Podcast
Austin Next
Hosted by Jason Scharf · EN
Austin is building the new tech, cultural, and intellectual stack. The region is a living laboratory to answer a single question: How do you build a global innovation superpower?
Host Jason Scharf dissects innovation from the individual to the ecosystem. From the soundstage to the data center to the fab, we decode the mechanics of Austin's innovation ecosystem.
As Atoms, Bits, and Intelligence converge, we explore how Hard Tech scale, digital velocity, and creative density collide. This is an audit of the future. We map the physics of the flywheel so builders and investors can navigate the chaos.
31episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Autonomy’s Moment Is Now. Austin Is the Autonomy Capital | Jeff Cavins, Outdoorsy Group
Aug 2700:59:02Tap to summarizeAutonomy’s moment is now as the operating stack goes live across software, hardware, availability, and insurance. Outdoorsy Group CEO Jeff Cavins joins the show to unpack how RoboTaxis integrate with marketplaces, city systems, and the consumer experience. Austin’s talent, technology, and risk appetite are making it the Autonomy Capital. Highlights 01:31 Why Outdoorsy Group is betting on RoboTaxis 05:44 Software must command the car 10:40 RoboTaxi as the default transpiration benchmark 15:30 FSD & the Airport 25:39 Coverholder status and dynamic underwriting 32:26 Austin’s autonomy flywheel 41:50 Safety is the X-factor 45:52 Cargo, errands, agentic ops 51:29 Autonomy in air and ground 58:44 What’s Next Austin?Guest BiosJeff Cavins is a distinguished technology veteran with over 22 years of senior-level experience leading and transforming emerging growth technology, software, Internet, and digital media companies. His illustrious career has been marked by significant value creation, contributing to over $32 billion in total market capitalizations. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Outdoorsy Group, he steers a global leader in mobility and accommodations, encompassing Outdoorsy, the largest and most trusted peer-to-peer RV rental platform, and its pioneering insurtech arm, Roamly.Jeff's leadership at Outdoorsy Group is rooted in a deep understanding of market dynamics and a relentless pursuit of innovation. This is exemplified by Roamly's recent achievement of Lloyd's Coverholder status, a testament to its specialized underwriting expertise in complex, niche markets. This strategic move positions Roamly to enable the future of shared mobility across RVs, campervans, carsharing, and even emerging transportation like cybercabs.Before co-founding Outdoorsy in 2015, Jeff served as Chief Executive Officer of Fuze, a cloud communications company recognized by Inc. 500 as the 125th fastest-growing private company in America in 2013. His tenure at Fuze included overseeing the development of "Fuze for iPad," a product personally used by Steve Jobs and featured in Apple's 2011 "We Will Always" global iPad TV ad campaign.Prior to Fuze, Jeff was President and CEO of CallWave (NASDAQ: CALL), a leading provider of internet and mobile-based unified communications solutions. He also served as CEO of Loudeye Corporation (NASDAQ: LOUD), a global leader in digital media distribution technology, which was subsequently acquired by Nokia. At Loudeye, he masterminded the company's global expansion and forged strategic partnerships with industry giants such as Apple, AT&T Wireless, Nokia, and Virgin, ultimately growing shareholder value by over 1700 percent.Jeff's extensive experience also includes serving as a Venture Advisor at Azure Capital Partners in San Francisco, and as Senior Vice President for Exodus Communications, where he managed over $1.3 billion in revenue and 1,900 employees. There, he established crucial strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Google, Yahoo!, eBay, and MSN.Earlier in his career, Jeff founded, presided over, and led CSI Digital, an advanced digital media technology software company specializing in visual effects for the TV and film industries. CSI Digital earned recognition from Inc. Magazine in 2007 as the 100th fastest-growing private company in America and was awarded first place in the inaugural Deloitte and Touche Fast-50 Program in the same year. He began his career with nearly a decade in the broadcast division of Sony Corporation, where he held sales management and engineering roles, and notably designed and developed the Instant Replay system for the NFL, leading its deployment across the league.Guest LinksJeff Cavins: LinkedIn Outdoorsy Group: Website, LinkedIn, InstagramRoamly: Website, LinkedIn, Instagram -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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Activating the Future of Human Flourishing with Janine Leger, Co-Founder Edge City
