Previously, I thought Gowalla was the only somewhat known startup in Austin, but they sold to Facebook. Are there any other somewhat known startups in Austin?
I work in an office with WP Engine and Other Inbox (recently acquired by Return Path.) There are plenty of startups here; the Capital Factory folks probably know many of them.
I moved here from the Bay Area (with a 2-year stay in San Diego in the middle) and I'm really happy with the quality of life and the tech community here in Austin. I can buy a house and live comfortably here, and the taxes are far cheaper--important when you really start earning money!
I'm going to second the reply to your comment. I thought what you think too, but it turns out the energy of a city matters. I moved from the Bay Area to San Diego. I LOVE San Diego. Still have many friends there. Unfortunately the tech community there is really small. So I moved my entire company to Austin. We are much happier here. Plus, our revenues have doubled in the three months we've been here--just from the connections we've made.
Austin feels like a "mini-Bay Area" to me. I didn't want to start my next company in the bubble, especially since we're working with a lot of "oldschool" businesses. Austin is booming, but things are still relatively inexpensive here, and there are plenty of customers. Plus, we found an amazing Python developer here--I'm not sure that would have been as possible in the Bay Area.
I'm still willing to travel to the Bay Area; I just don't want to live there again.
You're right, in one sense. Part of it is the same effect that results in four gas stations on one intersection, part of it is the presence of resources and connections, and part is that success breeds success.
On the other hand, my attempt at a point was that once you've started your business, you have to focus on it. Suddenly all that other innovation around you stops being opportunities and starts being distractions. If anyone says to you, "What you're doing is stupid, you should be doing what those guys over there are doing," you probably shouldn't listen to them. The last thing you need to be doing is chasing instead of being chased.
Previously, I thought Gowalla was the only somewhat known startup in Austin, but they sold to Facebook. Are there any other somewhat known startups in Austin?