austin, TX, with offices in Costa Rica and Colombia. Bootstrapped since 2027, GAP provides custom software, data engineering, and modernization solutions for technology leaders and growing companies across the U.S. As an engineer by trade and visionary leader by nature, Joyce has leveraged more than 30 years of experience in the software and technology industries. Her business model is built on strategic and long-term client partnerships, resulting in over a decade of profitable growth and more than 600 GAPsters who believe in “striving for Greatness, being Agile and investing in People.” Joyce earned a B.S. in computer science from Texas A&M University, and is active with the Women Presidents Organization, HiPower and Springboard Enterprises. She mentors CEOs and first-time entrepreneurs, and has served on the boards of several non-profit organizations. Joyce is also on the Board of Directors for the Austin Chamber of Commerce and chairs their Global Tech and Innovation Committee. She has won several prestigious industry awards, including the Executive Leadership award and the A-LIST award from the Austin Chamber of Commerce; the Profiles in Power award from the Austin Business Journal; and Stevie Awards for Management Team of the Year and Achievement in Developing and Promoting Women. In 2023, Ernst & Young recognized Joyce as an Entrepreneur Of The Year®. In 2024, she was inducted into the Austin Tech Hall of Fame. About Growth Acceleration Partners Growth Acceleration Partners is a consulting and technology services company that provides custom software, data engineering and modernization solutions. GAP works to consult, design, build, and modernize revenue-generating software and data engineering solutions for clients. Their remote, integrated engineering teams help businesses achieve a competitive advantage through technology. Using AI, proprietary tools and seasoned experience, GAP’s end-to-end approach spans from consultation and migration services, to full-cycle digital product development and managed services, ensuring the solutions delivered are innovative and align with your business goals. GAP transforms the way companies do business, helping clients to stay ahead of technology trends in a rapidly-evolving digital landscape. Working with GAP, you are able to achieve operational efficiency and revenue goals with custom software that drives results. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/32636102

The 10 Pillars That Made Austin a Global Tech Hub 08/13/2024

The 10 Pillars That Made Austin a Global Tech Hub In this episode, host Thom Singer talks about the ten pillars that helped make Austin become a global technology hub. While there were civic minded community leaders who had ideas and plans to set our region up to grow, the ten pillars that supported the success of Austin are not something that can be dupblicated by other cities. This is a retrospective, not a recipe book. Austin's success was not luck, it was the product of several things that come together at the right time. And it was about the people. Leaders who would show up regularly to support the community who had visions that more home grown tech companies, and being a destination for established companies could become key. The Chamber of Commerce, Opportunity Austin, The Capital Factory and other organizations had big impact on the growth of the tech scene. But it was no one organization or individual that did it all. Yes, you can trace back much of the credit to Dr.George Kozmetsky, who was the dean of the UT Business School in the 1960s and 1970s (and then a major civic leader until the 1990s).... but much of the credit is split between about 50 men and women who openly cared and worked to help set the stage for the community we have today. The ten pillars that Thom talks about all came togther in a time when technology was exploding across the world. Austin became the cool alternative to the big cities, alhtough we are now a big city ourselves. These pillars are not the whole story, and Singer welcomes input from people on other ideas. Not all of the pillars are as strong or important today, as times change and new pillars are being formed. Also, in a short version of this talk he cannot cover all the details that he can when he does the hour long keynote about "The History of Austin Tech". The Ten Pillars of Austin Tech The Univseristy of Texas and the hiring of Dr. George Kozmetsky Central location in the US and warm weather all year. Affordability Connected community with a strong focus on networking and relationships Robust business ecomonty that worked for startups, midsized companies, and large tech. Arts, music, and the Keep Austin Weird vibe. Young educated workforce Angel investors, VCs, service providers, incubators, etc... Pro-business state poliicies SXSW Check out this episode. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/32556402

