

Austin Next
Jason Scharf
Austin is building the new tech, cultural, and intellectual stack. The region is a living laboratory to answer a single question: How do you build a global innovation superpower?
Host Jason Scharf dissects innovation from the individual to the ecosystem. From the soundstage to the data center to the fab, we decode the mechanics of Austin's innovation ecosystem.
As Atoms, Bits, and Intelligence converge, we explore how Hard Tech scale, digital velocity, and creative density collide. This is an audit of the future. We map the physics of the flywheel so builders and investors can navigate the chaos.
Host Jason Scharf dissects innovation from the individual to the ecosystem. From the soundstage to the data center to the fab, we decode the mechanics of Austin's innovation ecosystem.
As Atoms, Bits, and Intelligence converge, we explore how Hard Tech scale, digital velocity, and creative density collide. This is an audit of the future. We map the physics of the flywheel so builders and investors can navigate the chaos.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 20, 2022 • 49min
From the Archive - Austin is Becoming a Multi-Hub Region with John Garrett, Founder and CEO of Community Impact
Surprising when we started exploring the subject, but this has turned into one of our most popular episodes. The regional innovation ecosystem is more than downtown and more than just Austin. The entire metro from Bastrop to Dripping Springs and San Marcos to Temple is maturing and changing. We are establishing numerous innovation hubs that operate independently from each other and come together into mesh network that is our region. We spoke with John Garrett, Founder and CEO of Community Impact about this hyper-local phenomena and what is means for media, innovation, and the future of Austin.Original episode aired May 31, 2022
-------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Dec 13, 2022 • 26min
From the Archive - History of the Austin Ecosystem with John Butler
We are traveling back to our very first episode with John Sibley Butler of UT Austin. Professor Butler has been a part of the ecosystem for decades and takes us through a journey from the beginning of the ecosystem to what it is today. We can't explore what's next before we know where we have been. Original episode aired July 13, 2021Episode LinksJohn Sibley Butler: UT Austin Bio, LinkedIn, Twitter
-------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Dec 6, 2022 • 36min
What's next Austin Next?
Michael and Jason take a moment to reflect back on what we learned in 22, the new questions we are asking in '23, and some surprising additional elements we are adding to the show.
-------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack

Nov 29, 2022 • 34min
Mammoths, Tigers, and Genomics, Oh My! with Ben Lamm CEO and Founder of Colossal Biosciences
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

Nov 22, 2022 • 51min
Austin Next Live: The Austin Bio Innovation Ecosystem
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

Nov 15, 2022 • 19min
Live at the Informa Tech AI/IoT/ Quantum Conference
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

Nov 8, 2022 • 39min
Rise of the Rest with Steve Case
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

Nov 1, 2022 • 32min
A Deep Dive with Bob Campbell, a Longtime Austin Leader
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

Oct 25, 2022 • 41min
Road Trip to Houston - Innovation through the Investor Lens with Dougal Cameron, Managing Director of Golden Section
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

Oct 18, 2022 • 40min
Road Trip to Houston - The Innovation Ecosystem with Houston Exponential
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


