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

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 across the state, Texas is positioned to lead. But there’s a challenge: to keep up with demand, the space industry needs to scale its workforce dramatically... and that means going beyond rocket scientists. Leon, an engineer turned ecosystem builder, shares his story of moving from the UK to Texas and launching the Texas Rocket Engineering Lab. Geoff brings decades of experience in space policy, including work on the Clementine mission and collaborations with NASA and commercial space firms. Together, they’re helping SWIFT build a bridge between academic talent, skilled trades, and the companies launching missions. The conversation covers workforce development (welders, electricians, machinists, and composite techs are in high demand), student initiatives (Swift is supporting rocket programs at schools like UT Permian Basin and Texas State Technical College), and community-building (including a new series of monthly space ecosystem events hosted at Capital Factory). They also explore how Texas can overcome regulatory and funding hurdles to build a thriving, sustainable space industry across the state... not just in Austin, but in the Rio Grande Valley, Midland, and beyond. Thom emphasizes Austin’s unique potential to position itself as a "science city," where commercial space intersects with AI, advanced manufacturing, and hard tech innovation. All three agree: if we get the workforce right, Texas can lead the next era of space exploration... not just with big ideas, but with boots on the ground and hands on the tools.

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 the room” is sometimes the smartest move a founder can make. You’ll hear how he went from managing vending machine contracts at Halliburton to training enterprise car sales reps, eventually creating new B2B programs inside large organizations before stepping out on his own. Now, through CodingIT, Cyril helps mid-sized companies spin up new tech products, embrace data ownership, and solve real business problems... not just build features. More than a founder story, this episode is a masterclass in thinking beyond the transactional. Cyril opens up about the value of showing up, trading knowledge, being a resource for others, and helping clients see their own businesses differently. He talks candidly about mentorship, his immigrant family roots, and why Austin’s tech ecosystem must stay scrappy and collaborative as it grows up. If you’re building a company, leading a team, or simply want to better understand what it takes to thrive in a crowded space, you’ll find plenty of actionable insight, and inspiration, in this episode. And if you care about the future of Austin as a city where companies scale and founders succeed, this one is a must-listen.

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 startups, working in global sustainability, and ultimately returning to Austin to spark something bigger. He explains how his background in engineering, policy, venture capital, and entrepreneurship led him to a bold mission: to establish Austin as the global capital of the energy transition. Sean breaks down what the “energy transition” really means; decarbonization, decentralization, and digitization... and why it's a bigger economic and societal opportunity than AI or the internet boom of the '90s. He gives a powerful argument for why Texas, and especially Austin, has all the ingredients to become the epicenter of this shift: market size, infrastructure, tech talent, and a growing ecosystem of innovators. The conversation also dives into why early-stage climate tech founders struggle to raise capital and connect with strategic industry players and how Sean’s Energy Innovation Hub is solving that through a hands-on, investor-operator model that bridges startups, corporate partners, investors, and policy leaders. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who cares about Austin's future, climate innovation, or building ecosystems that matter. Sean Voigt’s vision is big, bold, and exactly what Austin needs right now.

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 and convert it into renewable fuel. Griffin shares the origin of his idea, how he used AI tools and community connections to assemble a team, and the early-stage progress of his venture. While it's too early to know the much about the technology, the conversation highlights the spirit of innovation and support that defines Austin’s tech community. This episode is a great listen for anyone curious about climate tech, early-stage entrepreneurship, or just how unconventional ideas can take shape in a place like Austin. Tune in to hear how a non-traditional founder is trying to solve a very real problem... one cow at a time.

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 into venture investing with a sharp focus on deep tech. His story weaves through supercomputers in Barcelona, algorithmic public market strategies, and how he now brings those lessons to the world of venture capital and tokenized finance. Together, Thom and Jake explore the evolution of Austin's tech scene, diving into what’s working and what still needs to be fixed... especially around mentorship, funding gaps, and a culture that embraces hard work and knowledge sharing. They talk candidly about why Austin hasn’t produced as many unicorns as it should and what needs to shift to foster the next generation of founders and growth-stage leaders. Jake offers a deep look at the rise of tokenization, blockchain’s misunderstood role in modern finance, and what it will take to truly build an ecosystem where innovation and community thrive in parallel. If you're interested in the future of venture investing, deep tech, or the real work of building a lasting startup ecosystem in Austin and beyond, this is a must-listen episode with honest insights and actionable ideas from someone in the trenches.

