If you have an idea, Austin has what you need to bring it to life. The city’s startup ecosystem is thriving: We’re in the top 10 cities for startups in the U.S., and thousands of new businesses start here every year. Bring your hard work, enthusiasm, and desire to innovate, and you’ll find countless opportunities to learn from the best of the best, network, and secure funding. Local entrepreneurial hubs such as the Capital Factory build community and showcase the latest startups, but you don’t even need to leave campus to see Austin’s entrepreneurial spirit in action. Resources such as McCombs’ Texas Venture Labs and the Harkey Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies have helped launch student and alumni startups across industries, from game design to brewing to climate tech. Simply put, McCombs is an integral part of Austin’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
Tesla, Apple, Google — the biggest names in business are drawn to Austin. Between our high quality of life, lower cost of living, and diverse, highly educated population, we’re one of the most business-friendly cities in the U.S., and it’s no wonder that more and more companies are taking notice. And, although Austin has grown significantly, our reputation for being a great place to do business is nothing new. Many recognizable names such as Whole Foods Market, Indeed, YETI, Dell Technologies, Siete Foods, and Alamo Drafthouse are headquartered in the Austin area.
Austin’s great business reputation is due in no small part to The University of Texas at Austin, which equips talented students to excel in the workforce after graduation. McCombs maintains great relationships with recruiters and corporations from Austin and beyond and can help you get your foot in the door of top employers. You’ll also find community in our alumni network of more than 100,000 people — many of whom still call Austin home.
There’s always something happening here in Austin. Whether it’s marquee events that draw thousands of people from around the world to attend — like the Austin City Limits Music Festival or South By Southwest — or just a typical weekend, our city is always abuzz with activity. It’s the live music capital of the world, so you can count on seeing big national touring acts or up-and-coming local artists at one of our many music venues any night of the week. If you’re a sports fan, you can catch any of our top-ranked Longhorn teams when they play on campus, or watch our major league soccer team, Austin FC, at the state-of-the-art Q2 Stadium. On top of all the ways to get active on campus with UT RecSports, our city has many ways to enjoy the outdoors, with beautiful parks, many trails for running and biking, swimming at Barton Springs and Deep Eddy, and kayaking and paddleboarding at Lady Bird Lake. Plus, from food truck parks to breweries to cool cafés, our food and drinks are top-notch (breakfast tacos, anyone?). With all these exciting things to offer, it’s no surprise that Austin is consistently named one of the best cities to live in.
Learn more about what the city has to offer using the University’s Austin Area Resources.