Texas-Squared Startup Newsletter #246

Marc Nathan
14 min readMay 17, 2020

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Texas Startup News, Opinion & Events in the Lone StartUP State
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Lower Costs, Laid-Back Lifestyle Continue To Draw Tech Companies To Austin, Texas - Link

- Crunchbase News’ Mary Ann Azevedo

“A large part of what’s behind these changes can be found in the city’s evolution into a tech hub. In recent years, it has become a formidable alternative to the Bay Area and New York City for companies, big and small, looking to grow.

More than ever, I am hearing about a company that has either relocated its headquarters to Austin, is expanding its presence here, or has plans to open a secondary office in the capital city. Last year, we took an in-depth look at this migration and it seemed only logical to do it again in 2020.” - Mary Ann Azevedo

Association for Corporate Growth Austin / San Antonio and TeXchange Austin Event

Association for Corporate Growth and TeXchange Austin
Jon Nash of Meadowlark Advisors
Thursday, May 21st 9:45AM-11AM
REGISTER

  • Bold Action in the Time of COVID: How Everlywell founder Julia Cheek pivoted her team to fight fraud and FDA confusion and save frontline lives--in just two weeks. - Link
    - Inc. Magazine’s Tom Foster
  • Changes At Sputnik ATX - Link
  • Adopting a Growth Marketing Mentality for B2B Startups - Link
    - Austin Startups
  • Austin Fast Start - AYC: Austin Young Chamber - Link
  • Austin-Based Real Estate Startup Homeward Secures $105M In Debt & Equity - Link
  • Converting Leads Into Meetings With AI: Kronologic Closes On $3.5M Seed - Link
    - Crunchbase News’ Mary Ann Azevedo
  • Report: Tesla's next factory will be in Austin - Link
  • Companies making COVID antibody tests aim to regain public trust after demand falls - Link
  • Plasma may help COVID-19 patients, Austin doctors say as they join national study—it definitely boosts morale - Link
  • 'It feels like I've had a two-and-a-half-month week': Austin’s social distancers can't help but let boundaries soften - Link
    - Austonia
  • City to pursue strategy protecting at-risk workers from Covid-19 threat - Link
  • Travis County approves $10M for direct rental and mortgage assistance - Link
    - Austin Monitor
  • Austin-based Invoiced Inks Deal with American Express to Provide Small and Mid-Sized Businesses a 40 Percent Discount on its Software - Link
    - Silicon Hills News' Laura Lorek
  • Gabo Arora with Angela Watercutter – SXSW Sessions On Demand Video - Link
  • Bobby Berk on the Power of Design with Clay Skipper – SXSW Sessions On Demand Video - Link
  • SXSW 2020 Virtual Cinema on Oculus TV Launches May 22 - Link
    - SXSW
  • Tito's pours $1M into Texas research institution for COVID-19 vaccine - Link
  • Electric automaker sparks rumors about possible move to Austin - Link
  • Texas university's free online course trains COVID 'disease hunters' - Link
    - Culture Map Austin
  • Tesla reportedly eyeing Austin for Cybertruck and Model Y factory - Link
  • Austin AI startup raises millions for restaurant ordering technology - Link
  • Austin real estate tech startup Homeward raises $105M for hiring spree - Link
  • Austin data security startup raises another $15M - Link
  • Austin VCs invest in scheduling and sales startup Kronologic - Link
  • This UT-born startup is taking a swing with a new personal protection product - Link
    - Austin Inno's Brett Wistrom - Subscribe Here
  • 5 side hustles that could turn into your new career - Link
  • Facebook pays $52M to content mods with PTSD, proving major flaw in their business - Link
  • One big brand got $10M in PPP funding, refuses to return it - Link
  • What does it even mean to get creative with your job search? - Link
  • Apple hopes to be less dependent on China, is moving factories to India - Link
  • Google has another video conference tool, but are they too late? - Link
  • Big tech keeps teams out of offices, but not their contractors #Disparity - Link
  • Unless you call your representative, the IRS will be forced to screw PPP recipients - Link
  • Companies seek brownie points by returning PPP cash they shouldn’t have applied for - Link
