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The Startup Ecosystem Canvas project seeks to provide local entrepreneurs with a clear list of resources for every stage of their startup journey, and outline a basic framework for communities to map their ecosystem.

With applications for the Austin Founder Institute coming to a close, we are excited to release an updated (now version #3) of the Austin Startup Ecosystem Canvas! It was developed by the Austin Founder Institute, local leaders, and commenting from the public.

This is a working document - more input is needed, so please leave your comments on this collaborative Google document, and it will be considered for the next update.

If you are looking to launch a company in Austin, then apply to the Austin Founder Institute today.

The canvas is in text form below, for better searchability:



Startup Stages


There is no one right way to build a technology company, but for the sake of simplicity we have outlined a basic, common, sequential framework.

1. IDEA-STAGE

This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build their team and product.

  1. Inspire

    1. Startup Media: Centralized local information, listings, and news. (i.e. startup blogs/ publications/ lists/ FB groups/ newsletters, Startup Digest)

      1. 512Tech

      2. AustinInno

      3. Austin Startups

      4. Austin Startups List

      5. Built In Austin

      6. foundingAUSTIN Magazine

      7. SEO'Brien

      8. SiliconHills News

      9. Startup Digest Austin

      10. Tech.co Austin

      11. T Squared newsletter

      12. The Beat

      13. Xconomy


  1. Inspirational Events: Open, inclusive, beginner startup events (i.e. Startup Weekend, idea fairs, and inspirational meetups) 

    1. ATX NoPay Startup

    2. Austin Diversity in Tech Meetup

    3. Austin Forum on Technology & Society

    4. Austin Hardware Startup Meetup

    5. Austin Internet of Things

    6. Austin Inventors and Entrepreneurs

    7. Austin Music Tech Meetup

    8. Austin Startup Meetup

    9. Austin Startup Week

    10. Black Women Talk Tech

    11. Built In Austin Meetups

    12. EdTech Austin Meetups

    13. Female Founders ATX

    14. Female Founders Austin

    15. Feminist Hack ATX

    16. Girls in Tech Austin

    17. HackerNest

    18. Intro to the Austin Tech Startup Scene

    19. Startup Weekend Austin

    20. Startup Weekend HackOut


  1. Educate

    1. Best Practices: Beginner knowledge-sharing events. (i.e. beginner events that serve to educate more than inspire, like Startup Founder 101, etc).

      1. 1 Million Cups Austin

      2. Austin eCommerce Meetup

      3. Austin MediaTech

      4. Austin Mobile Developers and Entrepreneurs

      5. Austin Startup Entrepreneurs

      6. Bleeding Edge Meetup Group

      7. FinTech Austin

      8. From Napkin to Revenue

      9. Health Technology Forum: Austin

      10. Mobile Growth Austin

      11. ProductTank Austin

      12. Social Innovators

      13. Startup Founder 101 Austin

      14. Startup Fuse Austin

      15. Startup Grind Austin

      16. Startup Law Austin

      17. Talkabot ATX

      18. TechShop Startup ATX

      19. Women Who Code Austin


    1. Training & Feedback: Skill & Idea development. (Ex. bootcamps and comprehensive training programs, like Founder Institute, General Assembly, Lean Startup Machine, etc)

      1. 3 Day Startup Austin

      2. Access Silicon Valley Austin

      3. Ada Ryland Consulting

      4. Austin Blockchain Technology

      5. Austin Coding Academy

      6. Austin Lean Startup Circle

      7. Austin Startup: Idea to IPO

      8. Data Science Dojo

      9. Dev Bootcamp

      10. Digital Creative Institute

      11. Early-Stage Entrepreneur Essentials

      12. Female Founder Initiative

      13. Founder Institute

      14. Founders Bootcamp

      15. Galvanize

      16. General Assembly

      17. Hack Reactor

      18. Kendra Scott Women’s Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute

      19. Lean Startup Machine Austin

      20. Longhorn Startup

      21. Lumenbrite

      22. Patriot Boot Camp

      23. Startupbootcamp FinTech & CyberSecurity FastTrack

      24. Startup Pitch Bootcamp

      25. UT Austin Boot Camps

      26. Venture Forth


  1. Validate

    1. Team Formation: Resources for teaming up. (i.e. events or other resources that facilitate early-stage recruitment and cofounder matching)

