Austin Next

Cix Liv challenges the Silicon Valley consensus that humanoid robots belong in the warehouse or the battlefield. By explicitly rejecting the “Terminator” military arbitrage and the “Jetsons” domestic servant model, REK validates a new thesis: entertainment is the only sector where the reliability is acceptable and economically viable. The discussion dissects the unit economics of robot combat, the “context window” required for mainstream sport adoption, and why American “lawyer culture” is fundamentally losing the hardware war to Chinese “engineering culture” explored in Dan Wang’s Breakneck This is a forensic look at building “Real Steel” without government grants or safe software margins. The Agenda: 00:00 - Beta Testing Robot Roadshows 05:06 - Defining the Real Steel Concept 07:14 - "Context Window" of Violence vs. eSports 16:59 - State of Bipedal Balance & Chinese Hardware 26:02 - Robot Soldier vs Real Steel Decision 33:01 - B2B SaaS Brain Drain 37:01 - Unit Economics: Reliability Arbitrage 45:04 - Tech Stack of Tele-Operation 52:07 - Dan Wang’s Breakneck Thesis: Engineer China vs Lawyer US 57:37 - Bringing Detroit to Texas Guest Links REK: Website, X , Instagram , LinkedIn Follow Cix: X , LinkedIn ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

The venture capital model of the last two decades, characterized by the "30-minute rule" and the race to a quick IPO, is obsolete. We are witnessing a fundamental decoupling of capital from geography and a restructuring of how liquidity is manufactured. In this episode, Andrew Romans of 7BC Venture Capital argues that we have entered a new era where geopolitical friction is forcing a renaissance in hard tech, hedge funds have permanently altered the growth stage, and the "Series A" playbook has been rewritten by the realities of a market where companies stay private indefinitely. Highlights 01:05 Why 30 Firms Control the Market 09:49 "Stay Private Forever" & The Secondary Market 19:51 Geopolitics, Supply Chains, & Defense Tech 30:30 Hedge Fund Tourists & Founder-Led VCs 37:11 The Death of the "30-Minute Rule" 47:35 Beyond "Silicon Hills" Guest Links Andrew Romans: LinkedIn , X 7BC Venture Capital Fireside with a VC: Apple , Spotify, YouTube ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

