Category: Austin (Page 4 of 316)

---

At Capital Factory, as Austin Tech Week kicked off Monday morning, Stacy McCracken and Courtney Warnsman were on a mission: to help attendees absorb knowledge and ensure they took action with what they learned.

They believed that growth doesn’t just happen by sitting through sessions; it requires leaving your comfort zone and pushing into the “doing” zone. With guidance from tools like PositivePsychology.com’s toolkit, attendees were encouraged to take small, meaningful steps toward personal and professional transformation.

Throughout the event, Warnsman emphasized the importance of personality assessments like DISC, Enneagram, and CrystalKnows, which help individuals understand their strengths, weaknesses, and communication styles. By knowing themselves better, attendees could foster stronger connections and make impactful first impressions—vital for networking, which Warnsman and McCracken described as a way of life, not a single event.

Austin Tech Week has opportunities to connect, learn, and grow. McCracken shared how a small decision to engage with someone could become a life-changing connection. She and Warnsman, friends and colleagues of 15 years, proved how relationships built on curiosity, accountability, and action can lead to significant growth. As their session wrapped up, they reminded attendees that growth lies in seizing the moment, embracing discomfort, and taking intentional action.

Ten Key Takeaways:

1. Absorb and Act – Austin Tech Week isn’t just for passive learning; take action on the knowledge you gain. The key to growth is implementing new ideas, not just listening.
2. Embrace Discomfort – Growth often happens outside of the comfort zone. Feeling uneasy when stretching yourself is normal, but transformation begins in those moments.
3. Understand Your Personality—Tools like DISC and Enneagram help you understand your behavior, communication style, and how to work effectively with others.
4. Four Minutes to Connect – You have only minutes to make a memorable first impression. Use your unique personality traits, your “superpowers,” to stand out.
5. Action over Information—Avoid the “doing deficit” trap of continuing to learn without implementing. Don’t wait for the “perfect” amount of information to take action.
6. Use the 5-Second Rule – When an idea strikes, act on it within five seconds, or it might slip away. This could be jotting down a note or telling someone who will hold you accountable.
7. Networking as a Lifestyle – Think of networking as a way of life, not just an event. Building connections requires continuous effort and authenticity.
8. Be Mindful of Introverts – Not everyone is eager to speak up; pay attention to quieter ones, as they may have valuable insights to share.
9. Set Daily Goals – Focus on achievable goals rather than a long list of aspirations. Small steps lead to significant accomplishments.
10. Seize Every Opportunity – A single hello or connection could change your career trajectory. Be intentional in your interactions and open to what each moment might bring.

Jeff Eversmann has built a dynamic career that spans Silicon Valley startups, commercial real estate, and private equity. With expertise in technical and financial realms, Jeff has guided companies through transformative growth and strategic challenges.

Eversmann co-founded Long View Technology Ventures, investing in 12 tech startups since 2018, supporting innovation in Central Texas. Jeff also serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Concordia University Texas, teaching Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

His book, Fooled by Early Adopters, offers critical insights for first-time founders seeking to understand the path to product/market fit.  

These are the top insights from Eversmann’s talk on the Ideas to Invoices podcast. He offers a roadmap for early-stage entrepreneurs, especially regarding strategic decision-making and avoiding missteps with early adopters.

1. Inspiration for the Book: Eversmann’s book, Fooled by Early Adopters, was inspired by his desire to help founders understand whether they’re spending money effectively on marketing, sales, and operations in early-stage startups.

2. Focus on Product-Market Fit: The first book in Eversmann’s series focuses on understanding product-market fit, which he sees as the foundation for startup success. He emphasizes finding the right customer segments early on.

3. The “Early Adopter Trap”: Eversmann warns that early adopters often try products not necessarily because they are the perfect fit but because they enjoy experimenting. This can mislead startups into believing they’ve found their ideal customer, leading them down potentially unproductive paths.

4. Mainstream Market Transition: To scale beyond early adopters, Eversmann references Geoffrey Moore’s concept of “crossing the chasm,” stressing the importance of moving from early adopters to the mainstream market by aligning the product to broader customer needs.

5. The Importance of Focused Investment: For startups, it’s critical to ensure that resources are allocated to the right areas at the right times. Eversmann highlights the importance of strategic spending in marketing, operations, and finance as a company scales.

6. Avoiding Distractions from the Wrong Customer: Eversmann advises entrepreneurs to be cautious about customers who may not align with the product’s core mission. This can lead to feature creep and a loss of focus on the intended roadmap.