Goals, Problems, Solutions with Sam Decker 08/06/2024

Artificial General Intelligence with Peter Voss. 07/30/2024

Artificial General Intelligence with Peter Voss. This week on Austin Tech Connect with go into a deep conversation about AI and AGI with Peter Voss. Peter is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Scientist at Aigo.ai. He has been researching AI and AGI for his whole career. He recently moved to Austin and has a very positive outlook on our community and the future of Artificial General Intelligence. About Peter Peter Voss is a Pioneer in Artificial Intelligence who in 2001 coined the term ‘AGI’ (Artificial General Intelligence) with fellow AI luminaries. Peter is an Engineer, Scientist, and Inventor as well as a Serial AI Entrepreneur and Leader. Started in electronics engineering, then fell in love with software. Peter achieved his first major success by developing a comprehensive ERP package and taking that company from Zero to 400-person IPO in Seven years. Fueled by the fragile nature of software, Peter embarked on a journey 20 years ago to study what intelligence is, how it develops in humans, and the current state of AI while successfully commercializing an earlier version (SmartAction). This research, development & commercialization culminated in the creation of our proto-AGI natural language intelligence engine called 'Aigo' (say I-go) that can think, learn, and reason -- and adapt to, and grow with the user. Aigo engine has already replaced thousands of call center agents in the field as a proof point and is now gearing up to reach human-level intelligence developed on human brain-like Cognitive Architecture. Our white paper “Concepts Is All You Need: A More Direct Path to AGI” details this groundbreaking approach and our strategy to achieving human-level AI. Peter is on a mission to bring AGI to the world, to boost human flourishing. About Aigo Founded by AGI Pioneer Peter Voss who coined the term “AGI” (Artificial General Intelligence) 20 years ago with fellow AI luminaries. Peter and team have spent over two decades in researching, developing & commercializing AGI that culminated in the creation of proto-AGI natural language intelligence engine called 'Aigo' (say I-go) that can think, learn, and reason -- and adapt to, and grow with the user. Aigo engine has already replaced thousands of call center agents in the field as a proof point and today, Aigo.ai stands on the cusp of a groundbreaking AGI breakthrough, demonstrating “Self-Learning AI” by leveraging Aigo’s INSA – Integrated Neuro-Symbolic Architecture. Aigo.ai is on a mission to bring AGI to the world, to boost human flourishing /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/32330422

ChatGPT Becomes Host of this Podcast 07/16/2024

Spheres of Influence with Brad Englert 07/09/2024

Spheres of Influence with Brad Englert Brad Englert is an author, advisor and technologist who has had a long tech career in Austin. He is a civic minded leader is now dedicated to helping others craft their success. His new book "Spheres of Influence: How to creat and nurture authentic business relationships" is now available on Amazon (or wherever you get your books). He spent 22 years at Accenture, and then 8 years a CIO at UT Austin. He believes his successful career came from being able to transcend a traditional network. Best advice he ever got about being a leader? "Get out of the office and tell them you give a damn". About Brad Enlgert Brad Englert is the founder of Brad Englert Advisory and an author, advisor, and technologist. Brad worked for Accenture in Austin for 22 years, including 10 years as a partner. He then served The University of Texas at Austin for eight years, including seven years as the chief information officer. Brad earned a masters of public affairs degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a bachelor of arts degree in social sciences with honors and distinction from Shimer College, which is now the Shimer Great Books School at North Central College in Naperville, Illinois. About the book "Spheres of Influence" Spheres of Influence: How to Create and Nurture Authentic Business Relationships, offers a practical guide to help emerging and established leaders develop and perfect the critical hard skill of building effective and lasting professional relationships. The crunchy, real-world stories in this book are relevant to a diverse range of industries, organizations, and backgrounds. The internal sphere of influence are those relationships with whom you have the most impact: boss, executive leaders, direct reports and staff. Relationships with customers, peers and influencers, and vendors form the external sphere of influence. Three principles apply to all business relationships: understand their goals and aspirations, set and their manage expectations, and genuinely care about their success. Spheres of Influence is an Amazon bestseller in three categories: Leadership Training, Mentoring & Coaching, and Customer Relations. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/32046917

How To Present at SXSW and Information about the PanelPicker with Monica Sack 07/02/2024

