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

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer sits down with Taylor McHargue of Cushman & Wakefield. Taylor is a new board member at the Austin Technology Council, and is a good example of the next generation of people in the tech ecosystem that want to show up and help build the future for all. In this interview we explore what the commercial real estate market can tell us about the current state of Austin's tech economy. It is a timely conversation, because office space is no longer just about square footage. It has become a reflection of hiring, funding, culture, confidence, and where companies believe they are headed next. Taylor explains that in the boom years, especially around 2016 to 2018, tech companies often leased more space than they needed and signed longer terms because growth felt inevitable. Today, that mindset is gone. After the disruptions of the pandemic, many executives carry real caution about long leases and unused space. Companies are now trying to match their footprint closely to current needs, with far less appetite for risk. The conversation also highlights how Austin's office market has evolved since COVID. While vacancy remains high on paper, Taylor notes that activity has picked up, especially among technology firms, and especially since the start of 2026. Some of that momentum is tied to AI-related companies, while broader return-to-office trends are also playing a role. Many firms are no longer debating whether they will gather in person at all. Instead, they are figuring out what kind of office strategy best supports collaboration, flexibility, and growth. One of the biggest takeaways is that not all office space is equal. The buildings performing best are highly amenitized, well located, and often move-in ready. For many companies, office space is now a recruiting and retention tool. That means coffee shops, fitness centers, conference amenities, and proximity to the areas where talent wants to be matter more than ever. Taylor describes the market as a tale of two worlds: some buildings struggle, while others attract most of the serious demand. This episode offers a smart window into where Austin tech is today, and where it may be headed next. ******************** Ausitn Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software ******************** The Austin Technology Council exists to help Austin's fast growing tech community stay connected, collaborative, and engaged. As the ecosystem gets bigger and more complex, ATC creates space for the conversations and relationships that help people find their place in the bigger story of Austin tech. We believe strong communities do not happen by accident, they are built through trust, shared ideas, and leaders who show up. That is the role ATC continues to play as Austin's tech future unfolds.

This episode of "Austin Tech Connect" (the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council) features a conversation between Thom Singer (CEO at ATC) and Paul O'Brien about Paul's new book "Startup Ecosystems." Paul discussed his career journey from Michigan to Silicon Valley to Austin, where he has lived for 17 years working in public affairs for startup ecosystems. They explored how Austin's tech ecosystem has thrived through effective marketing and storytelling, contrasting it with other cities. Paul explained how his book builds on Brad Feld's earlier work (Feld's book "Startup Communities" was a pivotal work for Startups) by providing a more current economic and pragmatic approach to developing startup communities, emphasizing the importance of proper mentorship, marketing fundamentals, and policy development. They also discussed the challenges and opportunities for Texas's growing tech ecosystem, particularly the potential for collaboration across the state's major cities. ************* Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software

The episode of Austin Tech Connect is an interview with Christine McDannell, an M&A advisor who recently moved to Austin from San Diego. Christine discussed her entrepreneurial journey, including her experience selling multiple companies and founding The Magnolia Firm, which specializes in helping digital businesses and SaaS companies find buyers. She explained her unique approach of turning away 95% of potential sellers to focus on high-quality listings and offered insights into the current market challenges, such as finding willing sellers. Christine also shared her perspective on Austin's tech community, highlighting its welcoming nature and vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. The conversation concluded with Christine emphasizing the unique culture of Austin and encouraging listeners to visit the city, while Thom Singer, the host, expressed his hope for Christine's continued involvement in the Austin tech community. Every week on this podcast, the Austin Technology Council wants to introduce you to people in the community from companies of all sizes. Austin is not just start ups, or big companies, our tech ecosystem is a perfect collaboration of many things. When our community can revisit connections over silos, we set ourselves up for the future. Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software.

In this episode of the Austin Tech Connect podcast, Thom Singer interviewed Phil Gilbert, author of "Irresistible Change: The Blueprint for Earning Buy-In and Breakout Success," about his career in technology and his experiences transforming IBM after its acquisition of Lombardi Software. Gilbert shared his journey from founding a PC consulting company in the 1980s to leading design at IBM, where he implemented a successful change management program that improved employee engagement and market share. They discussed the changing landscape of Austin's tech community, with Gilbert expressing concerns about the loss of community spirit and corporate citizenship. The conversation highlighted the importance of understanding Austin's rich tech history and the need to rekindle the city's entrepreneurial and collaborative culture. Austin Tech Connect is the offical podcast of the Austin Technology Council and is one of the top Austin tech podcasts. Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software.

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer sits down with Matt Zilli, the new CEO of Planview, for a grounded conversation about leadership, career growth, and why real relationships still matter in a tech world chasing speed. Matt shares his unusual path through SaaS, from computer science at Santa Clara, to Marketo, to leading private equity backed software companies, and how a strong network of people willing to "take a bet" on you can unlock unexpected opportunities. Matt also unpacks Planview's approach to hybrid work through what the company calls "purposeful connections," which is less about counting office days and more about bringing people together for a reason, to build relationships, solve real problems, and strengthen mentorship. The conversation closes with an optimistic look at Austin's tech ecosystem, what makes it special, and what the community needs to protect as the city keeps growing. If you care about innovation and community, this one hits the sweet spot. ********** Thank you to the sponsor of Austin Tech Connect - Calavista Software... Software development without the drama. Since 2001 Calavista software has been trusted by startups and fortune 100 companies for their custom software needs.