7. Testing and Validation with MVPs: He advocates using Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) to gather feedback but emphasizes that feedback must be filtered to ensure alignment with the product’s long-term vision.

For more, listen to the entire podcast interview posted below. It’s also available on Apple, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartMedia, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Jeff Eversmann, Author of Fooled by Early Adopters

Jeff Eversmann has built a dynamic career that spans Silicon Valley startups, commercial real estate, and private equity. With expertise in both technical and financial realms, Jeff has guided companies through transformative growth and strategic challenges. His MSEE, MBA, and CPA certifications, along with his experience in engineering technologies and securing early-stage investments, position him as a leader in navigating product/market fit.

Austin-based SweatPals has closed a $3 million funding round, led by a16z SPEEDRUN and Pear VC, in a significant milestone to drive the company’s mission of fostering connections through fitness.

Salar Shahini, Co-founder and CEO of SweatPals, announced the funding in a post on LinkedIn.

According to Shahini, the funding round holds special meaning, not only for the capital but also for the partnerships it brings.

“When we launched SweatPals 18 months ago, we drew deep inspiration from The Cold Start Problem and the incredible marketplaces we admire,” Shahini wrote. “To now be partnering with Andrew Chen, a 16z partner, growth expert, and the author who inspired us, feels like a full-circle moment.”

The round was also guided by Pejman Nozad of Pear VC, whose inspiring journey as a fellow immigrant resonates with Mandi Zhou, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer, and Shahini.

“Pejman’s story of resilience and vision serves as a powerful reminder of what’s possible with determination,” Shahini wrote.

According to Shahini, this funding wouldn’t have been possible without the unwavering belief of early backers, including Warren Shaeffer, who has been a steadfast advocate of SweatPals from the beginning. He also gave a special thanks to Robin Guo, who played a pivotal role in making the round happen, and to early supporters like Jared Simon, Fardad Zabetian, Prerna Sharma, and Parham A., whose initial investment of $800K was essential in setting the foundation.

SweatPals was created to bridge divides and unite people of all backgrounds through the shared fitness experience. The platform’s AI-driven features allow users to connect with workout partners, discover training opportunities, and share their health journeys while fostering genuine connections. “Fitness is a space where anyone, from any background, can come together. We’re not just building this for our community; we’re building it with them,” Shahini wrote.

The new funding will power SweatPals’ growth as they expand their digital platform with more innovative features, strategic partnerships, and wellness initiatives. The team is also actively hiring, with open positions for those excited to shape the future of fitness and community engagement.

“Most importantly, to our incredible community: every creator, fitness entrepreneur, and member who has embraced the vision, shared it with a friend, or attended an event—you are the heartbeat of SweatPals,” Shahini wrote. “Your belief was so strong that you collectively invested $800K in the last round. We’re not just building this for you—we’re building it with you, and we’re grateful for every step of this journey together.”

Austin-based MDisrupt, an AI-powered marketplace for healthcare technology, has secured a $1 million milestone-based investment from American Heart Association (AHA) Ventures.

The newly established venture firm from the AHA leads AHA’s investments and is designed to support groundbreaking innovations that align with the organization’s mission.

In tandem with this funding, MDisrupt and the AHA have entered into a service agreement to co-develop a platform to connect healthcare experts with innovators. This expansion will leverage the AHA’s vast network of clinicians, scientists, and business professionals. By integrating these resources into MDisrupt’s marketplace, the partnership aims to bridge the gap between innovation and clinical expertise.

MDisrupt, founded by Ruby Gadelrab, offers an AI-powered matchmaking platform that pairs healthcare and medtech companies with industry experts with over a decade of experience. This setup allows companies to access expert guidance in building clinically sound, impactful products. Gadelrab said in a news release, “We take care of all the contracting, liability insurance, and logistics, so clinicians and healthcare experts can focus on advising rather than the administrative tasks of industry work.”

This new collaboration with AHA Ventures will bring AHA members’ expertise to MDisrupt’s platform. Lisa Suennen, managing partner of AHA Ventures, explained, “People are looking for the expertise our members have because they want to apply the best evidence and science to their healthcare innovations. MDisrupt’s commitment to scientifically driven, evidence-based matchmaking aligns with our goals.”