How do we nurture and protect the most human endeavors of creation and discovery? Zachary Levi joins us to discuss calling, technology, and a creative Ark in Austin. We move from one’s life mission to concrete plans for land and film incentives. The central question of our time is whether we ride the AI tsunami or get swept under it. Highlights 00:00 Opening and Zachary Levi’s journey to Austin 05:53 Calling vs discovery 13:48 Build the ark and fix Hollywood 25:13 Community, work, and purpose 30:20 Why Bastrop for Wyldwood 38:05 Austin’s energy and first principles 46:57 Film incentives and ROI 54:00 AI reshapes studio vs creatives 1:10:40 Purpose through creation and discovery 1:19:07 What’s Next Austin? Guest Bio ZACHARY LEVI has proven himself a triple threat- he is an accomplished actor, singer, and dancer that was displayed with his Tony- nominated performance for “Best Leading Actor in a Musical” in the critically praised Broadway production, SHE LOVES ME. In August 2024, Zachary starred in HAROLD & THE PURPLE CRAYON for Sony, based on the wildly popular children’s book written by Crockett Johnson. He will next star in both MGM/Amazon’s SARAH’S OIL as well as Joe Carnahan’s real-life survivor thriller, NOT WITHOUT HOPE. Zac is also set to appear in HOTEL TEHRAN, a new thriller from writer-director, Guy Moshe. In March 2023, Levi reprised his role as Shazam! in the Warner Bros. DC franchise, SHAZAM! FURY OF THE GODS. Directed by David F. Sandberg, this was the follow-up to the first installment, SHAZAM! which held the #1 spot at the box office for weeks following its April 2019 release. In 2021, Zachary portrayed iconic NFL MVP and Hall of Fame quarterback, Kurt Warner in AMERICAN UNDERDOG for Lionsgate directed by Andrew and Jon Erwin. Zac will return with the Erwin brothers for another Lionsgate film THE UNBREAKABLE BOY, based on the true story of the most inspiring boy who touched and changed the lives of those around him in theaters February 21, 2025. In a fan favorite recurring role, Levi took home a SAG Award for “Best Ensemble in a Comedy Series” for season two and three of Amazon Studios’ Emmy winning series, THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL. The first season of the show won six Primetime Emmys, two Golden Globes, as well as a Peabody Award and two Critics’ Choice Awards. The second season won one Golden Globe, three Screen Actor Guild Awards, one PGA Award, two Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards, one Critics Choice TV Award, and TV Program of the Year at the AFI Awards. Additional previous film credits include: CHICKEN RUN: DAWN OF THE NUGGET; TEDDY’S CHRISTMAS; APOLLO 10 ½: A SPACE AGE CHILDHOOD; THOR: THE DARK WORLD; ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS: THE SQUEAKQUEL; and TANGLED. The song “I See the Light,” written for TANGLED (performed by Levi & Mandy Moore) was nominated that year for an Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Original Song. The pair performed the duet at the 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony. “I See the Light” also won the Grammy Award for “Best Song Written for Visual Media” at the 54th Grammy Awards. Levi is best known for his fan favorite performance as Chuck Bartowski in the hit NBC series, CHUCK. Other previous TV credits include the Netflix mini-series ALIAS GRACE & HEROES REBORN. In June 2022, Levi made his author debut with his memoir, RADICAL LOVE: LEARNING TO ACCEPT YOURSELF AND OTHERS, which shares his emotional journey through a lifetime of crippling anxiety and depression to find joy, gratitude, and ultimate purpose Guest Links Zachary Levi: X , Instagram Wyldwood ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Austin exports culture the way it exports tech. Terry Lickona, longtime executive producer of Austin City Limits, argues Austin is a music incubator, not the music industry, and that’s a feature. We map venues, economics, the tech crossover, and what keeps the scene original. Highlights 01:12 Austin Music Today: vibrant, original, authentic. 06:49 Streaming’s role, why touring pays. 11:30 Arena bookings, pricing, club spend 18:30 Venue design and experience 25:55 Music districts and competition for your dollar 36:25 How ACL books talent and stays eclectic. 44:31 The “Live Music Capital” narrative and exports. 53:25 AI in music: Tool vs crutch 58:55 What’s Next Austin? Guest Bio Since 1978, Terry Lickona has been the producer, now executive producer, of "Austin City Limits." Celebrating 38 years on PBS, ACL is the longest-running popular music series in American television history. In 2003, the President of the United States awarded ACL the National Medal of Arts, the nation's highest honor for artistic excellence. In 2012, ACL received a rare institutional Peabody Award for excellence and outstanding achievement. Terry has also produced other specials and series for public television, cable, domestic and foreign syndication, home video, and DVD - over 800 programs, with artists ranging from Ray Charles and Johnny Cash to Juanes, Coldplay and Neil Young to Willie Nelson, Arcade Fire, Radiohead and Pearl Jam. October 2012 also marks the 11th anniversary of the Austin City Limits Music Festival, one of the most successful music festivals in the country. In 2011 Austin City Limits Live at The Moody Theater opened its doors in downtown Austin as a world class live performance venue combined with a state of the art studio soundstage. Lickona has been the co-producer of the Grammy Awards Show on CBS since 2012. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences from 2005-2006. He also currently serves on the Board of the Latin Recording Academy. A native of Poughkeepsie, New York, he has lived in Austin, Texas since 1974. Guest Links Austin City Limits: Website , YouTube , Facebook , Instagram , X ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