  • Twitter will give users a warning before a harmful tweet is sent - Link
  • Lead generation company mass scrapes emails from LinkedIn - Link
  • Starting a new remote job? How to impress others and secure your place - Link
  • Microsoft launches free Python coding language courses easy peasy - Link
  • Google podcasts are finally providing valuable information to podcasters - Link
  • Best practices for your valuable proprietary data - Link
    - American Genius
  • Texas Policy Experts Offer Playbook for Post-Pandemic Recovery - Link
  • Learn Ancient Languages Online from Your Living Room - Link
  • Students in Painting Class Explore Alternate Materials in Online Format - Link
  • We Protect Health By Prioritizing Equity - Link
  • UT Student Startups Lend a Hand to Texans in Need - Link
  • Driving Disease - Link
  • UT Austin School of Nursing Receives Gift from Luci Baines Johnson and Ian Turpin for Gerontology Care, COVID-19 Efforts - Link
    - University of Texas
  • How to Bootstrap an Intelligent Software Model With Very Little Data - Link
  • ALTR Raises $15M to Keep Sensitive Cloud Data Secure - Link
  • ConverseNow Raises $3.25M to Help Restaurants Fulfill Contactless Orders - Link
  • Kronologic Raises $3.5M to Add More Meetings to Your Calendar - Link
  • Weekly Refresh: Cimarron Acquired Aereon, Rev's Free Captioning, and More - Link
  • How Engineering Teams Build for Performance Using JavaScript Frameworks - Link
    - BuiltinAustin
  • Tesla may build next factory in Austin area, media outlets report - Link
  • 30-plus Austin businesses approved for city loans — but the money isn't flowing yet - Link
  • M&A wrap: Deals continue despite pandemic - Link
  • 65 companies named Best Places to Work winners for 2020 - Link
  • Alamo Drafthouse franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Phoenix - Link
  • So you got a PPP loan. Now what? - Link
  • Journal Profile: Greater San Marcos Partnership President Jason Giulietti leads economic development efforts south of Austin - Link
  • Austin tech company appoints new CEO from its Tampa office - Link
  • Texas after Covid-19: Report dives into what the state should learn - Link
  • Real estate-tech startup Homeward scores $105M in debt and equity funding - Link
  • Pandemic sparks new business aimed at helping construction companies avoid contagion - Link
  • Austin rules ‘Mighty Middle’ of US when it comes to seed funding - Link
  • Gov. Abbott says he’s talked to Elon Musk — and the entrepreneur is ‘genuinely interested in Texas’ - Link
  • ConverseNow adds millions in funding to help restaurants keep cooking during pandemic - Link
  • Austin data security startup raises another $15M - Link
  • Forecast: Austin in good position to emerge quickly from this downturn - Link
  • Family-run business pivots from oil tech to temperature scanners for factories - Link
  • This is how to reinvent your events during a pandemic - Link
  • Cindy Lo blows up longtime business plan to survive pandemic - Link
  • El Arroyo has overcome multiple gut checks to remain afloat during pandemic, reopen dining room - Link
  • VC confidence index sinks to all-time low as pandemic takes toll - Link
  • Can’t get PPP funds? Tax professionals break down other CARES Act options - Link
  • In the money May 11: More than $10M in deals for 6 startups - Link
  • Magnitude Software set to add hundreds of employees in Austin despite pandemic - Link
  • PPP loan forgiveness rules changing; Experts share advice - Link
  • Austin: Businesses should log customer, employee activity - Link
    - Austin Business Journal
  • Report: Austin a finalist for Tesla gigafactory site - Link
  • Unconfirmed report: Tesla to pick Austin as gigafactory site - Link
  • Coronavirus in Austin: Restaurants hope for boost as tech workers return to offices - Link
  • Austin startup Altr raises $15 million for growth - Link
  • Austin startup Homeward raises $105M in equity and debt round - Link
  • Decluttering during the pandemic? Goodwill is accepting donations again - Link
  • Software maker Atlassian acquires help message startup - Link
  • Coronavirus in Austin: Whole Foods opens in East Austin, but online only for now - Link
    - Austin American-Statesman