Suennen noted that the AHA’s investment structure reflects their commitment to ensuring the platform’s development, explaining, “We provided three-quarters of the funding upfront, with the remaining quarter dependent on the successful beta launch of the co-developed product.” Set for a beta release in the latter half of 2025, the platform aims to facilitate referrals to experts, enabling innovators to apply science-backed insights throughout their development.

For MDisrupt, this partnership represents an opportunity to amplify the role of expert input in health tech. “Our mission is to help the most impactful healthcare products reach the market faster, with the right regulatory, clinical, and operational insights to make them truly viable,” Gadelrab said.

As MDisrupt and AHA Ventures bring this co-developed platform to life, both parties anticipate a significant impact on the quality and clinical relevance of next-generation healthcare and medtech solutions. Suennen concluded, “Our hope is for MDisrupt’s growth and success to bring more credibility and partners to the table, further elevating the standards for health technology.”

Austin-based Skimmer, a trailblazer in pool service management software, has announced a $74 million investment from Mainsail Partners, a significant boost to its mission of transforming the pool service industry.

This capital injection will allow Skimmer to expand its technology, enhance its team, and solidify its position as the leading platform for pool service businesses.

Since its founding in 2017, Skimmer has aimed to simplify the management of pool service operations, providing tools that streamline scheduling, route optimization, billing, and customer communication. More than 29,000 pool professionals use Skimmer to organize, scale, and grow their businesses while serving approximately 700,000 pools across North America.

“Our purpose at Skimmer has always been to help our customers build great businesses,” Jack Nelson, CEO of Skimmer, said in a news release. “With this investment from Mainsail, we can accelerate our vision for a more efficient and powerful platform for pool service professionals. This is a win for our customers, employees, and the industry.”

Skimmer’s partner in this next growth phase, Mainsail Partners, is a growth equity firm specializing in vertical SaaS (Software as a Service) companies. Gavin Turner, co-founder and Managing Partner of Mainsail noted, “Skimmer has established itself as a leader by building a robust product and a passionate team. We’re excited to support Skimmer as they innovate further and help customers scale, from start-up pool pros to dominant players in their markets.”

Peter Freeland and Shane Skiffington from Unbundled Capital, who have been instrumental in Skimmer’s growth since their initial investment in 2020, will continue their roles on Skimmer’s Board. They will be joined by Gavin Turner and Anthony Hayes from Mainsail Partners, bringing additional industry expertise. Freeland noted, “We’re incredibly proud of Skimmer’s journey and the talented team behind it. Partnering with Mainsail is a strategic move to continue creating value for customers and maintaining Skimmer’s leadership in the pool services market.”

This latest round of growth capital underscores Skimmer’s steady trajectory in the SaaS space and the rising demand for modern, streamlined solutions in traditionally manual industries like pool service and repair. The funds will support product innovation, new hires, and enhanced customer experience, benefiting the thousands of pool service professionals who rely on Skimmer to optimize their operations.

Austin Tech Week, one of the biggest Austin tech events of the year, is about to kick off.

Austin Startup Week is no more. Austin Tech Week is the new branding for an event that has occurred for the past 14 years in downtown Austin. With the growth and development of Austin as a tech hub, organizers decided a name change was in order.

Silicon Hills News has covered every Austin Startup/Tech Week. The event has grown from several hundred attendees to several thousand, as can be seen in Austin’s skyline. The city has changed dramatically in the past decade with the addition of Tesla, Oracle, and Zoho and the expansion of Google, Facebook, Apple, and Samsung campuses.

In addition, the U.S. Army Futures Command Center chose Austin in 2018 to establish its headquarters. This has spurred research and development and startups creating products for the military.

Austin entrepreneurs have created thousands of startups with numerous high-profile exits, such as HomeAway’s sale to Expedia, Indeed.com’s sale to Recruit, Opcity’s sale to Realtor.com, and Honest Dollar’s sale to Goldman Sachs.

Meanwhile, Austin has attracted more startups to its ecosystem, and homegrown startups like Icon, SparkCognition, Everly Health, Workrise, Wheel, The Zebra, and Zen Business have all raised money at a greater than $1 billion valuation.

Austin Tech Week occurs from October 28^th to November 1^st at Capital Factory and other venues downtown.

Other highlights include a headshot studio powered by StudioPod during the Women in Tech track on Monday, networking opportunities over coffee or cocktails, and downtown happy hours at Inn Cahoots, Rivian, Fareground Food Hall, and Speakeasy.