How do you go from a cultural icon like the yellow wristbands to building AI products? Livestrong’s CEO Suzanne Stone argues that the through line is a focus on survivorship, the life you live from diagnosis onward. This is the leap from story to community to software and back again. Highlights 01:34 Mission: Survivorship Over Cures 06:18 The Wristband as Community Signal 12:39 Fertility Program and Real Cost of Cancer 14:34 Copycats and What Persists 25:20 From Guidebook to Ellis, a Trusted Closed-Loop AI 38:56 Guardrails, Swim Lanes, and Safety 51:35 Revenue Engines and Scaling 01:02:40 What’s Next Austin? Guest Bio Suzanne Stone is a Texas Christian University graduate and Louisiana native whose career began in television, earning a regional Emmy Award for her work in Dallas. In 1998, she transitioned from producing television to teaching it in the nonprofit sector, leading public access television initiatives in Naperville, Illinois, and later in upstate New York. Beyond media, Suzanne spent four years as Head Coach of a New York Community college women’s basketball team while simultaneously managing a local TV station. Her passion for impact-driven work led her back to Texas, where she has since dedicated her career to leading nonprofit organizations across the state, including Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Children’s Miracle Network, Lake Travis Education Foundation, and Susan G. Komen Greater Central and East Texas. In 2019, she joined Livestrong to spearhead its mission initiatives, and in November 2023, she was named President & CEO. Today, she leads the organization in its commitment to ensuring that anyone affected by cancer has the resources and support they need to live the highest quality of life possible, regardless of the diagnosis. Guest Links Suzanne Stone: LinkedIn Livestrong: Website , X , Ellis , Livestrong Challenge 2025 ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Poppi is a fashion brand that happens to be soda. Stephen Ellsworth, Co-founder of Poppi, joins us to walk through the operating choices behind turning a vinegar problem into a modern soda badge. It’s how you build, scale, and exit a consumer brand. It’s another signal that Austin’s flywheel is real and accelerating. Highlights 01:48 Dark days, PMF before funding 08:05 Farmers market to Whole Foods 14:50 Rebrand beat Shark Tank awareness 24:58 Poppi as Fashion 33:46 Make healthy default via taste 38:54 AI palate mapping 46:48 Austin needs cross-sector collisions 51:40 What's Next Austin? Guest Links Stephen Ellsworth: Instagram , LinkedIn Poppi: Website , X , Instagram ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Autonomy’s moment is now as the operating stack goes live across software, hardware, availability, and insurance. Outdoorsy Group CEO Jeff Cavins joins the show to unpack how RoboTaxis integrate with marketplaces, city systems, and the consumer experience. Austin’s talent, technology, and risk appetite are making it the Autonomy Capital. Highlights 01:31 Why Outdoorsy Group is betting on RoboTaxis 05:44 Software must command the car 10:40 RoboTaxi as the default transpiration benchmark 15:30 FSD & the Airport 25:39 Coverholder status and dynamic underwriting 32:26 Austin’s autonomy flywheel 41:50 Safety is the X-factor 45:52 Cargo, errands, agentic ops 51:29 Autonomy in air and ground 58:44 What’s Next Austin? Guest Bios Jeff Cavins is a distinguished technology veteran with over 22 years of senior-level experience leading and transforming emerging growth technology, software, Internet, and digital media companies. His illustrious career has been marked by significant value creation, contributing to over $32 billion in total market capitalizations. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Outdoorsy Group, he steers a global leader in mobility and accommodations, encompassing Outdoorsy, the largest and most trusted peer-to-peer RV rental platform, and its pioneering insurtech arm, Roamly. Jeff's leadership at Outdoorsy Group is rooted in a deep understanding of market dynamics and a relentless pursuit of innovation. This is exemplified by Roamly's recent achievement of Lloyd's Coverholder status, a testament to its specialized underwriting expertise in complex, niche markets. This strategic move positions Roamly to enable the future of shared mobility across RVs, campervans, carsharing, and even emerging transportation like cybercabs. Before co-founding Outdoorsy in 2015, Jeff served as Chief Executive Officer of Fuze, a cloud communications company recognized by Inc. 500 as the 125th fastest-growing private company in America in 2013. His tenure at Fuze included overseeing the development of "Fuze for iPad," a product personally used by Steve Jobs and featured in Apple's 2011 "We Will Always" global iPad TV ad campaign. Prior to Fuze, Jeff was President and CEO of CallWave (NASDAQ: CALL), a leading provider of internet and mobile-based unified communications solutions. He also served as CEO of Loudeye Corporation (NASDAQ: LOUD), a global leader in digital media distribution technology, which was subsequently acquired by Nokia. At Loudeye, he masterminded the company's global expansion and forged strategic partnerships with industry giants such as Apple, AT&T Wireless, Nokia, and Virgin, ultimately growing shareholder value by over 1700 percent. Jeff's extensive experience also includes serving as a Venture Advisor at Azure Capital Partners in San Francisco, and as Senior Vice President for Exodus Communications, where he managed over $1.3 billion in revenue and 1,900 employees. There, he established crucial strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Google, Yahoo!, eBay, and MSN. Earlier in his career, Jeff founded, presided over, and led CSI Digital, an advanced digital media technology software company specializing in visual effects for the TV and film industries. CSI Digital earned recognition from Inc. Magazine in 2007 as the 100th fastest-growing private company in America and was awarded first place in the inaugural Deloitte and Touche Fast-50 Program in the same year. He began his career with nearly a decade in the broadcast division of Sony Corporation, where he held sales management and engineering roles, and notably designed and developed the Instant Replay system for the NFL, leading its deployment across the league. Guest Links Jeff Cavins: LinkedIn Outdoorsy Group: Website, LinkedIn , Instagram Roamly: Website, LinkedIn , Instagram ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Rankings aren’t just a scoreboard. They’re a map. Dealroom’s Yoram Wijngaarde and StartupBlink’s Eli David Rokah join the show to unpack ecosystem momentum, enterprise-value growth, and the business-environment factors that move founders, corporates, and capital. We read the global rankings with Austin as a live case study, setting its momentum against incumbent hubs to find the signal in the noise. Highlights 00:59 Momentum as design choice in rankings 03:22 Enterprise-value growth vs VC funding 07:30 Austin’s outlier growth among peers 11:15 Rankings: conversation starter, decision tool 23:22 Policy mistakes become tailwinds 29:05 Clusters, super-regions, friction costs 37:15 Austin ranked 4th US, 5th global 42:47 AI shocks ecosystem volatility 44:06 What's Next Austin? Guest Bios Yoram Wijngaard: Founder of Dealroom.co which was launched in 2014 to provide intelligence about the world’s most promising startups and ecosystems. Before founding Dealroom, Yoram was an investment banker at Lehman Brothers, Nomura Securities and NOAH Advisors in New York and London. Yoram has a cum laude Master’s degree in Economics from the University of Amsterdam. Eli David Rokah: Founder and CEO of StartupBlink, advising governments and corporates worldwide and publishing the Global Startup Ecosystem Index. Guest Links Yoram Wijngaard: X , LinkedIn Dealroom: Website , The Global Tech Ecosystem Index 2025 Eli David Rokah: X , LinkedIn Startupblink: Website, The Global Startup Ecosystem Index Report 2025 ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

