Austin Next

Bringing back the wooly mammoth, computer aided design for biology, is this a sci-fi novel or just a taste of what’s going on at the intersection of biology, technology, and Austin. Our next guest is Ben Lamm, CEO and Founder of Colossal Biosciences, Founder and Board Member of Form Bio, and a serial technology entrepreneur driven to solve the most complex challenges facing our planet.  We talk about the Austin Bio Sector, how his team is leaning into our new distributed model of work, and what's next for the region.What's next Austin?Episode LinksBen Lamm: LinkedIn, TwitterColossal Biosciences: Website, Twitter, LinkedInForm Bio: Website, Twitter, LinkedIn -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Austin Next did our first live recording on LinkedIn Live. Jason was joined by Jawad Ali (Austin Medtech Connect), and Dennis McWilliams (Santé Ventures) for a discussion on how we actually define the bio sector here in Austin, what makes us unique, our challenges, and more. What's next Austin?Episode LinksJawad AliAustin Medtech ConnectDennis McWilliamsSante Ventures -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

The Informa Tech AI/IoT/Quantum Computing conference landed in Austin November 2nd and 3rd. Austin Next was there, listening, learning, and supporting the conference.  With speakers ranging from chess champions and NFL quarterbacks to Austin’s Mayor and UT’s Athletic Director, everyone was here to talk and learn about changes and the intersections in the IoT, quantum computing and AI worlds. In the midst of a busy conference, we snagged Jenalea Howell, the VP AI & IoT Markets at Informa Tech for a discussion of conferences, Austin, and what it’s like to return home. What’s next Austin? Episode LinksJenalea HowellThe AI Summit Austin -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Steve Case is one of America’s best-known and most accomplished entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Case co-founded AOL in 1985 and under his leadership and vision, AOL became the largest and most valuable Internet company of its time.  Moving beyond AOL, Case formed Revolution, a DC based investment firm focused on innovation beyond the coasts. On today's episode, we discuss his new book, their investments in Central Texas, and why Austin might be different than the rest.Episode LinksSteve Case TwitterRevolutionRise of the Rest: How Entrepreneurs in Surprising Places are Building the New American Dream -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

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 LinksBob Campbell -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

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:Dougal CameronGolden Section -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Austin Next is still on the road and today we are visiting another point of the Texas Triangle. Houston has been on a tear the last few years growing from $400M in annual startup funding in 2018 to crossing the $2B threshold last year.  There is the Texas Medical Center, the Ion, Rice University, and many more influential and growing institutions.  Today we dive into the Houston innovation ecosystem with Lawson Gow and Chris Buckner the forces now behind Houston Exponential.   What's next Houston?Episode Links:Houston ExponentialHouston Exponential Twitter -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Today we continue our visit to San Antonio and working to discover the unique innovation ecosystem here in the Alamo City. And no discussion would be complete without talking about the investors here. Juan “Sebastian” Garzon serves as Executive Director for Alamo Angels and Programs Manager for VelocityTX. In these roles, Sebastian supports early-stage companies by providing them access to funding and resources to accelerate their growth. The growth of this angel network is impressive and their future even more so. What's next San Antonio? Episode Links:Alamo AngelsVelocity TXJuan Sebastian Garzon -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

A lot of conversations today talk about the competition & cooperation between San Antonio and Austin. Two growing cities separated by a strip of Interstate 35. Cities with very different histories, different experiences…but both growing innovation systems. For our San Antonio visit, we start with Port San Antonio, It’s the Alamo City’s large and dynamic technology and innovation campus. A 1,900-acre platform just southwest of downtown San Antonio and a place that provides connected solutions in an increasingly connected world.What's next San Antonio?Episode LinksPort San AntonioPort San Antonio TwitterJim Perschbach LinkedIn -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Lately, we've been talking and writing a lot about networking. Why is it so important to us? People are social animals. And no matter how much we can get done remotely, we need a connection with other people. But just as important networking groups are where the creative collisions happen. These collisions are critical to an innovation culture like Austin's, these collisions are often where we find our business ideas, our collaborators, and sometimes even our employees. So today, we wanted to celebrate three organizations that foster great networking and take a different approach.Episode Links:Ambition in MotionAmbition in Motion Executive Mastermind Group PageGarrett MintzAustin Forum on Technology and SocietyJay BoisseauJay Boisseau TwitterAustin Medtech ConnectJawad Ali -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack