Entrepreneurship at University of Texas at Austin
UT Austin sits in one of the fastest-growing startup ecosystems in the US. Austin has attracted major tech companies and a thriving startup community, and UT Austin has built entrepreneurship programs to match. The combination of no state income tax, lower cost of living, and a strong talent pipeline makes Austin increasingly attractive for founders.
Entrepreneurship programs
- McCombs School of Business - MBA with technology commercialization focus
- Herb Kelleher Entrepreneurship Center
- Texas Venture Labs - student-run venture fund
- Longhorn Startup - semester-long startup program
- IC2 Institute - innovation and entrepreneurship research
Incubators and accelerators
- Austin Technology Incubator (ATI) - university-affiliated
- Capital Factory - Austin's premier startup accelerator (strong UT ties)
- Longhorn Startup Lab - on-campus incubation
Student clubs and organizations
- Texas Entrepreneurship Society
- Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization at UT
- UT Venture Capital Society
- Texas Asia Business Society
Notable alumni founders
- Dell Technologies (Michael Dell - dropped out)
- Whole Foods (John Mackey)
- Bumble (Whitney Wolfe Herd)
- Indeed (Rony Kahan)
Local startup ecosystem
Austin is one of the hottest startup cities in the US. Tesla, Oracle, and numerous other tech companies have relocated headquarters here. The city has a strong tech talent pipeline, no state income tax, SXSW for annual exposure, and a cost of living lower than SF or NYC (though rising). Capital Factory anchors the downtown startup scene.
Frequently asked questions
Related universities
Startup resources
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