How do 100X engineers, cheap development, and AI-everywhere workflows flip slow-moving industries and legacy business models? AffiniPay CEO Dru Armstrong joins to discuss how vertical fintech and generative AI reshape professional services, the evolution of a new small-business software stack, and Austin’s climb to a top five tech cities. Highlights 00:00 AffiniPay overview & mission 02:57 Why solo firms need vertical SaaS 05:45 Unified platform vs best-in-class tools 08:26 AI’s early impact on law and accounting 11:39 Billable-hour model under pressure 14:20 Where AI in services is heading next 17:03 Culture change: adopting AI at work 20:14 Automating routine legal workflows 30:19 Manufacturing Cost crashes & roles 31:40 Austin emerging as a FinTech frontier 34:54 Building a legal-payments platform locally 39:34 Generative AI’s effect on big-law practice 45:55 Faster product cycles with AI tools 48:35 How engineering roles are evolving 53:34 What's Next Austin" “I want Austin in the top five." Guest Bio Dru Armstrong is the Chief Executive Officer of AffiniPay, LLC, a leading financial technology software provider for professionals, since July 2021, where she has implemented and executed a new strategic direction for the business, including its transformative acquisition of MyCase. Prior to joining AffiniPay, Ms. Armstrong served as Chief Executive Officer of Grace Hill, LLC, a real estate technology and software provider, from June 2016 to July 2021, and as Chief Product Officer from September 2015 to May 2016. Ms. Armstrong received a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Columbia University. Episode Links Dru Armstrong Affinipay Kaleidoscope September 2-4, 2025 ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

