Hello ATX Entrepreneurs!

We're excited to bring you the Spring Edition of the ATX Entrepreneurs Collective Newsletter, and are pleased to share our new Entrepreneurship webpage on the Chamber website. This quarter, we're looking forward to celebrating bold beginnings, spotlighting changemakers in our community, and sharing resources to help you plant the seeds of your next big venture. Whether you're launching your first startup or scaling your latest idea, we hope to help you energize your entrepreneurial journey.

Let’s make this season one of growth, connection, and fearless innovation. 

Joyce Durst 

CEO and Co-Founder, Growth Acceleration Partners

Vice Chair, Entrepreneurship Council 

Britney Box Hartle 

Vice President, Corporate Engagement

Best Large Cities to Start a Business (2025)

Austin, TX, is the third-best large city to start a small business in, and it has some of the highest venture investment per capita in the country, which means that it’s easy for a lot of different types of start-up businesses to grow. In addition, the city has some of the highest college-educated population in the country, which can provide a boost to new businesses by allowing them to hire qualified employees.

UT a Top University for Entrepreneurship

The University of Texas at Austin’s entrepreneurship programs rank No. 2 for undergraduates and No. 7 for graduates, according to the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. The rankings are based on a survey of administrators at nearly 300 schools offering entrepreneurship studies in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe. They considered more than 40 measures, including academic offerings, faculty credentials, mentorship and experiential learning opportunities and alumni entrepreneurship ventures.

Local Entrepreneur and Beauty Enthusiast Opens Blo Blow Dry Bar in Austin, Brings Premier Beauty Services to Community

Local entrepreneur Laurie Vazquez-Campagna is bringing Blo Blow Dry Bar to the Goodnight Ranch community, offering a chic and welcoming space for locals to look and feel their best. With Goodnight Ranch emerging as a vibrant neighborhood, and the surrounding Easton Park and Southeast Austin areas rapidly developing, Vazquez-Campagna hopes Blo Blow Dry Bar is one of many businesses to enter the area, making Goodnight Ranch a premier Austin destination.

ATX Policy Forum

May 14

Taking place at the AT&T Hotel & Conference Center, the event will focus on the policies driving Austin’s growth and competitiveness. The program will feature a keynote address from Mayor Kirk Watson, followed by a panel discussion with local policymakers addressing the most critical issues facing our region. This is your opportunity to hear directly from the leaders influencing Austin’s trajectory.

Unite and Ignite Conference

May 1

Are you ready to spark serious momentum in your business and connect with powerhouse women who are redefining success? The Unite & Ignite Conference is the ultimate space where vision meets action — and YOU need to be in the room.

Don’t miss your chance to be part of this community, growth & motivation to take your business to the next level.

Austin Small Business Week: Explore Funding Options for Your Small Business

May 5

This 3-hour class is designed to help you get clear on the funding your business needs to start up or grow. In Explore Funding Options for Your Business, you'll learn about working with investors, crowdfunding, various lending options—including Community Lending—and even grants. 

WPO Build Your Business

May 6

Get ready for a day packed with valuable insights, networking opportunities, and expert advice to take your business to new heights!

BID for the Americas

May 6-7 and 20-21

The series will help U.S. companies understand and access trade, investment, and public procurement opportunities in Argentina’s strategic sectors.

Master AI for Business Success! Hands-on 2-hour workshop teaching entrepreneurs how to leverage AI. Small groups, big results. You can register here.

Central Texas Angel Network Funding Cycle 4 Information Session (Virtual)

July 22

Get all your questions answered and learn about CTAN's funding cycle process prior to the application deadline. You can register here.

This is a dedicated collaborative space to share news, updates, and resources happening within your organizations and the Austin community. If you have content you would like to share, please email it to Britney Box Hartle bbox@austinchamber.com 

Pivotal Partners

Foundation Partners

Corporate Partners