In my role with the Austin Technology Council, I have had the opportunity to meet people from tech communities all around the country and the world. Every city I visit is passionate about building its own version of Silicon Valley, and many are doing amazing work. Yet, there is something unique about Austin. The last thirty years of growth and change here have been special, and while we certainly have challenges, the trajectory has been remarkable.
I moved to Austin in 1991, and while I take no credit for anything that has been done to form our tech community, I have been active and along for the ride. The passion of the 1990s, the boom of the early 2000s, the recovery after the great recession, and the huge influx of companies and people from 2017 – 2023 all were possible because of how the community responded from the 1970s forward.
Austin’s success as a tech hub was not inevitable. It was cultivated. The city benefited from visionaries, a collaborative spirit, and a willingness to take risks long before the national spotlight landed here. And as I talk with leaders from other cities, I am often asked what lessons can be learned from Austin’s journey. While every community is different, there are three key things that stand out.
1. Build a Culture of Collaboration
A thriving tech ecosystem is never the work of one company or one organization. It happens when business leaders, universities, investors, and civic leaders come together around a shared vision. Austin has long been known for collaboration over competition, with people willing to open doors for each other. For other cities, this means creating intentional opportunities for people to gather, exchange ideas, and solve problems together. Collaboration must be part of the DNA of the ecosystem. If any person, company, or organization wants to be the “whole” of a tech ecosystem’s growth, it will limit the long term opportunities.
2. Celebrate and Connect the People
All opportunities come from people. The growth of a tech hub depends on more than just venture capital or office space. It depends on relationships. Cities that want to grow their tech ecosystem need to actively celebrate the people who are making things happen, from startup founders to community organizers to seasoned executives. Creating spaces, whether through events, storytelling, or recognition programs, where people feel seen and connected fosters trust and keeps momentum going. Human interaction is the real fuel of innovation. The community must not look the other way when “bad actors” show up, and the ones who give to the greater good need to be celebrated.
3. Tell a Bigger Story
Austin did not just grow because companies relocated here or startups launched here. The city grew because people believed they were part of something bigger. The narrative of Austin as a creative, entrepreneurial, and welcoming place was repeated by thousands of people until it became part of the culture. Other cities must learn to craft and share their own story in a way that excites both locals and outsiders. A strong story attracts talent, capital, and opportunity. You need the right message and the right people telling the story.
Of course, it is important to note that this gets harder as a city grows. When a place is small, it is easier to be welcoming and inclusive. In Austin’s earlier days, if you showed up at a tech meetup, someone was likely to invite you to lunch the next day. As communities get larger, the challenge is to remain open and accessible while still scaling. Too often, success brings silos, cliques, or the sense that opportunities are only for insiders. A city must continually work to keep its doors open to newcomers and maintain the energy that first sparked growth. When you are building something, everyone wants to be part of it. When your community thinks the hard work is over, nobody comes to help.
Every community has the potential to grow into something extraordinary. It takes collaboration, connection, and storytelling, but it also takes vigilance. Growth brings challenges, and the very things that once made a city special can be lost if people stop paying attention. Austin is still writing its story, and I believe its best days are ahead. For other cities, the question is simple: What story will you write, and how will you keep your ecosystem both innovative and welcoming as it scales?
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Thom Singer, CSP, is a professional keynote speaker and the CEO at the Austin Technology Council.