We live in an age of unprecedented creative tools, from generative AI and design platforms to open access to code, capital, and talent. Joining this episode is John Roescher, Founder and CEO of Raw Materials, the design firm behind the public-facing strategies of Anduril, Saronic, and Meta, to explore why design should not be treated as decoration, but as a cultural and strategic function. Because in the end, with all this power, the outcome still comes down to a choice: Will we design with intention or default to slop? Chapters 01:13 Design as Product 04:51 Outsourcing vs Partnering 08:04 The Creative Process and Why “I Like That” Isn’t Enough 11:30 AI, Craft, and Care: Tools vs Slop 16:52 Efficiency or Excellence 23:19 Unlocking Core Creativity Inside Companies 28:01 Design as Strategy 32:39 From Founders to Cities: Owning the Narrative 40:28 Intentionality vs Accident 45:04 What You Ship Says Everything 46:45 What’s Next Austin? John Roescher: X/Twitter , LinkedIn Raw Materials: Website, Instagram , X/Twitter , LinkedIn ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Mushrooms, coffee, and diapers. It’s not the start of weird joke, but the the innovation arc of Tero Isokauppila, one of the most uniquely disruptive founders at the convergence of bio and consumer goods. From building the $2B mushroom coffee category at Four Sigmatic to launching HIRO, the world’s first fungi-based diaper, Tero’s work reflects something deeper; how Austin’s convergence of culture, capital, and cross-sector energy is creating the next innovation frontier. 02:18 – From Farm Kid to Mushroom Category King 05:45 – The Biology of Fungi as Platform Tech 09:03 – Why America Is Mushroom-Illiterate 10:38 – Product Before Mission: Lessons from Tesla and HIRO 16:35 – CPG vs Biotech: Funding, Moats, and Returns 25:57 – Why Austin Became a CPG Powerhouse 31:39 – Tech and CPG: Still Separate Worlds in Austin 35:41 – Frontier Cities Need Cultural + Sector Convergence 1:01:15 – Manufacturing’s Real Bottlenecks (and Myths) 1:05:06 – “What’s Next Austin?”: Ego Death, Rebirth, and Maturity Tero Isokauppila: LinkedIn , YouTube Four Sigmatic HIRO ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

