Austin Tech Connect: The Podcast For The Austin Technology Ecosystem, Business Leaders, and Tech Entrepreneurs!

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Austin Technology Council CEO, Thom Singer, sits down with Greg Cooper, president at Offerd, to explore how PropTech is reshaping commercial real estate and why Austin is a compelling place to build it. Greg's Austin story spans three decades and a rare path. He grew up in Jamaica, spent time in England, went to high school in Houston, then earned a UT law d...

Patrick Smith, Tax Principal with CLA... and new comer to the Austin tech ecosystem joins the conversation on the Austin Tech Connect podcast to talk about recent changes in the tax laws and how it impacts Austin companies.   The Austin Tech Connect podcast is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council and one of the premier podcasts in the Austin tech scene.  

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Tyson Tuttle , the former CEO of Silicon Labs and one of the most influential figures in Austin's technology landscape. Tyson shares an inside look at his remarkable journey from a hands-on engineer to a purpose-driven CEO who helped shape one of Austin's most respected semiconductor companies. The conversation explores how curios...

John Hartigan, CEO of Lumineo, returns to Austin Tech Connect to share what has changed since his 2023 visit and how his team fully pivoted into AI for corporate learning. Host Thom Singer, talks to John about practical wins over hype, from improving content creation and microlearning workflows to blending live action with AI avatars, and what is coming next with interactive AI tutors. John explai...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer sits down with Tom Alexander, co-founder and CEO of Holistic, for a candid conversation about the future of work and what a great employee experience really looks like. Tom shares lessons from working in Chicago's tech scene at "1871" and the mayor's office, and explains why many executives say people are their most important asset yet lack the l...

Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software : Software Development without the Drama. In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singers sits down with long-time friend and Austin tech leader, Sam Goodner. Sam arrived in Austin in 1992 after growing up in Europe and serving in the Swiss Army Special Forces. He cut his teeth at Dell, then co-founded what became Catapult Systems. Along...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council, Thom sits down with returning guest Michael Ward Jr., the social entrepreneur behind Universal Tech Movement. Formerly known as Austin Urban Tech Movement, UTM is an EdTech nonprofit on a mission to connect communities to the tech industry through workforce readiness, innovation, and economic advancement...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , host Thom Singer welcomes back Brett Hurt, one of Austin's most recognized serial entrepreneurs. Brett first appeared on the show in December 2022, and now returns following the recent sale of his company, Data. World, to ServiceNow. Known for his lifelong dedication to technology and community, Brett shares candid insights into the journey that brought him...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Carlisha Robinson, a seasoned product leader, consultant, and longtime Austinite whose career journey mirrors the rise of Austin's technology ecosystem. Carlisha describes herself as a "serial product manager," but her story reveals so much more... she is a connector, a problem solver, and a mentor who has played a pivotal role in...

This episode of Austin Tech Connect dives into one of the city's most impactful youth programs: Camp Enterprise , a Rotary Club of Austin initiative that has been shaping young entrepreneurs for more than four decades. Hosted each February, Camp Enterprise brings together high school juniors from across Central Texas for an immersive, three-day experience focused on building real-world business sk...

This Week's Guest: Bonnie Caver, Founder of Reputation Lighthouse In this episode, Thom Singer welcomes Bonnie Caver, a respected communications strategist and longtime Austin tech leader, to explore the topic of responsible AI implementation. With decades of experience in reputation management, change strategy, and executive leadership support, Bonnie shares how AI is reshaping the way organizati...

In this episode of  Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Joe Wolfel, CEO of Terradepth and former Navy SEAL, to explore the intersection of military discipline, ocean technology, and entrepreneurship. Joe shares his journey from leading special operations missions to building one of the most innovative ocean data companies in the world... right here in Austin, Texas. Joe opens up about...

The Future of Space Is in Texas: Workforce, Rockets, and Real Opportunity; In this episode of  Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Leon Vanstone and Geoff Tudor from SWIFT (Space Workforce Incubator for Texas) for a deep dive into one of the state's most ambitious frontiers: the space economy. With over 2,000 space and aerospace companies and more than 135,000 people already employed...