SAN ANTONIO

  • In This Together San Antonio - Link
  • Michael Girdley’s Four for Friday Podcast - Link
  • San Antonio Cybersecurity Experts on Alert for Coronavirus-Related Attacks - Link
  • Texas Research and Technology Foundation Takes Alamo Angels Under Its Wing - Link
  • How We Cope: The Unexpected Silver Linings - Link
  • How San Antonio Health Officials Track Who’s Recovered from COVID-19 - Link
  • Restaurant Lobby Urges Governor to Allow Bars to Open Friday - Link
  • How a San Antonio School Took a Creative Approach to Remote Learning - Link
    - Rivard Report
  • Virtual Speed Dating Service Aims to Let San Antonians Connect During Social Distancing - Link
  • Texas Travel Industry Makes Plea to Governor: Re-Open Tourism Businesses - Link
    - San Antonio Current
  • Rackspace co-founder buys $2M in stock of Frost Bank parent - Link
  • James Avery Jewelry shutters Hill Country manufacturing facility - Link
  • San Antonio-based public company receives $10M PPP loan - Link
  • Major SA medical group buys more time with double dose of PPP - Link
  • iHeartRadio veteran preaching peace from sports pulpit - Link
  • Science, tech museum taps new leader ahead of Port SA move - Link
  • Local startup's probation check-in app tries to lessen pandemic impact - Link
  • East Side innovation hub brings local angels into the fold - Link
  • Consortium of SA scientists working to develop Covid-19 vaccine - Link
  • These retailers in SA received the most warnings for alleged Covid-19 violations - Link
  • Local publicly traded company returns PPP money - Link
  • A post-pandemic checklist for reopening your business - Link
  • One of SA's most-celebrated chefs sees dim future for business - Link
  • Local due diligence firm lands $1.4M in new funding with excellent timing - Link
  • Online education programs for nurses take on increased significance - Link
    - San Antonio Business Journal
  • Texas Technology Company in a Race to Create COVID Notification App - Link
    - NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
  • RevTech Ventures partners with TX Universities to fuel student solutions to get back on campus - Link
  • 5 UTD, SMU projects win RevTech grants to help keep campuses safe - Link
  • Ataia Health takes top prize at MedVentures Dallas virtual pitch competition - Link
  • SMU hosts Southwest Venture Forum to prove startups can use family offices - Link
  • In the ‘Mighty Middle’ of the U.S., Dallas takes No. 4. for seed funding in previous decade - Link
  • Cooklist sees growth, opportunity to help during Covid-19 crisis - Link
  • SpotSee releases forehead temperature device to help businesses reopen - Link
  • Report: Dallas sheds more than 4K tech jobs in April - Link
  • Health care firm acquires Fort Worth payment solution provider for $213M - Link
  • On-demand delivery startup Cornershop makes U.S. debut with Dallas expansion - Link
    - North Texas Inno’s Kevin Cumming
  • What's the Damage on Arlington's Billion-Dollar Entertainment District Investments? - Link
    - Dallas Observer
  • Electric automaker sparks rumors about possible move to DFW - Link
    - Culture Map Dallas
  • A Round-Up of This Week’s Biggest Dallas Retail News - Link
  • Partying in the Age of COVID-19 - Link
  • Executive Perspectives: Erol Akdamar - Link
  • Texas Industrial Real Estate Breaks for Economic Stop Sign. While Paused, It Will Continue. - Link
  • ‘Co-Working For Personal Trainers’ Coming to the Dallas Design District - Link
  • This Dallas Retailer Sells Excess Inventory from High-End Brands, Then Donates the Proceeds - Link
  • How To Provide Clean Spaces For Employees While Using Non-Toxic Choices - Link
  • Cool COVID-Tracking Site You Should Bookmark - Link
  • Texas Central High-Speed Rail Wins Four-Year Court Battle - Link