Feb 25, 202500:56:19Tap to summarizeTechnology is advancing rapidly, but our social systems and institutions struggle to keep pace. Janine Leger co-founded Edge City, a society incubator accelerating social innovation through popup and experimental communities, and they're bringing their next gathering to Austin March 2-7. We explore how rethinking the intersection of technology and agency can lead to human flourishing, and why Austin is emerging as the perfect laboratory for this experimentation. Episode HighlightsEdge City the Society Incubator Innovation in Temporary Spaces Building Default Healthy Environments Invisible Protocols and Personal Agency Edge City as Social Catalyst Austin's Innovation Ecosystem Edge City AustinKey Personas in a Thriving Ecosystem Future City Projects and ExperimentsAustin's Next Decade of Growth What's Next Austin?"If you're interested in new society models, new ways of living, new towns, Austin is going to be a hub for that...There's so much happening around community dynamism"Janie LegerEdge City AustinEdge City: Website, X/Twitter -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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Rewriting Biopharma's Playbook with Mallory Factor, Founder and CEO IntraBio
Feb 19, 202500:49:25Tap to summarizeA unicorn biopharma that ignores the traditional playbook, breaks development speed records, and chose Austin over the traditional biotech hubs. Mallory Factor, Founder and CEO of IntraBio, joins us to share how his Oxford-born company created an FDA-approved drug in record time while doing everything differently. In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore how finding unconventional talent, maintaining ruthless focus, and embracing a different mindset has led to transformational success in an industry resistant to change. Episode HighlightsBuilding a Different Kind of Biopharma CompanyBreaking Speed Records in Drug DevelopmentFinding Unconventional TalentChallenging Traditional Pharma ThinkingWhy Austin Over Boston and San FranciscoThe Power of Focus in Drug DevelopmentAustin's Creative Collisions and FutureWhat's Next Austin?"Austin has some political problems that's going to have to clear up to make it a better city. Hopefully in time it will and it'll catapult it into the top five, six cities in America"Mallory Factor, IntraBio, Aqneursa -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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Engineering Agency, Innovation, and Ecosystems with Gena Gorlin
Feb 13, 202501:13:26Tap to summarizeA coffee conversation turned into a deep exploration and personal obsession about how we shape our world and how it shapes us. I had to invite my partner in that conversation, Dr. Gena Gorlin, on to the podcast to bring her perspective as a psychologist, professor, and founder coach to examine the interplay between agency, innovation, ecosystems, and technology. Episode HighlightsAgency Mindset and Personal Choice Technology Impact on Human Agency Education Evolution in an AI World Gaming as a Window into Human Potential AI Tools for Self Discovery Understanding Innovation Ecosystems Psychology of City Culture Ecosystem Metacognition Principles Building Better Innovation CommunitiesWhat's Next Austin?"Really embracing Austin as this up and coming entrepreneurial cultural hub and participating in that evolution is something that I'm now way more excited about than I even was before"Gena Gorlin: Substack, X/Twitter, Founder Coaching, UT Austin Faculty Page -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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Austin4America Rises From SXSW's Military Sponsor Ban with Luke Fischer, Co-Founder & CEO SkyFi
Jan 24, 202500:52:55Tap to summarizeLast June, SXSW announced they would no longer allow military and defense companies as sponsors. This sparked strong reactions from Austin's defense tech community, with one of those reactions leading to the creation of Austin4America. I'm joined by Luke Fischer, one of the summit's creators, to discuss why this matters and how it fits into Austin's broader innovation story. Episode HighlightsSXSW's Military Sponsor Ban and Austin's ResponseModern Defense Tech Beyond WeaponsSkyFi: Building an Earth Intelligence PlatformWhy Austin Leads Defense InnovationAustin4America: From X/Twitter to RealityInnovation & Defense Tech AgendaConvergence of Veterans, Health, and National SecurityWhat’s Next Austin? “A gravitation of some of the best companies in the world coming to Austin, where we see across all the industries, bio, defense, healthcare, manufacturing.”Austin4AmericaLuke Fischer: X/Twitter, LinkedIn, SkyFi -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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Science in the Commercial Space Age: Live from UATX's SOMA Inaugural Summit
Jan 8, 202500:38:48Tap to summarizeThis past November, the University of Austin hosted their Inaugural SOMA Summit to explore the amazing transformation in space right now, especially how the commercial space era is decentralizing access. I had the privilege to moderate a fascinating panel titled "Science in the Commercial Space Age" featuring Chris Sembroski from Blue Origin, along with University of Florida space biologists Dr. Rob Ferl and Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul.As space becomes more accessible, it's evolving beyond merely a frontier to explore into its own innovation platform and ecosystem. This opens up a whole galaxy of possibilities. Episode HighlightsMission ExperiencesSpace PeppersUnderstanding Human AdaptationSpace as an Innovation Frontier Manufacturing in MicrogravityPlants' Role in Future ExplorationEthical ConsiderationsWhat's next for science in the commercial space age?Rob Ferl: “More scientists flying to do their experiments in space.”Anna-Lisa Paul: “More research in how we effectively take our biology off the planet to have long-term existence elsewhere”Chris Sembroski: “Recognizing that it's not going to end with us, that we have to keep inspiring that next generation”Chris Sembroski: X/Twitter, LinkedInRob Ferl: UF Faculty PageAnna-Lisa Paul: UF Faculty Page -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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Why Gauntlet AI Chose Austin to Build the Next Wave of AI Engineers with Austen Allred