Ad Tech Meets Web Tech with Bob Michaels from Content Access 06/25/2024

Ad Tech Meets Web Tech with Bob Michaels from Content Access One of the best things about the Austin tech scene is the people and the unique problems their tech companies solve. This week's "Austin Tech Connect" episode is a chat with Bob Michaels from Content Access. Their AdFlow Plugin brings website navigation to the cloud, and changes how people engage when they come to your site from clicking ads. Bob is also musician who has been in both the music and tech businesses since the 1980s and 1990s. About Bob Michaels From the dawn of the World Wide Web, Robert “Bob” Michaels has been at the forefront of internet technology innovation. A professional developer since the beginning—when Bob built his first website, there were less than 20,000 websites online—Bob swiftly grasped the web's transformative potential. Bob's digital journey followed a decade as a touring lead guitarist after graduating from the University of Texas with a communications degree. This experience honed his ability to connect with audiences, shaping ContentAccess solutions to reflect deep engagement expertise. In 1994, Bob pioneered digital technologies, creating groundbreaking websites for music artists like Willie Nelson and Ray Benson. He partnered with Mark Cuban's , pioneering online streaming media from Austin, Texas, in the early 2000s. Bob's technological acumen extended to the enterprise, executing business automation solutions for industry giants like Dell, Compaq, and Tivoli Systems. His inventive efforts earned a prestigious software patent award. In the public sector, Bob developed all public-facing web properties for the Texas General Land Office under Commissioners Jerry Patterson and George P. Bush, including the state's primary disaster recovery website, , influencing HUD's best practices for federally required websites. Bob has also led the development of dozens of enterprise websites for higher education clients, addressing their unique needs with robust, user-friendly, and accessible solutions that enhance educational experiences and streamline administrative processes. As CEO of ContentAccess, Bob drives innovation in digital advertising and web development. Under his leadership, ContentAccess has developed advanced tools and services like AdFlow, AccessNav, and cutting-edge animated video banners that significantly enhance user engagement and conversion rates. With a tech career spanning three decades, Bob Michaels embodies relentless innovation and adaptability, profoundly impacting the digital landscape. His leadership at ContentAccess demonstrates a commitment to delivering state-of-the-art digital solutions that drive success across many industries. About Content Access ContentAccess offers a robust portfolio of proprietary patent-pending cloud technologies and digital marketing services. Our AdFlow Plugin dynamically adapts landing page content to match ad messages, significantly boosting relevance and conversion rates. The AccessNav Solution cuts through dense content like a lightsaber, driving double-digit percentage increases to critical web pages. Our Advanced Ad Banners transform passive and boring display ads into exciting and compelling interactive experiences, yielding exceptional click-through rates. We excel in Strategic Campaign Development, delivering bespoke strategies grounded in a profound understanding of market dynamics, complemented by our Creative Design and Content Creation, which produce compelling multimedia content seamlessly integrated across platforms. Our expertise extends to Campaign and Demand Side Platform (DSP) management, providing expert real-time bidding across multiple exchanges for efficient ad placement and maximum reach. Our DSP leverages sophisticated algorithms and data analytics to continuously enhance engagement rates. We offer Cross-Channel Marketing Integration, ensuring a cohesive and consistent marketing strategy across all digital channels. Our Performance Tracking and Analytics deliver transparent and actionable insights, empowering informed decision-making. Our World-Class Enterprise Web Design & Development service specializes in crafting custom websites for higher education and government sectors, offering complete redesigns and seamless CMS integration. The combination of these services ensures that ContentAccess clients benefit from personalized and engaging user experiences that drive superior engagement and conversion rates. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/31896037

The Second Generation of Austin Tech with Cody Treybig 06/18/2024

1st Time Founder Award Winner - Ashley Rose 06/11/2024

1st Time Founder Award Winner - Ashley Rose On this week's episode of "Austin Tech Connect" Thom Singer sits down with Mike Siegel from VeUp and Ashley Rose from Living Security. Mike is a board member for the Austin Technology Council and his company, VeUP, was the sponsor of the "First Time Founder Award" that was presented at the Austin Tech Hall of Fame event on June 4, 2024. On this episode he shares his overview of the event, and shares why his company was a supporter of ATC for this new Hall of Fame and First Time Founder Award program. We are joined by the winner of the 2024 First Time Founder Award, Ashley Rose. She is the co-founder and CEO at Living Security. Once you hear this conversation, it will be clear why ATC selected Ashley as the first person to win this award. About Ashley Rose As the CEO and Co-founder of Living Security, Ashley Rose is the driving force behind Living Security’s push to lead the Human Risk Management industry. She has successfully raised more than $25 million in funding to scale the business, pivoted the company from solely in-person training to a fully digital platform, and has led the company to be named an industry leader in the Forrester Wave. She co-founded Living Security based on the philosophy that empowering people is the best approach to lasting security behavior changes and breach prevention. She is an industry thought leader, sharing her unique perspective on the evolution of cybersecurity with various publications including Forbes, TechRepublic, Darkreading, Security Magazine, CyberWire and Cybersecurity Ventures. About Living Security Living Security, the global leader in human risk management, transforms human risk into proactive defense by quantifying human risk to engage humans with relevant content and communications to change human behavior. Living Security solves the challenges of human risk through risk identification, awareness and training, and risk reduction, all through an integrated platform. Living Security is trusted by security-minded organizations, including Mastercard, Verizon, Biogen, AmerisourceBergen, and Hewlett-Packard. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/31650617