  • A Big Vote for Science: Docs Form North Texas Medical Society Coalition - Link
  • Check Out This Free Healthcare Innovation Pitch Competition - Link
  • The Great Accelerator: COVID-19 Hits Retail Industry Hard - Link
  • The Six Most Important Things I Learned From Jim Schutze - Link
  • Multimillion Dollar Renovation Completed at Historic West End Building - Link
  • This is How to Survive a Market Correction - Link
  • Send in the Troops: UTA Student Nurses Ready to Join the Front Lines of COVID-19 - Link
  • Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas Celebrates 50 Years of Service With Virtual Gala - Link
  • Donny Sirisavath Named One of Food & Wine’s Best New Chefs of 2020 - Link
  • Executive Perspectives: Nikky Phinyawatana - Link
  • The Relief and Struggle of Receiving Restaurant Support Funds - Link
  • Catalyst Health Network Adds Nearly 100 Central Texas Doctors - Link
  • Former Dallas Cowboy Daryl Johnston Hired By Allied BioScience - Link
    - D Magazine
  • DI People: Jacobs, Stream Data Centers, ECI Software Solutions, Make Moves - Link
  • MedVentures Pitch Competition Goes Virtual, Dallas-based Ataia Takes Home the Top Prize - Link
  • ‘There’s More Opportunity in an Emerging Market’: Florida Tech Firm Optym is Relocating to North Texas - Link
  • Infogroup is Giving Government Agencies Data That Could Help COVID-19 Response - Link
  • Economy in Brief: New Dallas Region Economic Report Shows Initial Impact of COVID-19 - Link
  • Managing Madness with a Mentor: Meet CEC Entertainment’s Chris Boult - Link
  • Dallas International School Launches COVID-19 Webinar Series Welcoming Experts Across Industries to Discuss Issues Impacting Community - Link
  • Dallas’ Paul Quinn, JPMorgan Chase Join More Than 20 Black Leaders in a Virtual Celebration for Grads - Link
  • Amazon’s Hiring 1,500 at a New Site in Oak Cliff, the First to Open in Texas During the Pandemic - Link
  • A Newly Formed DFW Company is Producing Equipment to Decontaminate N95 Masks - Link
  • Dallas Invents: 147 Patents Granted for Week of April 28 - Link
  • Virtual Education: Dallas-based National Math and Science Initiative Launches Free STEM Video Lessons - Link
  • Hypergiant’s New AI-Driven Fleet Operations Platform Enables Remote Satellite Operations - Link
  • Catapult Health Creates Return-To-Work Programs To Ease Employees’ COVID-19 Concerns - Link
  • Dream Big - Link
  • Fort Worth-based eRx Network is Bought Back by Change Healthcare for $219M After McKesson Split - Link
  • Southwest Airlines Finds Ways to Support Customers and Communities in the Pandemic - Link
  • Fort Worth’s ECI Software Solutions Opens to a New Market With Latest Acquisition - Link
    - Dallas Innovates
  • DFW Coronavirus Tracker: Governor urging authorities to cut property tax rates - Link
  • Reports: Tesla may build its next major manufacturing facility in Texas - Link
  • J.C. Penney files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection - Link
  • Uber’s Dallas deal gets even sweeter - Link
  • DFW Coronavirus Tracker: These are the businesses that can reopen Monday - Link
  • Form-D Friday: Dallas firm closes $969M fund - Link
  • Mid-level managers were already stressed. Coronavirus has made it worse - Link
  • Deals Day: Samsung expands its warehouse footprint in Coppell - Link
  • Texas officials not shy about wanting Elon Musk to make the move with Tesla - Link
  • This Fort Worth company expected a steep sales decline. The opposite happened - Link
  • As dealmaking stalls, distress could create opportunities for the bold in DFW private equity - Link
  • Hyundai snags key DFW executive, scouts locations for urban air mobility office - Link
  • New report: Colleges should be flexible about online fall semester - Link
  • Exec returns to Wingstop as CTO as digital sales climb - Link
