Business and Professional Organizations

Austin and Central Texas are home to a vibrant entrepreneurial community with many business and professional organizations dedicated to helping entrepreneurs succeed in start-ups and promoting technology commercialization, among them—

• Austin Technology Council (ATC) – Since 1994, the Austin Technology Council has been the principal point of connection for technology companies in Central Texas. The mission is to ensure that Austin maintains its world-renowned technology status and remains a community that capitalizes on its assets – university-based research, venture funding, a broad array of support services, an entrepreneurial culture and a rich pool of intellectual talent and leadership.
• Bootstrap Austin – Bootstrap Austin is a community of entrepreneurs who are committed to stewarding Austin’s vibrant entrepreneurial scene so that entrepreneurs of all paths can find the resources and support they need.
• Capitol Factory – Capital Factory is an early stage accelerator program for tech startups that provides a small amount of seed capital and weekly mentoring sessions by entrepreneurs who have founded successful companies. Startup companies apply to participate in a 10-week summer program intended to get a startup pointed in the right direction with a clear path to profitability and growth.
• Central Texas Angel Network – Central Texas Angel Network (CTAN) is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to providing quality early-stage investment opportunities for accredited Central Texas angel investors and to assisting, educating and connecting early-stage growth companies in Central Texas with information and advisors for the purpose of raising money and assisting in their growth.
• Austin Chamber of Commerce – The mission of the Austin Chamber of Commerce is to provide leadership that will help create regional economic prosperity and success for its members in Central Texas.
• Emerging Technology Fund (ETF) – The ETF, created by the Texas Legislature, provides Texas with an unparalleled advantage by expediting the development and commercialization of new technologies and by recruiting the best research talent in the world. Matching and commercialization funds coupled with additional federal and outside investments mean new technology is emerging in Texas.
• PeopleFund – PeopleFund is a non-profit organization dedicated to creating economic opportunity. Through small business loans, affordable housing initiatives and community outreach, PeopleFund helps to build financial security for Central Texans.
• RISE –Relationship and Information Series for Entrepreneurs (RISE) is a free conference for entrepreneurs of all types, providing a forum where entrepreneurs connect and exchange ideas that inspire the entrepreneurial spirit.
• Tech Ranch Austin – Tech Ranch Austin is a technology incubator focused on accelerating pre-seed and seed stage technology companies.
• TeXchange –Technology Entrepreneurs Exchange (TeXchange) is a networking organization for business executives and entrepreneurs to meet, exchange ideas and share experiences. TeXchange promotes the entrepreneurial environment and helps develop the next generation of executives for technology and life sciences companies.
• TiE Austin – Founded in Silicon Valley in 1992, TiE is a not-for-profit global network of entrepreneurs and professionals. TiE stands for Talent, Ideas and Enterprise and has grown to become the world’s largest not-for-profit organization fostering entrepreneurship. TiE has 53 chapters across 12 countries.