エピソード

  • Peter Zandan - 45 Years in Austin

    Peter Zandan - 45 Years in Austin
    2026/06/24

    Peter Zandan has been part of Austin's technology story since 1977... long before anyone was calling this city a tech hub. In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer sits down with the long-time entrepreneur and community leader (and recent inductee into the Austin Tech Hall of Fame) to trace that journey from the beginning. Peter shares what brought him to Austin, what kept him here, and how he went on to found multiple companies including IntelliQuest and Zilliant, guided throughout by a philosophy of following his heart over his head in business.

    The conversation covers Peter's creation of the Zandan Report, which provided objective, data-driven insight into Austin's tech ecosystem at a time when no one else was tracking it... and the role that kind of community infrastructure plays in helping a city understand and grow its own identity. Peter also reflects on his decade as a board member at Meow Wolf, and what sitting at the intersection of art, experience, and technology has taught him about what communities actually need to thrive.

    On AI, Peter is optimistic in a way that feels grounded rather than naive: he sees artificial intelligence as a tool that enhances human capabilities rather than one that displaces them. That view shapes his broader point about Austin's future... that as the city has evolved from a place that had to recruit tech talent to one that attracts it naturally, what it must protect is precisely the quality of life and community spirit that made it worth moving to in the first place. Human relationships and lived experience, Peter argues, matter more in an AI-driven world, not less.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    39 分
  • Brand Authority in the AI Era, with Kathleen Lucente

    Brand Authority in the AI Era, with Kathleen Lucente
    2026/06/17

    Thom Singer sits down with Kathleen Lucente, founder and CEO of Red Fan Communications, for a conversation about how AI is rewriting the rules of brand visibility. Kathleen has spent nearly two decades advising B2B tech CMOs and founders on messaging, M&A communications, and crisis response.... and she's now watching AI answer engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google Gemini replace the click-through search results that used to drive brand discovery.

    She walks through her "Brand Authority Index," a seven-factor framework she built to measure and improve how a company's brand shows up when AI tools generate answers, covering everything from third-party endorsements and review-site recency to executive thought leadership and why LinkedIn has become an outsized signal of credibility for AI systems.

    The conversation also covers the case for getting communications teams involved early in mergers and acquisitions (months before announcement, not days), and closes with Kathleen's read on Austin's three-decade evolution as a tech hub and the case for a unified "Texas Technology Triangle" connecting Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and the Brazos Valley.

    Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software, software development without the drama.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    38 分
  • Wayfinding Through AI: A Conversation with Stephen Straus of KungFu.AI

    Wayfinding Through AI: A Conversation with Stephen Straus of KungFu.AI
    2026/06/09

    In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer talks with Stephen Straus, co-founder and CEO of KungFu.AI, about what it really means to lead in the age of artificial intelligence. Stephen started KungFu.AI in 2017, years before ChatGPT made AI the topic everyone was talking about, and his perspective is shaped by seeing the early internet boom in Austin and now watching AI reshape every industry. The conversation explores why companies need to think beyond simple automation and start asking how they can use AI to disrupt their own industries before someone else does. Stephen also shares the story behind his upcoming book, "Wayfinding: A Business Fable About Leading in the Age of AI" , about a CEO who has 90 days to build an AI strategy or lose her job. Along the way, Thom and Stephen talk about leadership, vulnerability, proprietary data, the difference between real AI strategy and AI hype, and why Austin's tech ecosystem continues to evolve in powerful ways.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    29 分
  • The Human Side of Tech Layoffs in Austin

    The Human Side of Tech Layoffs in Austin
    2026/06/05

    In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer talks with Jess Lowry, Laura Timmis, and Rachael DiGiovine of Mindful Collective about career transitions, layoffs, and the very real human impact of uncertainty in today's tech-enabled economy.

    Mindful Collective is a community of practice that helps people stay active and connected while they explore what comes next, linking members to mentorship, collaborative projects, volunteer opportunities, and client engagements. The conversation looks at some of the common myths around layoffs, including the idea that layoffs only happen to underperformers, and explores how AI-driven hiring tools, ageism, and changing job market dynamics can make it harder for experienced professionals to be seen. Jess, Laura, and Rachael also share how small project-based engagements can help people build current experience, strengthen portfolios, maintain confidence, and continue creating value.