What does it mean to build the future of Bio & Health at the frontier, and why is Austin the place to do it? Recorded live at Health Supernova, this episode explores the deep structural shifts underway in bio, health, and tech. From trillion-dollar ambitions to FDA bottlenecks, from digital-first hospitals to the rise of cowboy talent in Bio & Health, Austin is staking a claim not as a follower but as the system and stack that comes next. Episode Highlights Austin’s Bio & Health Frontier Thesis Can Austin build what healthcare won’t? FDA still runs on PDFs What would it take to build a trillion-dollar bio company? Frontier talent are cowboys Cost of the biotech winter Digital-first hospital as a living lab Why bio needs platforms, not just transformational assets Integration is the real bottleneck What's Next, Austin Bio & Health? Steve Hahn: “The next major company that disrupts medicine and brings us 20, 30 years advanced over the next year.” Charley Taylor : “Re-envisioning what healthcare, academic medicine can look like” Micha Breakstone: “Make Austin into a real hub at the intersection of AI and biotech” ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Is Bitcoin just a financial instrument, or is it a wedge into the future of energy, policy, and power? Brian Morgenstern, head of public policy at Riot Platforms, lays out how mining is becoming critical infrastructure and why the US can’t afford to fall behind. From sovereign wealth strategies to regulatory fragmentation, this conversation unpacks how Bitcoin could reshape geopolitical leverage and why Texas may be at the center of it. Episode Highlights Mining as energy monetization Bitcoin as a strategic reserve The sovereign wealth fund question Tax policy throttles adoption Why stablecoins are infrastructure Bitcoin's edge over other crypto Fragmented and reactive regulation Nuclear’s resurgence via AI demand What’s Next Austin? “Bitcoin miners, AI, energy, all getting married in Texas to make the US the leader of the world.” Guest Links Brian Morgenstern Riot Platforms ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Specificity isn’t just a design choice. It’s the differentiator when inches matter. Nick Tippmann, founding partner of TipTop VC, explains how vertical AI is rewriting the software industry by going deeper, not wider. From the transition beyond SaaS to the gray zone between foundational models and high-stakes applications, we explore how vertical AI can transform laggard industries and why Austin might lead the race. Episode Highlights What Vertical AI Really Means Specificity as the New Moat Founders, Not Just Models When General AI Fails Seed-Strapping Real or Not Rewriting Pricing Logic Vertical AI Talent Mix Redefining TAM in Niche Markets Scaling without Overspending What’s Next Austin? "Austin becomes a global hub for vertical AI winners with the rich combo of the enterprise SaaS lineage, the critical industries that are based here, the talent from the previous winners, the emerging talent from the universities, and more and more experienced operators and founders moving here for their second act" Nick Tippmann TipTop VC ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Innovation does not scale on size alone. It accelerates on the connective threads of an ecosystem, from curated founder groups to open networks and through shared stories and honest champions. Brian Hall, incoming President of the Austin Chapter of Entrepreneurs’ Organization, joins us to explore what actually drives trust, access, and scale in a thriving tech hub. Episode Highlights Role of Ecosystem Connective Tissue Founder Forums and Peer Accountability Third Rooms vs Third Spaces Depth Over Volume in Relationships Time Scarcity in Founder Support Why Healthy Ecosystems Scale Navigating Fragmentation in Austin Gatekeeping and Startup Access Scaling Founder Infrastructure What’s Next Austin? “Healthy things grow. And that starts with an individual, but then it goes to the city and beyond.” Episode Links Brian Hall: LinkedIn , X/Twitter EO Austin ; Traverse Legal ; TraverseGC ; TraverseConcierge ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

The $6 trillion chemical industry is on the verge of a revolution as biology moves from the doctor's office to the industrial zone. Veronica Breckenridge, Founder and Managing Partner of First Bight Ventures, is investing in early-stage bio manufacturing companies while building the ecosystem to catalyze their growth. We discuss the tech powering the revolution, why Houston's first principles position the region to own the sector, and how Austin's innovation can help supercharge it. Episode Highlights First Bight Ventures: Investing in Industrial Bio Disrupting a $6 Trillion Chemical Industry Scaling Platform Molecules for Real-World Impact Crossing Industrial Bio’s "Valley of Death" Houston’s Chemical Engineering Advantage Capital Efficiency and Scale-Up Strategies How AI Is Accelerating Biotech Discovery Building Pilot Facilities and Collaborative Ecosystems Unlocking a Texas Bio Manufacturing Hub What's Next Austin & Houston? "Texas should create a consortium...we're going to own bio-manufacturing" Episode Links Veronica Breckenridge First Bight Ventures ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

At a hinge point when tech leadership determines the balance of geopolitical power, deep tech investment has never been more critical to America's future. Jordan Blashek, co-founder of America's Frontier Fund , brings his perspective on innovation for national advantage. From investing in defense tech to the newly launched Endless Frontiers , we discuss Jordan's vision for rebuilding American strength through strategic innovation and how Austin finds itself right in the thick of this transformation. Episode Highlights America's Frontier Fund Mission Deep Tech Funding Models Managing Tech vs Market Risks Defense Tech Trends - M&A, Talent, Dual Use Family Offices as Strategic Investors US-China Tech Competition Launching Endless Frontiers Rebuilding American Strength Austin as a True Power Center What's Next Austin? "Arts and Culture...It means the storytellers are here. The most creative people are here. And when you combine that with the existing resources and things we have I think this city has no limits." Jordan Blashek: X/Twitter ; LinkedIn ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

