Ask The Mentors: How to Startup in Austin
The Austin tech scene is booming, more and more companies are considering laying down their roots in the capital city. With a top research university, business-friendly tax incentives, and an awesome startup-friendly culture (not to mention the breakfast tacos and the barbecue), startups find fertile ground in Austin.
But where do new entrepreneurs start? How do you assemble an awesome team? What do you do when it’s time to start hiring? What tax regulations will you have to navigate in your industry? How do you set up your finances? What do you do after you raise a round of funding? What does a go-to-market strategy look like, and how do you convey your message to the media?
In this panel we’ve put together a group of sage mentors in PR and marketing, accounting, law and HR from the Austin startup community to answer your questions. Through an open conversation we will discuss the local secrets, tools and resources that can help your business thrive and grow.
Presenters
Steve Burt currently serves as Managing Director of 9Gauge Partners, LLC, an Austin, Texas based financial consultancy employing proprietary business intelligence and analytical tools and methodologies to help clients tackle complex business problems, achieve scale in their business, attract and obtain capital or manage transition. He also serves as Co-Founder and CFO for Vobi, Inc., a venture capital backed startup developing a mobile application in the collaboration space.
He previously served as served as CEO of a wholesale distribution business and CFO for several venture capital and private equity backed companies, and as Director of Finance for the Personal Connectivity Solutions Group of Advanced Micro Devices in Austin, Texas.
Prior to that, he spent 20 years with PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (PwC), where he was based in Austin and Dallas, Texas; and San Jose, California. From September 1995 to May 2000, he served as partner in charge of PwC’s Southwest region Technology, Information, Communications and Entertainment practice.
He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and a certified public accountant licensed in Texas.
Saturday, March 9