Engaging Employees via Sports and Social with Marc Tucci 05/28/2024

The Front Porch of Austin - ABIA with Rick Belliotti 05/21/2024

The Front Porch of Austin - ABIA with Rick Belliotti As a tech community we all rely a lot on the ease of air travel, and the first part of that is our local Austin Bergstrom International Airport. On this episode of Austin Tech Connect we hear from Rick Belliotti, the Deputy Chief Officer- Information Technology at ABIA, Rick ir relatively new to Austin, but has spent a lifetime in the tech side of the "Airport Business". He will share his career journey as well as give us a look behind the curtain of the world of "Airport Tech". About Rick Belliotti Rick Belliotti is currently the Acting Chief Performance and Experience Officer and Deputy Chief Officer, Information Technology (CTO/CIO) for Austin Bergstrom International Airport. Mr. Belliotti has worked in various capacities in the aviation industry since 2001, as a consultant, an airport operator, and a solution provider. Mr. Belliotti’s expertise is in bringing people together to achieve common visions and goals. Mr. Belliotti was instrumental in bringing to life the Airport Innovation Lab at San Diego, enabling innovators to create solutions for the airport industry, and forever changing the way that innovation was done in airports. Prior to joining the City of Austin, Mr. Belliotti served as CIO at San Diego International Airport, and led various departments, including IT, business development, small business development, and the arts program. About Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) is owned by the City of Austin and operated by the Department of Aviation. The airport is self-sustaining and generates revenue to cover operating costs. What was once the site for the Bergstrom Air Force Base, the federally-owned property was transformed into a commercial airport with the opening of Austin-Bergstrom International Airport on May 23, 1999 replacing the former, smaller Austin Robert Mueller Municipal airport. Since then, AUS has connected more Austin and Central Texas travelers to the world all while providing a uniquely authentic Austin experience to every customer that travels through the Barbara Jordan Terminal. Known for live music, local concession brands, and Texas hospitality, AUS prides itself on reflecting the culture and values of the community it serves. The airport’s overall estimated economic impact on the Central Texas region is $7.6 billion, supporting 74,000 jobs (source: TxDOT 2018 Economic Impact), 6% of the total jobs in the Austin MSA. In 2023, AUS projects to serve a record-breaking 22 million annual passengers, more than a quarter increase in total annual travelers since the world’s pre-pandemic benchmark year of 2019. To address the rapid pace of passenger and airline activity, AUS has launched the Journey With AUS airport expansion and development program, multi-year capital improvement and development effort that will improve and modernize AUS facilities in the near-term and for generations to come. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/31399237

Moving Money Around the World with Wise 05/14/2024

Moving Money Around the World with Wise This week on the "Austin Tech Connect" podcast we chat with Balazs Barna, Head of US Engineering and Austin Site Lead for Wise. As Wise continues to grow their US presence, Austin has become a key location for the company. Since 2017 Wise has grown from 500 people worldwide to over 5500 employees. In this interview we hear about Mr Barna's career journey (including being a 2x Kick Boxing World Champion), the growth of Wise, and his take on why Austin is such a great place to grow a company and raise a family. About Balazs BarnaBalazs Barna is the Head of US Engineering and Austin Site Lead at Wise. At Wise, Balazs oversees the US engineering team, which is building the tech and infrastructure needed to facilitate instant, convenient and affordable cross border transactions. He also heads up our newly formed Austin office. Over his 7 years at Wise, Balazs has led and helped his team build the company’s historic direct access integration to the Hungarian banking sector’s instant payment system, the first of its kind for a company with a payment service license. He also oversaw and built Wise’s core infrastructure that enables the company’s European operations. Prior to joining Wise, Balazs worked at MSCI and Morgan Stanley. He graduated from Corvinus University of Budapest in Business Information Systems (BSc), and Computer Engineering (MSc) from Pannon University. About Wise Wise is a global technology company, building the best way to move and manage the world’s money. With Wise Account and Wise Business, people and businesses can hold 40 currencies, move money between countries and spend money abroad. Large companies and banks use Wise technology too; an entirely new network for the world’s money. Co-founded by Kristo Käärmann and Taavet Hinrikus, Wise launched in 2011 under its original name TransferWise. It is one of the world’s fastest growing, profitable tech companies and is listed on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker, WISE. 16 million people and businesses use Wise. In fiscal year 2023, Wise processed approximately £105 billion in cross-border transactions, saving customers around £1.5 billion. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/31286757