The event also features offsite health and wellness events, such as FREE Barry’s and RIDE Indoor Cycling classes, the recovery lounge at Swift Fit Events, pickleball meetups, and more.

Austin Tech Week features nine educational tracks on women in tech, innovation, fundraising, AI, and more.

The week wraps up on Friday with AustinStartupCrawl, which features dozens of Austin’s hottest tech companies, live music, and free food and drinks.

ALM Ortho, a medical technology company focused on orthopedic care solutions, has announced the successful close of a $1 million funding round led by the Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN) and Keiretsu Forum.

The investment aims to accelerate the development and commercialization of ALM Ortho’s advanced implant solutions, which address critical needs in complex limb restoration. The company, founded in 2020, is based in Scarborough, ME.

The new funding will support ALM Ortho’s mission to transform outcomes for patients undergoing challenging limb restoration surgeries. Specializing in areas where conventional options often fall short—such as osseointegration, limb lengthening, joint arthroplasty revisions, and trauma recovery—the company collaborates closely with surgeons to create implants and tools that fill significant gaps in orthopedic treatment. By focusing on these complex cases, ALM Ortho seeks to bring renewed hope and enhanced functionality to patients facing limited restoration options.

“ALM Ortho’s technology promises to be life-changing for a large segment of amputees,” Lance Adams, a CTAN’s Deal Team member, said in a news release. “We strive to make positive returns on our investments, and it’s particularly rewarding to support innovations that can improve people’s lives in our communities.”

Paul DeJuliis, ALM Ortho’s Chairman and Co-Founder, shared his vision for the future: “This investment enables us to bring our innovative products to market faster, empowering surgeons to provide solutions that offer patients a greater chance at full recovery. We’re excited to take this next step in revolutionizing how complex limb restoration is approached.”

The $1 million Series A equity round will fuel ALM Ortho’s expansion of its product development pipeline and help scale its operations. Positioned as a pioneer in orthopedic technology, ALM Ortho is set to play a transformative role in limb restoration solutions, advancing new standards in patient care.

Austin-based SchooLinks, a leading software platform providing College and Career Readiness (CCR) resources to K-12 students across the U.S., today announced an $80 million minority growth investment led by Susquehanna Growth Equity (SGE).

Additional Series B funding round investors include Stephens Group, Strada Education Network, and American Student Assistance (ASA).

This new capital infusion will enable SchooLinks to expand its suite of products and enhance its growing ecosystem, connecting K-12 students with higher education institutions and employers.

The need for comprehensive college career readiness solutions has never been more pressing. Recent data shows that only 1 in 5 high school graduates in the class of 2023 are prepared to succeed in core introductory college classes, according to an analysis of ACT scores. SchooLinks addresses this challenge through its innovative CCR platform, which engages students through assessments, gamified lessons, scholarship applications, and interactive videos. The platform is designed to help students and families navigate the post-graduation landscape with individualized roadmaps tailored to their unique skills, interests, and goals.

Founded by Katie Fang, a Forbes 30 Under 30 entrepreneur, SchooLinks aims to democratize access to CCR resources for all students. Silicon Hills News profiled Schoolinks shortly after its launch in 2015.

Now operational in 40 states, the platform has become a vital tool for public school districts. It offers a modern solution that meets the specific needs of administrators, counselors, Career and Technical Education (CTE) departments, students, families, and workforce development professionals. SchooLinks is also setting a new standard for student engagement, outpacing its peers in the CCR space and addressing the country’s workforce development challenges at a deeper level.

“I’m thrilled to be partnering with mission-aligned investors in this latest funding round,” Katie Fang, CEO of SchooLinks, said in a news release. “SGE brings invaluable experience in SaaS and the education industry, which will help us evolve our platform and expand our workforce solutions. This investment will enable us to extend our impact from school districts to employers, accelerating our growth and expanding our reach.”

Josh Elser, Managing Director of SGE, praised SchooLinks for redefining the CCR space. “They’ve achieved product-market fit and transformed the CCR industry in ways not seen in the past 25 years. We’re excited to support Katie and her team as they enter this next phase of growth.”

SchooLinks has seen exponential growth over the past three years, serving 15 times the number of districts and ten times the number of students since its Series A round. The platform is now recognized as one of the most reliable and innovative CCR solutions in the market, positioning itself as a crucial player in workforce development by bridging the gap between education and employment.