  • 'We're scrappy as hell': What the COVID-19 world looks like for RAVE Restaurant Group - Link
  • Dallas company raises more than $15M in middle of pandemic - Link
  • Consumers are ready to shop, but not to try on clothes - Link
  • Why this hugely successful retail chain is moving its HQ to Dallas - Link
  • Fossil cuts employees costs with furloughs, reductions in hours and pay - Link
  • CEO of firm behind index focused on health care tech discusses what's thriving in COVID-19 economy - Link
  • Optimism grows among retail landlords as Texas reopens - Link
  • Fort Worth company tests new way to auction aircraft amid COVID-19 - Link
  • Restaurant group reduced hours for hundreds across North Texas - Link
  • In lockdown, nail care sales rise as makeup sales drop - Link
  • How to reinvent your events during a pandemic - Link
  • Behavioral health patient volumes plunged, but providers bracing for a surge - Link
  • In the ‘Mighty Middle’ of the U.S., Dallas takes No. 4. for seed funding in previous decade - Link
  • Why this Fort Worth hedge fund is betting on the small, micro-cap space - Link
  • Here’s how North Texas universities rank in the COVID-19 reality - Link
  • Why Dallas could be in the mix if Tesla packs its bags for Texas - Link
  • SBA failed to give guidance to ensure underserved and rural markets had access to PPP, report finds - Link
  • Firm helping improve cancer surgeries creating hub in Dallas as it gets $7.4M grant, invests in AI - Link
    - Dallas Business Journal
  • https://supportmylocal.shop/
  • Shop PPE - Get PPE Now and Fast - Link
  • COVID 19 Return To Work Safe - Securitygate - Link
  • Liongard CEO Joe Alapat lays out plans as company closes B funding round - Link
    - ChannelBuzz.ca
  • Fitz Gate Ventures Raises Second Flagship Venture Capital Fund - Link
  • Telemedicine For Neurology: 5 Benefits (And 3 Challenges) - Link
    - Braincheck
  • Houston Methodist First In The Nation To Be Approved By FDA To Transfuse Donated Plasma From Recovered COVID-19 Patient - Link
    - Click2Houston
  • Houston mom draws up support for essential workers - Link
    - KHOU 11
  • The ION Podcast Series - Video
  • Electric automaker sparks rumors about possible move to Texas - Link
  • New online tool helps Houstonians support indie retail stores - Link
  • Train to be a COVID-19 'disease detective' with new UH online course - Link
  • Local judge invites Elon Musk to move Tesla headquarters to Fort Bend - Link
  • Houston school offers COVID-19 'disease detective' online course - Link
  • The do's and don'ts of using your PPP loan funds - Link
  • UH expert: Mental health research just as important in the time of COVID-19 - Link
  • 5 most popular innovation stories in Houston this week - Link
  • Photos: Check out TMCx's recently renovated space - Link
  • Why Houston’s oil and gas leaders need to prioritize becoming a modern energy workplace - Link
  • Houston software startup closes $17M series B - Link
  • Houston startup releases new tool to help companies get employees safely back into work - Link
  • Business school dean says he's seen an increase in enrollment amid COVID-19 crisis - Link
  • Could Tesla come to Texas? Houston-area leaders extend an invite - Link
  • This Houston startup is revolutionizing event networking - Link
  • Houston PR team shares how social media can affect your small business - Link
  • Houston-based venture firm closes recent fund and reflects on COVID-19's effect on investing - Link
  • Inc. named the best workplaces in U.S. — and 6 Houston companies landed on the list - Link
  • 3 Houston innovators to know this week - Link
    - InnovationMap's Natalie Harms / Culture Map Houston
  • Houston’s Economy Is Diversified Enough To Handle The Latest Oil Bust…Right? - Link
    - Houston Public Media