Entertainment Tech in Central Texas with Nate Strayer 05/07/2024

Community, Collaboration, and Conversations 04/30/2024

Angel Investing and the Central Texas Angel Network 04/23/2024

The Zandan Poll 2024 with Noah Zandan 04/16/2024

The Zandan Poll 2024 with Noah Zandan In this episode of the "Austin Tech Connect" podcast we chat with Noah Zandan, Co-Founder and CEO at Quantified.ai. In this episode we talk about his journey from Austin, to Dartmouth College, to Wall Street, to the Kellogg School of Business, and back to Austin. You will want to hear all about Quantified.ai and how his growing company is using AI to help make sales professionals more efficient and productive. Then we move onto all the data in the 2024 Zandan Poll. He has a wealth of knowledge about how Austinites view the good and bad of our city's growth. The original Zandan poll was launched by Noah's father, Peter Zandan in 1998. This survey stemmed from a deep curiosity to find a way to scientifically measure how Austin citizens feel about the changes going on around them and about their connection to the city. For this public opinion poll, 800+ Austin-area residents were surveyed in late 2023 and early 2024, ending on January 4th. Respondents from the City of Austin as well as others from Travis, Williamson, Hays, Caldwell, and Bastrop counties were included and the survey was offered in both English and Spanish. The results are demographically representative. As we embark on the seventh wave of sharing results, Noah hopes that the 2024 poll continues to be a resource and inspiration for conversation for the Austin community. DO NOT MISS THIS INTERVIEW. More Information: Noah Zandan is the CEO and Co-Founder of Quantified.ai, and a pioneer in applying AI and behavioral science to help people reach their potential. Noah has delivered TED talks with over 20 million views, is the author of a #1 Amazon best-selling book called Insights into Influence, and is the Executive Director of the Zandan Poll and the Rockway Foundation. You can connect with Noah on LinkedIn here: Quantified.ai is an AI sales training platform that helps customer-facing teams onboard faster, uplevel performance, and certify capabilities. To learn more visit The Zandan Poll is a public opinion poll, started in 1998, analyzing Austinites’ opinions on important topics including: growth, affordability, technology, and our city’s unique culture. To learn more visit /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/30861358

Solar Energy and The Future with Omeed Badkoobeh 04/09/2024

Serving Community and Social Capital with Joseph Kopser 04/02/2024

Serving Community and Social Capital with Joseph Kopser In this episode we talk to Austin's Joseph Kopser. He is a serial entrepreneur and consultant who played his military career into a successful life in business. He is one of the best networked and best connected people in the Austin tech community, and is always willing to help others. About Joseph Kopser Joseph Kopser is a lifelong problem solver committed to building the teams needed to take on our toughest challenges. In addition, he is a technology entrepreneur and expert in transportation, smart cities, urban mobility, energy, national security issues as well as an Army combat veteran. His roles include special advisor for military and veteran affairs at the University of Texas as well as leadership development for several companies. Previously, he served as an Executive-in-Residence at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. In addition, he is President of Grayline where he works with people and companies to grow their business by sharing his 30 years of leadership experience. Prior to co-founding Grayline, Joseph co-founded and served as CEO of RideScout, before it was acquired by Mercedes-Benz in 2014. Joseph served in the U.S. Army for 20 years earning the Combat Action Badge, Army Ranger Tab and Bronze Star. He is a graduate of West Point with a BS in Aerospace Engineering and also received a Masters from the Harvard Kennedy School in 2002. In 2013, he was recognized as a White House Champion of Change for his efforts in Energy and Transportation. In 2014, his company, RideScout, won the U.S. Department of Transportation Data Innovation Award. In 2018, Joseph ran for Congress in a race that attracted more voters than any of the 36 districts in Texas. Losing by less than 3 points in a heavily gerrymandered district, Joseph demonstrated that voters want civility and problem solvers in Congress. In addition to being a former member of the Army Science Board, he works with The Bunker, an organization dedicated to supporting veteran entrepreneurs. In 2018, he co-authored the book, Catalyst, whose themes serve as the foundation of his public speaking. In 2019, Joseph became the inaugural Chair of the Board of Advisors for the CleanTX Foundation, an economic development and professional association for cleantech. Joseph and his wife of 28 years, Amy, live in Austin and they are extremely proud of their three adult daughters. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/30622228