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 and sector can make a meaningful impact by committing to donate 1% of profits in time, talent, or treasure. Jenkins shares the origin story of Austin Gives, its ties to the tech community through the Entrepreneurs Foundation, and how the program is reigniting a city-wide culture of generosity. While the tech sector may seem a world apart from pest control and HVAC, this episode reminds us that we’re all part of one interconnected ecosystem. Jenkins shares how the tech boom has fueled the growth of Main Street businesses like his, and Singer emphasizes the importance of mutual support between industries. The real opportunity, they agree, is for the tech sector to once again embrace its philanthropic roots... because when one part of Austin’s economy gives, everyone benefits. The core message is clear: community impact doesn’t belong to one industry. It’s something we all have a hand in. With nominations open for the Austin Gives Awards, this episode is a call to action... especially for tech companies, to tell their stories of generosity and help fuel a movement where doing good is woven into the fabric of how Austin does business.

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 Gordian, and others, played pivotal roles in shaping his entrepreneurial path. They explore the early days of product development, the lessons learned from rapid growth and tough exits, and how strategic thinking and trusted relationships have fueled Jason’s current work at Altus Nova... a boutique product strategy and software development firm. Jason also shares what he sees as Austin’s biggest opportunities and challenges going forward, and why he remains optimistic about the new generation of talent moving to Central Texas. This episode is full of insight, nostalgia, and hard-won wisdom from someone who helped build the foundation of Austin tech. If you’re interested in where we’ve been, how far we’ve come, and what’s next... don’t miss this one.

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 address recent media portrayals of Austin’s tech scene and offer a grounded perspective on the real story: Austin is thriving, evolving, and more connected than ever.

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 “fractional” became part of everyday business vocabulary, Ellen pioneered the concept with Virtual CFO (now vcfo), offering executive-level finance and HR support to companies that needed experienced guidance but weren’t yet ready for full-time hires. We talk about the early days of vcfo, when the whole idea of part-time strategic leadership was still unproven, and how the firm grew from a conversation over coffee to a trusted partner for more than 6,000 businesses. Ellen shares stories about some of her early clients, including garden.com and Vrbo, and how those experiences shaped the firm's ability to adapt through booms, busts, and everything in between. Throughout the conversation, we explore the lessons she’s learned about protecting equity, building strong cultures, and the importance of helping entrepreneurs see around corners. Ellen also opens up about why community service has always been part of her professional DNA, from leading the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce to decades of involvement in organizations like Opportunity Austin and AARO. This episode is a celebration of quiet leadership, long-term vision, and the people who built the foundation of Austin’s tech ecosystem long before it became the boomtown we know today. Ellen Wood has never chased the spotlight... but her impact on Austin business is undeniable.

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 design and visualize kitchen spaces in an interactive, high-fidelity VR environment. The very first market in the country to experience this cutting-edge technology? Austin, Texas. The conversation explores how Lowe’s Innovation Labs is thinking like a startup inside a Fortune 500 company, building in-house tools that blend spatial computing, customer experience, and the future of home design. With Austin’s strong ecosystem of property tech startups and its culture of early adoption, the city provides a perfect testbed for this type of experimentation. Josh shares how spatial commerce is reshaping expectations in home improvement, how the Lowe’s team collaborates across disciplines to create customer-centric experiences, and why more companies need to think beyond traditional industry boundaries. The episode also touches on the broader narrative that “every company is now a tech company”, and how innovation at scale can emerge from legacy brands willing to embrace bold thinking. To learn more about Lowe’s Style Studio or to book a VR appointment in Austin, visit: [Insert link] Listen now and discover how the future of home design is being built—right here in Austin. To learn more or to schedule an appointment with Lowe's Style Studio....  https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=4379307-1&h=607178597&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fl%2Fabout%2Fstyle-studio&a=Lowes.com To Learn more about the Austin Technology Council...visit https://austintechnologycouncil.org