In this engaging episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Cyril Allgeier, Co-Founder and CRO of CodingIT, for a fast-moving and wide-ranging conversation that weaves together personal grit, entrepreneurial insight, and big ideas for Austin's tech future. Cyril shares his unique path from hospitality and car sales to leading a software development firm... and why being "the fool...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Sean Voigt, the founder and CEO of Energy Innovation Hub Texas, for a deep and energizing conversation about the future of clean energy and why Austin is uniquely positioned to lead it. Sean shares his personal journey... from growing up in South Africa and attending Stanford, Columbia, and Harvard, to building and scaling energy...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Griffin Cherry, the founder of EcoVanguard... a startup tackling climate change from a surprising angle. Griffin is not your typical tech entrepreneur. With a background that includes building airplanes, working in restaurants, and becoming a top roofing salesperson, he's now leading a team aiming to capture methane from cow burps...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , host Thom Singer sits down with Jake Moilanen, founder and CTO of Ironlight and the general partner of the Seraph Group's Austin-focused fund, for a dynamic conversation about building and investing in the future of Austin tech. Jake shares his journey from working on mainframes at IBM to launching startups in Silicon Valley, and eventually transitioning in...

This episode of  Austin Tech Connect dives deep into how philanthropy can be the common thread uniting all corners of our business community. Thom Singer sits down with Bobby Jenkins, President of ABC Home & Commercial Services and Chair of Austin Gives , to talk about why giving back is not just good for the soul... it's good for business. The conversation highlights how businesses of every size...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Jason Parrish , co-founder of Altus Nova , for a candid conversation about the evolution of Austin's tech scene and his personal journey as a founder. Jason reflects on arriving in Austin in the late '80s, launching his first startup in the early '90s, and how legendary figures like Dr. George Kozmetsky, Laura Kilcrease, Carmelo G...

Heather Brunner, CEO of WP Engine, joins this week's episode of Austin Tech Connect . In this insightful conversation, Heather shares her remarkable career journey and the continued growth and innovation happening at WP Engine. She and host Thom Singer dive into a candid discussion about the Austin tech ecosystem—highlighting the strength, momentum, and close-knit nature of the community. They add...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Ellen Wood, the co-founder and CEO of vcfo, and one of this year's inductees into the Austin Tech Hall of Fame. Ellen has been a cornerstone of the Austin business community for nearly three decades, quietly guiding thousands of companies through the challenges of growth, funding, leadership, and culture. Long before the term "fra...

Lowe's Style Studio and the Rise of Spatial Commerce In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer speaks with Josh Shabtai , Senior Director of Spatial Commerce at Lowe's Innovation Labs , about the intersection of retail, real estate, and immersive technology. Lowe's has just launched its newest innovation, Lowe's Style Studio —a virtual reality experience that empowers customers to desig...

This week, the Austin Technology Council announced the Legacy / Foundational inductees for 2025. This is the second year of an eight-year launch. You cannot drop 70 names into a hall of fame all in one day, so we decided to add eight people a year so they can be adequately celebrated. In addition to the Legacy/Foundational inductees, we will announce the 2025 inductee, and the first-time founder a...

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Jean Anne Booth, founder and CEO of UnaliWear, for a dynamic conversation about her remarkable journey through Austin's tech ecosystem. From her early engineering days at NASA and AMD to building startups acquired by Apple and TI, Jean Anne shares insights on innovation, resilience, and what it means to be a "maverick" in the tech...

In this episode of  Austin Tech Connect , Thom Singer sits down with Mat Kordell, Co-Founder and COO of CyberStreams, for a conversation that hits at the heart of entrepreneurship, community, and opportunity. Mat shares how his journey from working the help desk to running a multi-location MSP wasn't fueled by luck or algorithms... it was powered by human connections. From networking events to ind...