  • Energy Worker Survey Finds Remote Preference - Link
    - Rigzone
  • OwlSpark - Rice University Startup Accelerator - The OwlSpark Accelerator Launches May 21 - Link
  • Tools for space are food for thought on Earth - Link
  • Virtual Rice University commencement set for Saturday - Link
  • 2D sandwich sees molecules with clarity - Link
  • Rice engineer wins grant to study temperature and coronavirus - Link
  • New issue of Rice Magazine tackles our new world and more - Link
  • Unconventional students at Rice: Shree Kale turns uncertainty into opportunity - Link
  • International students show off their home countries through virtual tours - Link
    - Rice University
  • University of Houston researcher developing device to treat babies with blood disorders - Link
  • Congratulations, UH Class of 2020 - Link
  • Walk This Way: UH Now Offers Live Virtual Tours - Link
  • Return to Work at the Office? Energy Workers Say “Not So Fast” - Link
  • UH Student Selected as 2020 Frederick Douglass Global Fellow - Link
  • Texas Policy Experts Offer Playbook for Post-Pandemic Recovery - Link
  • Pandemic Highlights the Plight of Female Health Care Workers - Link
  • Multitasking in the Workplace Can Lead to Negative Emotions - Link
  • UH College of Medicine Now Training ‘Disease Detectives’ to Combat COVID-19 - Link
  • UH Researcher Developing New Device to Treat Babies with Blood Disorders - Link
  • International Group of Physicists and Engineers Design FDA-Approved, Open-Source Ventilator - Link
  • UH Alumnus Wins Pulitzer Prize - Link
    - University of Houston
  • Houston VC firm raises second venture fund - Link
  • Mayor Turner pitches Houston for Tesla HQ — but it might be too late - Link
  • Treasury offers safe harbor for PPP loans under $2M - Link
  • SBA regional exec: Money remains for PPP loans. Here's how much has been returned - Link
  • Panel recap: Experts discuss the state of Houston's energy industry - Link
  • Houston exec dedicates life to solving problems for companies - Link
  • BBVA to open more Texas branches, including in Houston area - Link
  • Houston software co. aims to hire after closing $17M Series B - Link
  • Houston software co. raises $17M funding round - Link
  • Family-run business pivots from oil tech to temperature scanners for factories - Link
  • This Houston health system is gaining in the fight against Covid-19 - Link
  • Houston real estate industry will cope with loss of department store chain, expert says - Link
  • Major Houston tech co. hires first COO - Link
  • Outgoing Rodeo Houston CEO discusses chances of event returning next year - Link
  • Restaurant group reduced hours for thousands of employees across Texas - Link
  • Long-term social distancing doesn't bode well for small energy cos. - Link
  • Burlesque, food hall deal in EaDo scrapped amid Covid-19 - Link
  • Houston-based helicopter cos. reveal post-merger leadership team, golden parachutes - Link
  • Houston surgeon: How Covid-19 could change transplant medicine - Link
  • 8 things to consider before you return to the office - Link
  • Houston butcher shop sees meat prices surge as Covid-19 hits processing plants - Link
  • French co. developing Texas solar project worth hundreds of millions of dollars - Link
  • Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo CEO to leave - Link
  • Texas ranchers say they've 'taken the brunt' of beef production woes - Link
  • Houston-based real estate services co. cuts staffing, spending - Link

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Marc Nathan
Marc Nathan

Written by Marc Nathan

Helping support the Texas tech/startup community through connecting and mentoring. Subscribe to the Texas-Squared Startup Newsletter: www.texassquared.com

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