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

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.

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.

Sam Decker, a veteran in the Austin tech scene with over 25 years of experience, shares his journey from corporate roles at Dell to thriving startups. He emphasizes the importance of networking and mentorship in building a successful career. Decker discusses the rise of a social media curation platform and a unique GPS framework for setting goals and overcoming challenges. He reflects on Austin's tech evolution, highlighting the power of community and the significance of structured approaches to achieve professional and personal success.

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

For this episode, host Thom Singer (CEO at the Austin Technology Council) simply asked ChatGPT to become the host of the podcast and interview him about the ATC and about the state of tech in Austin.  He gave no other instructions, and just went with the questions that were asked.    This is an interesting example of how advanced AI has become in the past year.     Check out this episode and hear about the history, mission, and future of ATC and the Austin tech ecosystem.... but most importantly...check out what a complete job the AI did with hosting the podcast.  Who needs Thom for future episodes????

Brad Englert, a tech veteran, discusses the importance of authentic business relationships in his book 'Spheres of Influence'. He shares insights on leadership, mentorship, and the economic transformation of Austin. Engaging chapter explores the collaboration that drives success in the tech community.

The Austin Technology Council is working to help more local tech companies and industry leaders engage as speakers, panelists, workshop leaders, etc... at the 2025 SXSW Festival next March.   On of the ways to get on the radar of the SXSW team is to apply for a session via the PanelPicker (which is accepting applications until July 21, 2024).   This episodes looks at SXSW and how to to apply to speak.  We are joined by the Senior Director of Conference Programing, Monica Sack.     You do not want to miss this conversation.   About The SXSW PanelPicker: PanelPicker® is the official SXSW user-generated session proposal platform. This two-step online process allows the SXSW community to have a significant voice in what sessions become part of the Conference programming. During the open application process, we encourage everyone in the SXSW community to upload proposals for solo presentations, panels, book readings, workshops, and more.   About Monica Sack In 2009, Monica Sack started working for SXSW helping speakers prepare for their March speaking engagement. Now the Senior Director of Conference Programming, she helps ensure that the Conference portion of the event runs as smoothly as possible so that both speakers and attendees alike have a positive and engaging SXSW experience. When not working, Monica enjoys reading, walking her dogs, and rooting for her beloved Portland Trail Blazers.

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 Broadcast.com, 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, recovery.texas.gov, 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.

In this episode we talk to Cody Treybig, the son of Austin Tech Hall of Fame inductee, Jimmy Treybig.  At the Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Cody spoke for his father, who was recovering from medical procedures. Cody shared his fathers words about his love of the Austin tech community and the people who make up our ecosystem.   We invited Cody to the podcast to talk about his father, but also to look at what it is like to grow up around a booming tech scene, and his own career path in his short time out of college.   Cody is currently moved back to Austin to be close to his parents, and is seeking his next career opportunity.  Having grown up around "Austin Tech" he has a great viewpoint of our tech scene.     Check out this episode.   About Cody Treybig   Cody, born in 1996 in Austin, TX, is the son of Jimmy Treybig, founder and CEO of Tandem Computers. He studied English at Rice University and interned at TEXO Ventures before working at Union (formerly TabbedOut) in sales operations and client success. He returned to Rice for business school but moved back to Austin to support his father after a serious brain injury. Now, Cody is seeking a client success manager role in B2B tech. He loves the Grateful Dead and is learning guitar to form a cover band.

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.