      1. Austin Crowdfunding

      2. Austin Early Stage Product Startup Founders

      3. Austin Entrepreneur Networking & Community Building

      4. Austin Entrepreneurs & Business Leaders Networking Meetup

      5. Austin Professional Networking Group

      6. Austin Tech Happy Hour

      7. CoFounder Austin

      8. CoFoundersLab

      9. FounderDating

      10. Global Women Entrepreneur Network

      11. Hardman Batchelor International

      12. Team Austin

      13. Texchange


    1. Build First Product: Hackathons & resources to build. (i.e. hackathons and other builder-focused events and resources)

      1. Angelhack Global Hackathon Series Austin

      2. athenahealth MDP Hackathon

      3. ATX Hack for Change

      4. Austin Coders & Hackers

      5. CodeDay Austin

      6. DeveloperWeek Austin 2017 Hackathon

      7. DevOpsDays Austin

      8. Docker Docs Hackathon

      9. DreamHack Austin

      10. ExpeditionHacks Austin

      11. Girls in Tech Hackathon

      12. HackerNest Austin Tech Socials

      13. Hack the Machine

      14. HackTX

      15. Open Austin

      16. SXSW Hackathon

2. LAUNCH-STAGE

In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the company, develop the product, get feedback from customers, and prepare for the next step.t


  1. Start

    1. Establish: Law firms & banks for startups  

      1. Andrews Kurth Kenyon LLP

      2. Bracewell LLP

      3. Broadway Bank

      4. Business Bank of Texas

      5. Capital One

      6. Carroll Counsel PLLC

      7. DLA Piper

      8. Frost Bank

      9. Hillcrest Bank

      10. Horizon Bank

      11. K&L Gates

      12. Kastner, Huggins, Reddien and Gravelle

      13. Lynch Law Firm

      14. McCarter & English, LLP

      15. Miller, Egan, Molter and Nelson LLP

      16. Shahrestani Law

      17. Silicon Valley Bank

      18. Square 1 Bank

      19. Stacy Cole Law

      20. Vela Wood

      21. Villhard Patent Group

      22. Vinson & Elkins LLP

      23. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati


  1. Workspace: Co-working and flexible workspaces (note: “official” office space goes in 3.1.a. Infrastructure) 

    1. Capital Factory

    2. Chicon Collective

    3. Createscape

    4. DwellStronger

    5. Fibercove

    6. Galvanize

    7. Impact Hub Austin

    8. IncubatorCTX

    9. Industrious Office

    10. Link Coworking

    11. Orange Coworking

    12. Patchwork Austin

    13. Soma Vida

    14. The Riveter

    15. Vessel Coworking

    16. Vuka Collective

    17. WeWork

    18. Common Desk


  1. Develop

    1. Formalize: Accounting, development and HR for early-stage startups. 

      1. AngelSpan

      2. Austin HR

      3. Calavista

      4. Command Group

      5. Corn and Corn LLP

      6. CSI Executive Search

      7. Enola Labs

      8. Gennovacap

      9. Growth Acceleration Partners

      10. Iflexion

      11. Insogna CPA

      12. Jackrabbit

      13. Libby King & Associates

      14. MagRabbit

      15. Marci Shafto CPA

      16. Praxent

      17. Richard A. Crow and Associates

      18. Roger E. Coyner, CPA

      19. Sitegoals

      20. Snyxius

      21. Tanya L. Stokes, CPA

      22. The BHW Group

      23. W. Hamilton & Co., PLLC

      24. White Lion

      25. Workhorse Marketing


    1. Prepare for Seed: Incubators and advanced mentorship. (i.e. advanced knowledge sharing, later stage events and resources for startup TEAMS)

      1. ACC Bioscience Incubator

      2. Austin Technology Incubator

      3. Bunker Labs

      4. DivInc

      5. EdTech Action Incubator

      6. G51

      7. Longhorn Startup

      8. Nexus Incubator

      9. Startup Next Austin

      10. Tarmac TX

      11. Tech Ranch Austin

      12. Texas Venture Labs

      13. Thinktiv


  1. Launch

    1. Seed Accelerators: Seed funding mentor programs (Techstars-style programs that provide funding)

      1. Accelerate at Capital Factory

      2. International Accelerator

      3. MassChallenge Texas

      4. Medical Innovation Labs

      5. MobilityX Accelerator

      6. SKU

      7. Sputnik ATX

      8. Techstars


    1. Pitch & Demo: Show local startups for investment (i.e. demo days for companies seeking seed investment)

      1. [Re]verse Pitch Competition

      2. Apps4Change Demo

      3. Austin TechBreakfast

      4. Demo Day: Techstars Austin

      5. Digital Demo Day

      6. HATCH Pitch

      7. KiwiTech Demo Day

      8. Open Pitch Practice and Pizza

      9. Startup Pitch Night Austin

      10. SXSW Accelerator

      11. Texas Data Demo Day

      12. The Iron Yard Austin: Demo Day



3. GROWTH-STAGE

Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition, and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs, and ways to connect them to startups.