Dec 21, 202400:50:00Tap to summarizeAI is becoming the biggest force multiplier for human talent in history. Austen Allred shares how Gauntlet AI is reimagining engineering education for this new reality and why Austin's is the perfect place to build this ambitious program. This is was quick turnaround episode as Gauntlet AI applications close January 4th (application link below). We also go deeper on the 2nd and 3rd order effects of this transformation on engineering, learning, kids, and Austin. Episode HighlightsWhat is Gauntlet AI?How AI transforms the engineering craft Building $100M engineers Breaking traditional talent signals & building new ones AI's impact on adaptive learning Developing spiky points of view Austin's emergence as an edtech hubWhat's Next Austin?"Austin just found a home for all of the people who think a little bit differently and see the world a little bit differently...And historically, if there's a place where all of the independent thinking vagabonds go with a lot of ambition, that's going to be a really cool place, and that's a place you want to be."Gauntlet AIAusten Allred: X/Twitter, LinkedIn -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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From DNA to Deep Space with Eliah Overbey, Professor at University of Austin
Dec 10, 202401:11:06Tap to summarizeSpace is becoming our next great innovation frontier as we move from 700 astronauts spending days or months to tens of thousands spending years. What does that do to the human body? What does it mean for our species? Eliah Overbey, Assistant Professor of Bioastronautics at the University of Austin, joins the podcast to explore topics in the increasingly blurred line between science fiction and science fact. Episode HighlightsWhat is Bioastronautics? Space's Impact on Human Biology Current Space Medicine and Healthcare Challenges The Commercialization of Space and NASA's Evolving Role UATX's Unique Approach The SOMA Summit and Space Research Community Genetic Modification for Mars Human Evolution with Space ColonizationWhat's Next Austin?"I'm working on building at UATX is I'm getting a bioastronautics lab started up...More and more people go to space, we're going to have more and more people that we want to sequence to...answer these questions in a more scientifically rigorous way, get our end value higher than before in a single experiment."Eliah Overbey: LinkedIn, X/TwitterUniversity of Austin: Website, LinkedIn, X/TwitterBioAstra: Website, LinkedIn, X/Twitter -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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The Skills and Learning Revolution in the New Tech World with Rob Rosenthal, CRO at Udemy
Dec 3, 202400:43:10Tap to summarizeAustin is rapidly emerging as a significant edtech hub, attracting not just innovative startups but also established industry leaders. In this episode, Udemy's Chief Revenue Officer Rob Rosenthal joins me to explore what skills are in-demand and how technology is transforming both what we learn and how we learn it.Episode HighlightsGenerational Changes in Professional LearningThe Rise of Skills-Based OrganizationsFoundational vs Transitory SkillsAI as a Teaching Tool, Not a ReplacementThe Power of Learning MarketplacesWhy Austin is Becoming an EdTech HubWhat's Next Austin?"It's always been one of my favorite places in the world to spend time. I know you've had a lot of growth, you have a lot more coming."2025 Global Learning & Skills Trends ReportQ3 2024 Global Workplace Learning IndexRob RosenthalUdemy: Website, LinkedIn, X/Twitter -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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Quantum CEOs Get Real About Hype, Hope, and Hardware at Austin's Quantonation Day
Nov 20, 202400:36:33Tap to summarizeRecorded live at Austin's Quantonation Day this past September, I sat down with senior leaders from Strangeworks, Qunnect, Pasqal, and Tau Systems to discuss the state of quantum and physics tech. This candid panel went beyond the typical quantum computing conversation to face the market realities of building a business in the space. We explored the tension between the possible future this technology brings and immediate needs of customers today. Episode HighlightsIntroduction to Quantum and Physics TechDeep Tech CommunicationScientific-Business DivideHype vs Market Reality vs Innovation ProgressSolving Customer Problems TodayThe Role of PatienceInfrastructure and Horizontal Tech What’s NextWilliam 'whurley' Hurley: Strangeworks, LinkedIn, X/TwitterNoel Goddard: Qunnect, LinkedInWasiq Bokhari: Pasqal, LinkedInBjorn Manuel Hegelich: Tau Systems, LinkedInQuantoation -------------------Austin Next Links: Website, X/Twitter, YouTube, LinkedInEcosystem Metacognition Substack
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