The Austin Tech Hall of Fame and First Time Founder Award 03/26/2024

Pike Robotics with Connor Crawford 03/19/2024

Pike Robotics with Connor Crawford In this episode of Austin Tech Connect we hear from Connor Crawford, the co-founder and CEO at Pike Robotics. This is a growing company that has launched out of the University of Texas and is working to build robots that go places that are "dull, dirty, and dangerous". In his first role as an entrepreneur/founder, Connor is doing a good job of growing the company and is focused on the strategic plan for the next phase of the organization. About Connor Crawford Connor D. Crawford, MSE, has a track record of innovation, leadership, and attainment of business results in mechatronics design & manufacturing for both the aerospace and energy industries. He has over 8 years of technical, operations, and strategic leadership experience related to bringing concepts from the drawing board to realization. His work at Lockheed Martin helped the company execute on foreign and domestic aircraft & spacecraft contracts. Through his work as a graduate student, entrepreneur, and current CEO role at Pike Robotics, he has taken robotic technology from scholarship to practice, enabling a novel path forward for petrochemical storage tank inspections which eliminates the need to send humans into dangerous, confined spaces. About Pike Robotics Pike Robotics is a non-destructive testing (NDT) technology company dedicated to development of a Class 1, Division 1 certified Wall-Crawling Inspection Robot. This product will soon be able to perform in-service inspections of Floating Roof Tank Seals, satisfying API 653 and EPA 40 CFR standards. Pike’s patent-pending system eliminates Confined Space Entries (CSE), providing teams with reduced inspection costs, increased safety, and improved accuracy! This robot originated from a sponsored research agreement with Phillips 66 to help them improve operations at their midstream and downstream facilities. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/30457038

Is Bryan/College Station the Next Tech Hub? 03/12/2024

Is Bryan/College Station the Next Tech Hub? This episode of "Austin Tech Connect" is a look at the upcoming "Midway to the Future" technology conference in Bryan/College Station, and a discussion about how the Brazos Valley is growing in population and innovation. Jermey Osborne, the co-organizer of "Midway to the Future" joins the discussion about how Texas A&M University and the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation are leading the way to help grow the technology business community and research efforts in the area. This matters to Austin's tech scene, not because the area would be competition, but because of how the whole Texas Technology Triangle (Austin, Dallas and Houston) are more than just those three cities. As Texas continues to grow, when the whole state works together, we become a more attractive place to move a business and grow a business. The Austin Technology Council is trying to facilitate conversations with tech leaders around the state to help us work together. Places like the Bryan/College Station area are important to Austin (and Texas) as we move from a place where "Tech Hubs" compete and more into a collaborative coalition throughout Texas. About Jeremy Osborne Jeremy Osborne is an attorney and serial entrepreneur based in College Station. He has started multiple award-winning companies with appearances on both the Inc. 5000 and Entrepreneur 360 lists as well as Inc. Magazine’s “Best Workplaces in America.” He has been interviewed or featured in The New York Times, Inc. Magazine and on CNBC’s “Closing Bell.” He is civically active with tenures on the College Station Planning & Zoning Commission, the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley board, and the Brazos Valley Economic Development Corporation executive board. He was elected to the Texas Lyceum in 2024. In 2014, The Association of Former Students named him one of “20 Young Aggies on the Rise.” In 2019, Jeremy was named an EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® Award regional finalist. Jeremy is a graduate of Texas A&M University and Georgetown University Law Center. About Midway to the Future Midway to the Future will bring entrepreneurs, innovators, investors, academics, and other tech professionals to Bryan/College Station for informative speaker sessions and networking opportunities on April 16 and 17, 2024. Those attendees arriving early can enjoy an evening reception on April 15. Midway was born out of the belief that innovation and entrepreneurship in secondary and tertiary markets are often overlooked. Although home to several high-profile companies, Bryan/College Station, located at the heart of the Texas Triangle, is no exception. The organizers are seeking to highlight the creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship of this community to attendees during their inaugural event. For more information, visit or on social media platforms at @m2tfsummit. /episode/index/show/a7b1cb29-8eb2-4801-9ccb-e0eb899497ab/id/30318613

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