  1. Recognition 

    1. Investor Networking:  Connect professional investors with founders. (i.e. events or groups that facilitate connections with professional investors)

      1. Austin Technology Council

      2. Central Texas Angel Network

      3. Ellevate

      4. Gathering of Angels

      5. Hill Country Angel Network

      6. J9 Partners

      7. NewChip

      8. Southwest Angel Network

      9. Texas Investment Network

      10. TiE Austin


  1. Major Media: Mainstream local business press. (i.e. major local or regional publications that frequently champion local businesses)

    1. Austin American-Statesman

    2. Austin Business Journal

    3. Crain's Austin

    4. Texas Business Radio

    5. Texas CEO Magazine

  1. Funding

    1. Angels / Micro-VCs: Seed-stage investors 

      1. Andrew Busey

      2. Arun Prakash

      3. Asad Zafar

      4. Bart Robertson

      5. Bill Boebel

      6. Brett Hurt

      7. Cameron Drummond

      8. Chris Shonk

      9. Dan Graham

      10. David Altounian

      11. David Cohen

      12. Edward Batchelor

      13. Jared Slosberg

      14. Jason Seats

      15. John Stockton

      16. Joshua Baer

      17. Mark Clayton Hand

      18. Mellie Price

      19. Michael Trafton

      20. Rick Wittenbraker

      21. Rob Taylor

      22. Rony Kahan

      23. Rudy Garza

      24. Russell Hinds

      25. Scott Kosch

      26. Shane Adams

    2. Venture Capitalists: Series A and beyond

      1. Arch Venture Partners

      2. Arena Growth Partners

      3. ATX Seed Ventures

      4. Bandgap Ventures

      5. Blue Sage Capital

      6. Corsa Ventures

      7. Covera Ventures

      8. Ecliptic Capital

      9. Escalate Capital Partners

      10. Limestone

      11. LiveOak Venture Partners

      12. Mercury Fund

      13. Moonshots Capital

      14. Murphree Venture Partners

      15. Next Coast Ventures

      16. Next Step Capital Partners

      17. Peak Rock Capital

      18. PTV Healthcare Capital

      19. Recurring Capital Partners

      20. S3 Ventures

      21. Silverton Partners

      22. Trellis Partners

      23. Tritium Partners

      24. True Wealth Ventures

      25. Vista Equity Partners


  1. Growth

    1. Infrastructure: Office space, HR, local business insurance. (i.e. office space/ HR/ insurance providers for capital-rich companies to grow and scale) 

      1. 42Floors

      2. Anco Insurance

      3. Austin Office Solutions

      4. Austin Office Space

      5. Austin Tenant Advisors Office Space Rental Agency

      6. BKCW Insurance

      7. Britton and Britton Insurance

      8. Central Insurance Agency

      9. Elevate Growth Partners

      10. Hiscox Insurance

      11. Instant Offices

      12. Premier HR Solutions

      13. Solid Business Solutions

      14. Southwest Commercial Insurance

      15. Strive Insurance Group

      16. ValentineHR

      17. Watkins Insurance Group 


    1. Expansion: Growth accelerators/consultants. (i.e. programs and business consultants for capital-rich companies to grow and scale)

      1. Accenture

      2. Aon

      3. Austin Consulting Firm

      4. Bridgepoint Consulting

      5. Bunker Labs CEO Circle

      6. CGI

      7. Deloitte

      8. Denary

      9. Ernst and Young

      10. Grant Thornton

      11. Idea Labs Consulting

      12. KPMG

      13. Momentum Consulting

      14. PwC

      15. Towers Watson

      16. vcfo



4. SUCCESS STORIES

Successful homegrown companies that have raised significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce, or have achieved liquidity.


  1. AppSumo

  2. Bazaarvoice

  3. BigCommerce

  4. BP3

  5. Bumble

  6. Chasm.io

  7. CM First Group

  8. CognitiveScale

  9. Consero Global

  10. Continuum

  11. Cratejoy

  12. CSID

  13. Data.World

  14. Double A Labs

  15. EverlyWell

  16. Favor

  17. Granify

  18. HomeAway

  19. Icontrol

  20. Indeed

  21. LawnStarter

  22. MailLift

  23. MainStreet Hub

  24. Markerly

  25. Modernize

  26. OtherInbox

  27. OutBound Engine

  28. Outdoorsy

  29. OwnLoca

  30. Phunware

  31. Plum

  32. QuintilesIMS

  33. Reaction

  34. RetailMeNot

  35. Riskpulse

  36. SailPoint

  37. SiliconLabs

  38. SolarWinds

  39. SpareFoot

  40. Spiceworks

  41. Spredfast

  42. Tenfold

  43. The Zebra

  44. Threatcare

  45. Trendkite

  46. Twyla

  47. Umbel

  48. UnaliWear

  49. Unseen

  50. Whole Foods Market

  51. WP Engine

  52. YouEarnedIt

  53. Zenoss



Supporters


To facilitate the steps, every ecosystem needs strong supporters.