Ryan Morrow, Managing Director at The Stephens Group, added, “We believe SchooLinks is poised for even greater success with its commitment to product innovation and best-in-class customer service. This investment will help further solidify its status as the premier CCR platform for K-12 students.”

With this new round of funding, SchooLinks is set to expand its offerings and continue its mission of equipping students with the tools they need to succeed after graduation—whether that path leads to higher education, technical training, or direct entry into the workforce.

Keywords Studios, a global leader in creative and technology-driven solutions for the video game and entertainment industries, has announced an agreement to acquire Certain Affinity, a prominent Austin-based game development studio.

This acquisition strengthens Keywords Studios’ presence in North America.

The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Founded in 2006 by Max Hoberman, Certain Affinity has played a pivotal role in shaping some of the most successful gaming franchises, including Halo and Call of Duty. The studio has collaborated on nearly 20 projects within these two legendary series, contributing to other major titles such as Hogwarts Legacy and DOOM.

In 2017, Certain Affinity sold a 20 percent stake in the company to Leyou Technologies Holdings Limited of Hong Kong for a $10 million investment. It also received a $5 million investment from Capstar Partners, an Austin-based private investment firm.

With over 180 professionals working out of Austin and Toronto, Ontario, Certain Affinity’s reach is far-reaching. The company’s ongoing efforts include EXODUS, an eagerly awaited game developed by Archetype Entertainment, a Wizards of the Coast subsidiary, and Hasbro.

Hoberman, Certain Affinity’s founder and CEO, and President & COO Paul Sams will continue leading the studio after the acquisition.

“We are thrilled to welcome Certain Affinity to the Keywords Group,” said Bertrand Bodson, CEO of Keywords Studios. “Their reputation in the industry is exemplary, and their expertise will greatly enhance our Create division, particularly in the U.S. and Canada. We look forward to working closely with Max, Paul, and their talented team as we drive growth together.”

Hoberman also expressed excitement about the partnership, especially amid a challenging market environment. “At this most difficult time in the market, we’re thrilled to be able to provide stability and a supportive home for our team. Keywords have shown immense respect for our culture and talent, and we are excited about their commitment to invest in our future,” he said. “Paul and I look forward to expanding our co-development capabilities, refining our lead development, and contributing to the growth of Keywords’ Create division.”

As part of Keywords Studios, Certain Affinity is poised to continue its legacy of working on blockbuster games while expanding its footprint in the highly competitive gaming industry.

Uber Technologies and autonomous vehicle startup Avride have announced a multiyear strategic partnership to bring Avride’s autonomous delivery robots and vehicles to Uber and Uber Eats.

The partnership aims to improve delivery and mobility services by integrating Avride’s autonomous technology into Uber’s platform.

The collaboration will launch with Avride’s sidewalk delivery robots on Uber Eats in Austin in the coming weeks, expanding to Dallas and Jersey City, New Jersey, later this year. Next year, the partnership will extend to riders, with Avride’s autonomous vehicles set to offer ride-hailing services in Dallas.

Once the integration is live, Uber Eats customers and riders in select locations may have the option to choose an Avride delivery robot or autonomous vehicle to fulfill their trip. This move will further enhance the user experience by offering efficient and innovative alternatives to traditional deliveries and rides.

Avride, known for its dual expertise in autonomous cars and delivery robots, is already making commercial deliveries in the U.S. and South Korea. Autonomous cars are also being tested on public roads. This shared technology allows Avride to provide seamless, scalable solutions for both mobility and delivery.

“We are excited to partner with Uber as we scale our operations and work together to further improve the delivery experience for both consumers and merchants,” Dmitry Polishchuk, CEO of Avride, said in a news release. “We plan to expand the total fleet of Avride robots operating within Uber Eats to hundreds in 2025, followed by the launch of our robotaxi service.”

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi added, “Autonomous mobility and delivery hold a ton of promise for consumers and communities. We’re excited to partner with Avride to bring their technology to more people in more places as they continue to scale.”

This partnership, with the potential to drastically change the delivery and mobility industries, underscores Uber’s continued push into autonomous technology and Avride’s growing influence in the market.

About Uber

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. Since launching in 2010, Uber has completed over 52 billion trips and continues to expand its platform to serve the needs of both people and businesses by transforming how goods, food, and people move through cities.

About Avride

Austin-based Avride is a leader in autonomous technology, developing and operating autonomous cars and delivery robots. Founded in 2017, Avride is committed to addressing current and future mobility and delivery needs with a focus on scalability and technological innovation.