    This is a timely conversation about talent, resilience, community, and why Austin's tech ecosystem is stronger when we support people through transition instead of letting them navigate it alone.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    28 分
  • 2026 Austin Tech Hall of Fame Recap

    2026 Austin Tech Hall of Fame Recap
    2026/05/21
    The Austin Technology Council hosted the third annual Austin Tech Hall of Fame at the offices of Wise at The Domain in Austin, Texas. Two hundred members of the Austin tech community came together to honor the builders, founders, and leaders whose work laid the foundation of one of the most dynamic technology ecosystems in the world. In this episode, Thom Singer recaps the evening and goes deeper on why the Austin Technology Council created the Hall of Fame, what it means to build a program designed to last eight years, and why honoring the past is one of the most important investments a community can make in its future. The theme of the evening was simple but powerful. Celebrate the past. Be present in the now. Look to the future. The more Thom has studied thriving ecosystems, the more convinced he has become that the future of a city is stronger when people understand the story they are joining. History gives newcomers context. It gives longtime residents pride. And it gives leaders a clearer sense of what must be protected while everything around them changes. Austin is growing and changing at a pace that makes it easy to lose that thread. The Hall of Fame exists to make sure that does not happen. The 2026 Foundational/Legacy Inductees Each year the Austin Technology Council inducts eight foundational and legacy honorees, people who were building things in Austin before it was obvious the city would become what it is today. This year those eight were Ken DeAngelis, Hugh Forrest, Brett A. Hurt, Joe McCall, Robert Metcalfe, Jan Ryan, Joel Trammell, and Peter Zandan. Two hundred people got to sit in a room and hear these eight individuals reflect on their careers, their decisions, and the community they helped create. That kind of direct transmission of history is rare. It is also exactly what a healthy ecosystem needs. The 2026 Current Year Inductee Tyson Tuttle, former CEO of Silicon Labs and current CEO and co-founder of Circuit, was announced as the 2026 current year inductee into the Austin Tech Hall of Fame. The 2026 First Time Founder Award Will Wilder was named the 2026 winner of the First Time Founder Award, an honor the Austin Technology Council has presented every year since the Hall of Fame launched. The award recognizes entrepreneurs navigating the specific challenges and milestones of building their first company. An Eight-Year Vision The Austin Technology Council sees the Hall of Fame as a long-term commitment, not an annual event. There are close to 70 people who helped lay the foundation of Austin tech. Honoring all of them at once would do justice to none of them. The goal is to take the time each year to tell a small number of those stories well, to give those people the room to actually be heard, and to build something over time that the entire ecosystem can point to and say, this is where we came from. By the end of this program, the Austin Tech Hall of Fame will represent a living record of the people and decisions that made Austin what it is. Why This Matters The Austin Technology Council exists to connect Austin's tech ecosystem through community, collaboration, and conversation. Thom believes the city will have a stronger future if people choose to be one community rather than a collection of silos. The Hall of Fame is one of the most tangible ways the ATC makes that case, year after year, by putting the right people in a room and asking them to share what they know. If you are new to Austin, this is the story you are joining. If you have been here a long time, this is the story you helped write. And if you are leading something right now, this is the foundation you are building on. Learn More Austin Technology Council: austintechnologycouncil.com
    続きを読む 一部表示
    14 分
  • Improving the Odds: Sales Lessons from Skip Balch

    Improving the Odds: Sales Lessons from Skip Balch
    2026/05/14
    On this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer sits down with Skip Balch, founder and principal consultant at SalesHandicapper, for a wide-ranging conversation about sales, leadership, artificial intelligence, and the Austin technology community. Skip has lived in Austin for more than 13 years and brings nearly five decades of sales and sales leadership experience to the conversation. His career has included work with startups, technology companies, and high-growth organizations, including time connected to Broadcast.com, one of the legendary stories in the tech world. Today, through SalesHandicapper, Skip helps companies improve their odds of winning by focusing on sales strategy, skills, accountability, and better communication. The conversation begins with Skip's path into sales, including an early career move to Anchorage, Alaska, where he led a sales team for an alternative long-distance telephone company. From there, the discussion turns to the sales lessons that have stayed with him throughout his career. One of Skip's strongest points is that sales are often not lost at the end of the process, they are lost at the beginning. Expectations matter, and if a salesperson does not set them clearly, those expectations are being set somewhere else, often without the salesperson even knowing it. Skip also shares one of the most important lessons for salespeople and business leaders alike: listen to learn, not to respond. Too many people are already preparing their next answer while the other person is still speaking. In sales, leadership, networking, and community building, real progress comes when people slow down, ask better questions, and pay attention to what is actually being said. The episode also explores how artificial intelligence is changing the sales profession. Skip believes AI tools, especially AI sales assistants and note-takers, can be a major advantage because they allow salespeople to be fully present in conversations instead of scrambling to capture notes. But he is also clear that AI does not remove the need for human judgment. In fact, as information becomes easier to access, discernment becomes more important. The best sales leaders will not simply use AI to gather more data, they will know how to determine what matters. A major theme of the conversation is the difference between being "human in the loop" and being human in the lead. AI can help with preparation, research, summaries, and productivity, but business still depends on trust, judgment, accountability, and relationships. Skip argues that people who refuse to adopt AI are the ones most at risk. AI may not replace salespeople directly, but those who ignore it may find themselves replaced by people who use it well. Thom and Skip also talk about the mistakes tech companies make when trying to build sales organizations. Many founders believe that if they build a great product, customers will automatically come. Skip challenges that assumption. Companies must understand whether they are solving a real problem, whether customers care enough to solve it, and whether early sales can become a scalable business. His advice is direct: qualify to disqualify, ask hard questions early, and do not confuse a few early wins with true market traction. The episode closes with a look at Austin's technology ecosystem. Skip sees Austin continuing to attract strong talent, experienced founders, and companies that want to grow in a strong business climate. At the same time, both Skip and Thom point out that Austin cannot become complacent. The city's tech community is still climbing. It must remain scrappy, connected, and committed to building relationships across the ecosystem. This episode is also a reminder that Austin's tech community is strengthened by people and companies that show up, contribute, and support the organizations that bring the ecosystem together. Skip and SalesHandicapper are sponsors of the 2026 Austin Tech Hall of Fame, and Thom recognizes sponsors like them as true community champions. Listen to this episode to hear: How Skip Balch built a career across nearly five decades in sales Why sales are often lost at the beginning of the process The importance of setting expectations early Why salespeople need to listen to learn, not listen to respond How AI sales assistants can improve real human conversations Why discernment may be the most important skill in the AI era What tech founders often misunderstand about sales Why Austin's tech community must stay scrappy, connected, and ambitious About the Guest Skip Balch is the founder and principal consultant at SalesHandicapper, where he helps companies improve their sales strategy, sales skills, accountability, and communication. With nearly five decades of experience in sales and sales leadership, Skip brings a practical, direct, and deeply human perspective to helping teams improve their odds of winning. Sponsor Mention Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista ...
    続きを読む 一部表示
    29 分
  • Photonic Computing Comes to Austin: Bruno Spruth on AI Infrastructure