1. EVANGELISTS

Successful local founders who lead the ecosystem & frequently mentor newbies.  (i.e. Local leaders who have taken a leadership position, speak at a lot of startup events, mentor all the programs, etc)


  1. Amos Schwartzfarb

  2. Anil Pattni

  3. Ashley Jennings

  4. Bart Bohn

  5. Bijoy Goswami

  6. Brandon Satrom

  7. Cara McCarty 

  8. Chris Makell

  9. Claire England

  10. Chris Michael Harris

  11. Dana Wildeboer

  12. Damon Clinkscales

  13. David Altounian

  14. David Barnes

  15. Elijah May

  16. Erik Kallenbach

  17. Elisa Sepulveda

  18. Eugene Sepulveda

  19. Fernando Labastid

  20. Hannah Oiknine

  21. Harold Hughes

  22. Hugh Forrest

  23. Heather Ann Havenwood

  24. Jacqueline Hughes

  25. Jay Boisseau

  26. Joe Merrill

  27. John Zozzaro

  28. Joshua Baer

  29. Kristin Spindler

  30. Kevin Koym

  31. Lance McNeill

  32. Leigh Christie

  33. Lani Rosales

  34. Laura Lorek

  35. Lyn Graft

  36. Liz Coufal 

  37. Marc Hafner

  38. Marc Nathan

  39. Martin Martinez 

  40. Mike Millard 

  41. Mitch Jacobson

  42. Nathan Ryan

  43. Oksana Malysheva

  44. Paul O'Brien

  45. Preston James

  46. Rachelle Oribio

  47. Ron Batra

  48. Ruben Cantu

  49. Ryan Merket

  50. Sabrina Wojtewicz

  51. Scott Sullivan

  52. Shakeel Rashed

  53. Ryan Rafols

  54. Tim Ferriss

  55. Whurley

  56. Zuby Onwuta


2. GOVERNMENT

Public organizations that facilitate local economic development 

  1. City of Austin's Economic Development Department

  2. City of Austin's Innovation Office

  3. Entrepreneur Center of Austin

  4. FastForward Entrepreneur Training Program

  5. Greater Austin Asian Chamber of Commerce

  6. Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce

  7. Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

  8. The Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce

  9. Women's Chamber of Commerce of Texas


3. TALENT

Major local business or tech universities and employers that attract and retain local talent.


  1. Local Universities (universities with prominent technical or business programs)

    1. Acton School of Business

    2. Austin Community College

    3. Concordia University Texas

    4. Huston–Tillotson University

    5. South University

    6. St. Edward's University

    7. The University of Texas at Austin



  1. Local Employers (Major technical employers, like Microsoft or Google or large local companies, with large local offices) 

    1. 3M

    2. Amazon

    3. AMD

    4. Apple

    5. Applied Materials

    6. AT&T

    7. Blizzard Entertainment

    8. Cisco

    9. Dell

    10. Facebook

    11. Flex

    12. General Motors

    13. Google

    14. Home Depot

    15. HP

    16. IBM

    17. Intel

    18. Microsoft

    19. NXP Semiconductors

    20. Oracle

    21. PayPal

    22. Samsung Semiconductor Inc.

    23. Tableau Software

    24. Visa

    25. VMware

    26. Walmart

    27. Whole Foods Market

    28. YETI


Note: The Startup Ecosystem Canvas is a perpetual work in progress. Learn more at http://fi.co/canvas, and comment on this document to provide your feedback.  

This document was created by the Founder Institute Austin, the world’s premier idea-stage accelerator and startup launch program. You can apply to the program at FI.co/join


Learn more about the Startup Ecosystem Canvas here, and leave us your thoughts on the Austin Canvas on this collaborative Google document, or on Twitter using the hashtag #ecosystemcanvas. This is a perpetual work in progress, and it will be updated frequently, so we want your feedback!

If you are looking to launch a company in Austin, then apply to the Austin Founder Institute today.

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