What an exciting year the Austin tech industry has had! We've enjoyed covering and sharing news, cultural celebrations, office tours and more. Take a look through our top 10 stories of the year, which we've aggregated based on reads, shares and social engagement.
10. 3 big tech companies are betting on Austin for their expansion
We welcomed many new businesses to the Austin tech scene this year. We assume 2017 will be no different, as Austin continues to attract tech teams on the move and those looking to expand. In June, Duo Security, Condé Nast, and Luxe told us why they chose to expand their team in Austin. Their reasons included access to our city's flood of talent, cool events and a downtown filled with entertainment for all.
9. Why these 4 tech companies look for remote employees
The remote employee working model has grown in popularity, particularly in the tech sector. Over the summer, we checked in with four companies that have a large pool of remote employees to learn how they manage these teammates and maintain an integrated, company-wide culture.
8. How these 4 Austin companies define company culture
Ping pong tables and catered lunches don't go unnoticed in a tech office, but these perks do not necessarily define a team's culture. In July, we caught up with four companies to learn about their cultures at a deeper level, highlighting things like leadership transparency and how to empower employees of all levels.
7. 32 UT Austin alumni who founded major Austin tech companies
Some of Austin's most recognizable tech startups were founded by University of Texas alumni (uShip, FloSports, Perk). Earlier this year, we featured 32 individuals who stayed local when launching their businesses after graduation. The university continues to foster learning opportunities and real-world applications of tech entrepreneurship through its coding schools, startup accelerators and mentorships.
6. 30 Austin female startup founders you should know
There has been an ongoing effort to increase the number of women in tech nationally and locally. In Austin, organizations like Feminist Hack, Girl Develop It and Women in Austin Technology encourage and support women to enter the tech field and start their own companies. Back in June, we shared a piece recognizing 30 women startup founders that you should know.
5. Austin’s latest fintech startup pays your bills for you — and can find a better deal
Last January, we covered the young fintech startup OnePay, a subscription service offering the ability to consolidate all your bills and potentially save you money by analyzing billing data. Subscribers benefit from having one login and one due date to remember each month, plus the advantages of an analytics system to compare services. Since launch, the company has now pivoted and rebranded to Billsley, a solution solely dedicated to saving you money on your bills.
4. Austin venture capital firms every entrepreneur should know
To help our readers understand the major pieces in Austin's funding landscape, we curated a list featuring the various venture capitalists in town, from those specializing in seed and growth-stage funding to angel investors, social enterprise funds and more.
3. 50 influential people in Austin tech you should follow on Twitter
Twitter is a great tool to stay on top of local tech news and network with some of Austin's top tech pros. This year, we published a list of local industry Twitter influencers, ranging from C-level executives to founders, PR gurus, reporters and more. Follow these folks to keep your finger on the pulse of our startup and tech community.
2. The 2016 Top 100 Digital Tech Employers in Austin
In November, we compiled a list highlighting the top 100 largest tech employers in Austin, using data from an extensive survey we conducted. Since 2015, the number of people employed by the Austin tech industry grew to over 53,000 people, an increase of 26 percent.
1. 50 Austin startups to watch in 2016
At the start of 2015, Built In Austin predicted 50 startups that we think will have a huge year. Last year's list included Silvercar (who rang in a whopping $27 million in January) and Honest Dollar (which was acquired in May by Goldman Sachs for an undisclosed amount). Stay tuned for 2017's list!
Photos via featured companies and social media.
What do you want to read about in 2017? Let us know with a tip or on Twitter @BuiltInAustin.