    Photonic Computing Comes to Austin: Bruno Spruth on AI Infrastructure
    2026/04/29

    Bruno Spruth - CTO at Q.ant

    In this episode of Austin Tech Connect, Thom Singer talks with Bruno Spruth, the newly appointed CTO of Q.ant, a German deep tech company expanding into the United States with its U.S. headquarters in Austin.

    Q.ant is working on one of the biggest challenges facing the future of AI, energy consumption. As AI systems grow, the demand for compute power continues to rise, and Bruno explains why that creates both a major constraint and a major opportunity. Q.ant's approach centers on photonic compute acceleration, using light, or photons, instead of traditional electronics to help reduce power needs and unlock new possibilities for AI infrastructure.

    Bruno shares his journey from Germany to Austin, including his long career at IBM, his move into startup life, and why the pace and challenge of Q.ant's work made this opportunity so compelling. He also explains why Austin is the right place for Q.ant's U.S. expansion, citing the city's growing hardware ecosystem, talent pool, quality of life, and the practical advantage of overlapping work hours with Europe.

    The conversation also touches on Austin's deep tech history, IBM's role in shaping the local ecosystem, the importance of taking on hard technical challenges early in a career, and why Bruno believes this moment in photonic computing feels like the early days of the computing industry.

    Q.ant is currently building its Austin presence and plans to hire across photonics, integrated circuit design, digital systems, software, and compiler work. For those interested in AI infrastructure, hardware, or deep tech, this episode offers a look at why Austin continues to attract companies working on hard problems with global impact.

    Austin Tech Connect is sponsored by Calavista Software, software development without the drama. Since 2001, Calavista has been trusted by startups and Fortune 100 companies alike for their custom software needs.
    続きを読む 一部表示
    25 分
  • From Grief to Purpose, Michael McCown on Building LinnESync

    From Grief to Purpose, Michael McCown on Building LinnESync
    2026/04/23

    Some episodes of Austin Tech Connect are about startups, leadership, and innovation. This episode is about all of those things, but it is also about grief, courage, and purpose.

    In this conversation, Thom Singer talks with Michael McCown, founder and CEO of H27 Technologies, about the deeply personal story behind LinnESync. Michael shares how a season of unimaginable loss changed his family's life and ultimately shaped his mission to build technology that could help communities and emergency teams coordinate more effectively in times of crisis.

    Michael speaks openly about what he witnessed during the July 4th flooding in Central Texas in 2025, the compassion and professionalism of first responders, and the real-world communication challenges that can emerge when multiple agencies and volunteers are trying to work together under intense pressure. He is thoughtful in the way he tells this story, and clear that this work comes not from criticism, but from a desire to help support better coordination in the future.

    He also shares the vision for LinnESync, a platform designed to provide better visibility into resources, missions, incoming support, and response coordination. For Michael, this is about more than building a company. It is about building something useful, accessible, and grounded in service.

    This episode is moving, human, and ultimately about what can happen when someone decides to turn pain into action.

    *******************

    Austin Tech Connect is the official podcast of the Austin Technology Council, and a leading tech podcast in Central Texas.

    Thank you to the sponsor of Austin Tech Connect: Calavista Software
    続きを読む 一部表示
    35 分