From cutting-edge chips to AI networks the disruption happening up and down the tech stack is upending invention and value. Everything is on the table. Tyson Tuttle , former CEO of Silicon Labs and current founder and CEO of Circuit , brings decades of experience building innovative products across multiple tech waves. In this conversation, Tyson shares insights on Austin's ecosystem past and present, the global tech competition, and how AI-powered knowledge networks that could finally deliver on the collaboration we have been promised. Episode Highlights Austin's Semiconductor Legacy Geopolitical Chip Wars A Million Transistors Per Space Taiwan's Silicon Shield Balancing Risk and Production Moving Up the Technology Stack Rethinking Workflows with AI Network Effects Beyond Social AI-Powered Knowledge Networks What's Next, Austin? "Tech is spreading everywhere. We've got to build great companies here, we have great talent, and we've got to make this a place that is affordable and where our quality of life doesn't diminish, but goes up" ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

The Texas innovation ecosystem is accelerating at breakneck speed as technologies like AI and institutions such as the Texas Stock Exchange reshape what is possible. Samantha Lewis, Partner at Mercury Fund, recently relocated to Austin from Houston to strengthen the firm's presence in the region. Our conversation reveals how the founders and funders in the Texas Triangle are positioning themselves during this tech revolution, and why the connections between Austin, Houston, and Dallas are a superpower that is just getting started. Episode Highlights Mercury Investment Thesis Expansion to Austin AI Competition Landscape Importance of Founder Vision Good Businesses vs VC Backable Bits Meet Atoms Healthcare Innovation Frontiers Austin Growth Opportunity Texas Stock Exchange Impact High Speed Rail vs Airports Texas Innovation Triangle and Collaboration Houston Industry Challenges Tech Inspiration Moments What's Next Austin? "We're so excited to just hang out and see everybody, meet entrepreneurs, hopefully build a big fintech community here as time goes on...The more VC firms that are here, the better. The more entrepreneurs that are getting funding here, the better" Samantha Lewis: X/Twitter , LinkedIn Mercury Fund: Website, X/Twitter , LinkedIn ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Technology is advancing rapidly, but our social systems and institutions struggle to keep pace. Janine Leger co-founded Edge City, a society incubator accelerating social innovation through popup and experimental communities, and they're bringing their next gathering to Austin March 2-7. We explore how rethinking the intersection of technology and agency can lead to human flourishing, and why Austin is emerging as the perfect laboratory for this experimentation. Episode Highlights Edge City the Society Incubator Innovation in Temporary Spaces Building Default Healthy Environments Invisible Protocols and Personal Agency Edge City as Social Catalyst Austin's Innovation Ecosystem Edge City Austin Key Personas in a Thriving Ecosystem Future City Projects and Experiments Austin's Next Decade of Growth What's Next Austin? "If you're interested in new society models, new ways of living, new towns, Austin is going to be a hub for that...There's so much happening around community dynamism" Janie Leger Edge City Austin Edge City: Website , X/Twitter ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

A unicorn biopharma that ignores the traditional playbook, breaks development speed records, and chose Austin over the traditional biotech hubs. Mallory Factor, Founder and CEO of IntraBio, joins us to share how his Oxford-born company created an FDA-approved drug in record time while doing everything differently. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore how finding unconventional talent, maintaining ruthless focus, and embracing a different mindset has led to transformational success in an industry resistant to change. Episode Highlights Building a Different Kind of Biopharma Company Breaking Speed Records in Drug Development Finding Unconventional Talent Challenging Traditional Pharma Thinking Why Austin Over Boston and San Francisco The Power of Focus in Drug Development Austin's Creative Collisions and Future What's Next Austin? "Austin has some political problems that's going to have to clear up to make it a better city. Hopefully in time it will and it'll catapult it into the top five, six cities in America" Mallory Factor , IntraBio , Aqneursa ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