What happens when a single, outdated $5 semiconductor can stall an aircraft program, delay medical equipment, or freeze production lines? In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer sits down with Ryan Hatcher, CEO and founder of Phoenix Semiconductor, to unpack a supply chain problem that quietly cripples industries: "end-of-life" chips that are no longer manufactured, but are still essential to the systems we depend on. Ryan shares how his career path from physics to defense electronics to tech scouting put him front-row during the COVID-era shortages, where the real bottlenecks weren't always the cutting-edge chips… but the small components no one could replace. Ryan explains how Phoenix Semiconductor is building drop-in replacement chips that perform indistinguishably from the originals... and why that matters for defense, aerospace, medical devices, energy, and heavy industry. Along the way, you'll hear a smart, honest look at entrepreneurship (starting with "zero momentum"), the power of mentorship, and why Austin's tech ecosystem still has a rare advantage: the ability to reach the right people through real relationships. If you care about semiconductors, supply chain resilience, or how founders build meaningful companies in Austin, this one is worth your time. ******** Subscribe to Austin Tech Connect on your favorite podcast platform. ******* Thank you to Calavista Software for being the annual sponsors of this podcast for 2026.

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer talks with Prakhar Agrawal, CEO of Senseloaf AI, an Austin based startup using AI agents to make recruiting faster, more human, and less frustrating for both candidates and hiring teams. Prakhar shares his path from mechanical engineering to entrepreneurship, and how a broken job search experience in 2017–2018 pushed him to build an "automated matching" approach long before AI became a buzzword. He explains how he reunited with his cofounder, an early NLP practitioner, and tells the origin story behind the name Senseloaf, "making sense of data" with recruiting as the first "slice" of a bigger vision. The conversation dives into what Senseloaf actually does, from intelligent candidate matching beyond keywords, to a 24/7 conversational agent that engages applicants, to AI powered screening and interview workflows that scale without removing humans from decision making. Prakhar also discusses the realities of building an AI company in a market filled with hype and mistrust, how the business survived COVID by evolving its model, and why the team is moving toward a value first approach by opening the platform so companies can test it before committing. The episode wraps with a candid look at why Austin attracted him from Boston, what the city does well (and where it can improve) for founders, plus a bigger discussion about the rise of "engineer entrepreneurs" as risk and barriers to building have dropped. To learn more, visit senseloaf.ai or connect with Prakhar on LinkedIn. Thank you to the sponsor of the Austin Tech Connect Podcast.... Calavista Software.

In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, ATC's Thom Singer sits down with Brandon Tigges, co-founder and CEO of Austin based Job Machine. Brandon grew up a military kid, was homeschooled, moved eight times before age 18, and learned early how to adapt, learn fast, and build relationships. That path took him from finance to tech sales, then into entrepreneurship, fueled by mentors, books, and an obsession with solving real problems. Brandon shares how Job Machine helps workforce organizations, schools, and outplacement providers place people into jobs faster, and why their big, hairy, audacious goal is simple, any American who wants a job should be able to get one. Along the way, he talks about work ethic, paying it forward, and what Austin needs to keep doing right if we want the tech ecosystem to stay strong. Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software

Austin did not become a tech city by accident, and it will not stay an innovation center on autopilot. In the first Austin Tech Connect episode of 2026, Thom Singer sits down with Jan Ryan, CEO of Three Hills, a longtime operator in venture backed startups, a builder of community, and a force behind expanding opportunity for women founders in Austin. Jan takes us back to the mid 90s when Austin was still "a lovable, slightly disorganized teenager," then connects the lessons of the dot com era to what is happening now with AI and frontier tech. This is a conversation about leadership, not hype. Jan lays out why innovation is moving faster than the institutions that are supposed to support it, talent pipelines, capital networks, and policy frameworks, and why inclusion is not a tagline, it is a growth strategy. Thom and Jan dig into what it will take for Austin to lead the next decade, how leaders can show up without burning out, and why it is not just networking, it is equipping. If you care about the next chapter of Austin tech, this one is your seat at the table. Thank you to the 2026 sponsor of Austin Tech Connect.... Calavista Software. It is companies that are true "Community Champions" that sponsor organizations like the Austin Technology Council.

Austin Tech Connect closes out 2025 with a milestone episode celebrating the podcast's three year anniversary and ending the year with a high energy conversation about entrepreneurship, custom software, and what it takes to keep building in Austin. Thom welcomes Scott Kenyon, founding partner at Applaudo, a firm that helps companies go from early stage ideas to real products, covering strategy, MVPs, design and development, cloud platforms, AI, DevOps, and cybersecurity. Scott shares his entrepreneurial path, including leaving college to start a business, then returning later to finish after a first venture gave him real world experience and momentum. From there, he explains how Applaudo grew from a focused service offering into a broader set of capabilities by staying close to client needs and expanding carefully in a trust driven industry. A key theme throughout the episode is that software services still run on reputation, relationships, and accountability, especially when companies are betting real dollars on complex builds. The conversation includes a memorable story about helping a pro sports organization modernize an outdated workflow, plus a look at the different industries Applaudo serves and why focus matters even when you work across multiple verticals. Thom and Scott also dig into AI, not as hype, but as a practical tool that is changing how work gets done, along with a candid discussion about the infrastructure demands behind AI and what that could mean over the next several years. The episode wraps with thoughts on what makes Austin's tech community strong, where the ecosystem needs to stay scrappy, and a look ahead to 2026, including Austin Tech Hall of Fame nominations opening in January. Thanks to the sponsor of the podcast, Calavista Software.