Skip to main content

Austin, Texas Technology Sector Revival

Austin's technology sector took a beating when the internet bubble burst in 2000. However, now several key trends point to substantive signs of a recovery, and Austin Ventures-backed companies are once again participants in that growth cycle.

In March 2004, I wrote a column about Austin's evolving role within the high-growth wireless and mobility arena. Today, and into the future, I foresee that Austin-based companies will have the opportunity to become a significant force in the development of new 'digital media' oriented products and services.

The Digital Convergence Initiative is actively involved in helping to bring together the previously isolated Central Texas companies that participate in the digital realm. Moreover, the current business model transformations occurring within the communications and entertainment sectors have created the next high-growth opportunity for Austin.

The emergence of the Digital Media Everywhere phenomenon -- fueled by global broadband market penetration -- will enable Austin to fully harness the existing creative music, film and technology related thought-leaders that call Austin, Texas their home. The next South by Southwest festival in 2007 will give the region the opportunity to leverage its core digital media assets, and attain global recognition for its unique mix of talent.

Popular posts from this blog

Trends Shaping the Global Smartphone Market

There is a pivotal shift within the global smartphone market. Recent data from IDC highlights a more cautious outlook for 2025, with projected worldwide smartphone shipments seeing a significantly reduced growth rate. This revised forecast underscores the intricate interplay of global economic factors and geopolitical dynamics on pervasive personal communication devices. IDC's latest update projects a mere 0.6 percent growth in worldwide smartphone shipments for 2025, a stark reduction from the earlier 2.3 percent expectation. Global Smartphone Market Development This recalibration is largely attributed to prevailing economic uncertainties, including inflationary pressures and rising unemployment, alongside the persistent specter of tariff volatility. Despite these global tensions, it's interesting to note that the United States and China are still identified as the primary drivers of this modest growth. China, a critical market, is forecast to achieve a 3 percent year-over-yea...