Now in its seventh year running, Forbes released its 2018 30 Under 30, recognizing 600 movers and shakers from 20 industries who have yet to celebrate the big 3-0. This year’s list features three Austin entrepreneurs from edtech, gaming and industrial automation.
In 2017, four founders from Austin tech made the cut, including Adam Lyons and Joshua Dziabiak, co-founders of The Zebra; Alex Schwartz, CEO of Owlchemy Labs, and Bumble founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd. Forbes will publish its print edition featuring the list in December with Herd on the cover.
Twenty-nine-year-old Becca Bair was one of 32 other techies from the gaming industry on this year’s list. The Austin resident launched Twin Otter Studios in 2015 with her brother Taylor to develop games that blend modern elements with classic aesthetics. According to the Twin Otter Studios website, the pair will be releasing a 2D isometric tactical role playing game in 2018 called Arcadian Atlas.
Alongside 38 individuals propelling education forward, Katie Fang, 26, received accolades for her edtech startup that guides students through the college application process. SchooLinks, which launched in 2014, collects student data like personality traits and interests to recommend programs and colleges that best fit a student’s profile. Administrators and educators can also use the platform to monitor student progress and advise accordingly.
At 21 years old, Cornell University dropout Micah Green is the youngest Austinite on the list. Forbes included Green in its “youngest” category, which featured 36 individuals ranging from 13 to 23 years old. In 2015, Green launched Maidbot, an automated hotel floor cleaning robot named Rosie. Headquartered in Austin, Maidbot’s team of about 20 employees is composed of former rocket scientists, hospitality professionals and serial entrepreneurs.
