Why is Austin an Attractive Hub for Many Tech Companies?
Characteristics of a tech hub
While Austin is not Silicon Valley, technology companies from that area and other major U.S. hubs are taking notice of Austin’s growing tech scene. The lower cost of living and doing business, combined with a smaller size, are among the reasons that people and companies are attracted to Austin.
The companies that have already moved here or in the process of moving here like Google, Apple, two of the big leaders in the tech already have large offices down here.
Start-ups and big companies are taking up office spaces downtown and more are being built.
Offices influenced by Silicon Valley tech culture, featuring ping pong tables, catered meals and massage therapists, can be found in Austin.
What fuels Austin’s tech industry?
Many Texans consider the Austin-based computer company Dell, as the flagship firm that gave birth to an entire tech ecosystem in the city.
The University of Texas, plus the annual SXSW (South by Southwest) technology conference and music festival increase the city’s tech presence on the map by attracting tech experts and entrepreneurs from around the globe. People in the music business also fuel the tech industry in Austin.
SXSW in Austin for the past 11 years.
A lot of companies are coming here. They have access to capital; it’s a very open community. That’s one of the wonderful things about Austin; people just seem to be kind of very open, kind of wanting to help each other.
What 7 Austin ecotech companies are doing to change the world
The statistics on climate change are increasingly alarming — particularly because the problem seems so large, one can’t help but feel there’s nothing to be done about it. That’s precisely where tech comes in. Austin energy companies are working to research and implement the latest in renewable energy technology, helping you, and the planet, stay green.
Founded: 2018
How they go green: Water is an extremely potent source of natural energy, yet one that remains underutilized. Pecan Street is working to accelerate this research by providing top-tier research on the subject to some of the leading academics and scientists. This data is collected in Pecan Street’s laboratories and at real-world test sites.
Founded: 2009
How they go green: Wondercide is bringing the eco-friendly wave to a particularly important part of our lives: pets. The company designs and produces a suite of pet care products, including shampoos, treats and preventative care. They also offer home pest protection using their patented Earth-minded formulas.
Founded: 2012
How they go green: You pay your electricity bill every month, but do you understand the breakdown of how your energy is coming and going? CURB wants to help you do just that. CURB’s circuit-level monitoring system pairs with an intuitive desktop and mobile platform that explains your energy usage, monitors abnormal activity and helps you understand how you can create a more energy-efficient home.
Founded: 2015
How they go green: Fire safety has historically been a complicated architectural pain point, the solutions for which have sometimes proven deadly to humans. Miraculum is building the next generation of both structural fire and wildfire prevention tools, including building materials, fire retardants and more.
Founded: 2011
How they go green: Noesis Energy builds a web-based platform that helps energy-efficient projects go from dream to reality. The platform helps building owners finance the latest in energy-efficient tech, helping close the gap between the availability of eco-friendly materials and solutions, and the ability to implement them.
Founded: 2015
How they go green: As an individual, you can use all of the reusable straws your heart desires — but when it comes to eco-friendly measures at the enterprise level, there’s Charted Energy. The company helps develop and implement effective renewable energy solutions for individual companies, entire buildings and more.
Founded: 2016
How they go green: You may be familiar with traditional solar panels, which absorb the sun’s charge and transform it into other types of usable energy. Yotta Solar is working to make solar energy even more efficient, by creating modular energy storage devices that can reduce the costs and increase the output of traditional solar panels.