A coffee conversation turned into a deep exploration and personal obsession about how we shape our world and how it shapes us. I had to invite my partner in that conversation, Dr. Gena Gorlin, on to the podcast to bring her perspective as a psychologist, professor, and founder coach to examine the interplay between agency, innovation, ecosystems, and technology. Episode Highlights Agency Mindset and Personal Choice Technology Impact on Human Agency Education Evolution in an AI World Gaming as a Window into Human Potential AI Tools for Self Discovery Understanding Innovation Ecosystems Psychology of City Culture Ecosystem Metacognition Principles Building Better Innovation Communities What's Next Austin? "Really embracing Austin as this up and coming entrepreneurial cultural hub and participating in that evolution is something that I'm now way more excited about than I even was before" Gena Gorlin: Substack , X/Twitter , Founder Coaching , UT Austin Faculty Page ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

Last June, SXSW announced they would no longer allow military and defense companies as sponsors. This sparked strong reactions from Austin's defense tech community, with one of those reactions leading to the creation of Austin4America. I'm joined by Luke Fischer, one of the summit's creators, to discuss why this matters and how it fits into Austin's broader innovation story. Episode Highlights SXSW's Military Sponsor Ban and Austin's Response Modern Defense Tech Beyond Weapons SkyFi: Building an Earth Intelligence Platform Why Austin Leads Defense Innovation Austin4America: From X/Twitter to Reality Innovation & Defense Tech Agenda Convergence of Veterans, Health, and National Security What’s Next Austin? “A gravitation of some of the best companies in the world coming to Austin, where we see across all the industries, bio, defense, healthcare, manufacturing.” Austin4America Luke Fischer: X/Twitter , LinkedIn , SkyFi ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

This past November, the University of Austin hosted their Inaugural SOMA Summit to explore the amazing transformation in space right now, especially how the commercial space era is decentralizing access. I had the privilege to moderate a fascinating panel titled "Science in the Commercial Space Age" featuring Chris Sembroski from Blue Origin, along with University of Florida space biologists Dr. Rob Ferl and Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul. As space becomes more accessible, it's evolving beyond merely a frontier to explore into its own innovation platform and ecosystem. This opens up a whole galaxy of possibilities. Episode Highlights Mission Experiences Space Peppers Understanding Human Adaptation Space as an Innovation Frontier Manufacturing in Microgravity Plants' Role in Future Exploration Ethical Considerations What's next for science in the commercial space age? Rob Ferl: “More scientists flying to do their experiments in space.” Anna-Lisa Paul: “More research in how we effectively take our biology off the planet to have long-term existence elsewhere” Chris Sembroski: “Recognizing that it's not going to end with us, that we have to keep inspiring that next generation” Chris Sembroski: X/Twitter, LinkedIn Rob Ferl: UF Faculty Page Anna-Lisa Paul: UF Faculty Page ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack

AI is becoming the biggest force multiplier for human talent in history. Austen Allred shares how Gauntlet AI is reimagining engineering education for this new reality and why Austin's is the perfect place to build this ambitious program. This is was quick turnaround episode as Gauntlet AI applications close January 4th (application link below). We also go deeper on the 2nd and 3rd order effects of this transformation on engineering, learning, kids, and Austin. Episode Highlights What is Gauntlet AI? How AI transforms the engineering craft Building $100M engineers Breaking traditional talent signals & building new ones AI's impact on adaptive learning Developing spiky points of view Austin's emergence as an edtech hub What's Next Austin? "Austin just found a home for all of the people who think a little bit differently and see the world a little bit differently...And historically, if there's a place where all of the independent thinking vagabonds go with a lot of ambition, that's going to be a really cool place, and that's a place you want to be." Gauntlet AI Austen Allred: X/Twitter , LinkedIn ------------------- Austin Next Links: Website , X/Twitter , YouTube , LinkedIn Ecosystem Metacognition Substack