Howdy, Austin.
Welcome to Austin Founders Feed, your weekly cheat-sheet for the fastest growing entrepreneurship scene in the country.
Ken had an amazing time at Side Hustle Live’s event last week. He even got to meet a few of you!
Here’s everything that’s happening this week:
Top Story - The second atomic age is here
AFF Business Directory - Add your business to our list for free exposure!
Founder Spotlight - Gold Hunt: A Game Built for Austin
Did you know? - Austin city incentives & grants
The Feed - From Egypt to Austin BBQ
Social Calendar - 36 founder events (links)
Let’s get to it.
— Warren
This week’s letter is sponsored by NOEM.ai
Interested in sponsoring Austin Founders Feed? Take 30 seconds to fill out this form and tell us about your business.
Local News
📰 Austin Startup Ushers in the Second Atomic Age
Austin-based Aalo Atomics just raised a ~$100M Series B to build an experimental Aalo-X reactor and get a first plant online by 2027.
The second atomic age is here.
Over the next 5 years, U.S. data center demand is on track to double power consumption. We’ll need roughly 80 GWe of new capacity, about 80 cities’ worth of electricity.
Our current grid simply can’t scale fast enough.
Nuclear is ~2M× as energy-dense as oil and gas. But for decades, safety concerns, long build times, and massive capex have kept it from being used at anything close to its full potential.
That’s starting to change. Governments are pouring record levels of funding into next-gen nuclear and Aalo Atomics is leading the way.
Their bet: mass-production of reactors with a very different design than the last generation:
Liquid metal coolant instead of water
Uranium–zirconium hydride fuel
A much smaller design
In fact, it’s small enough to fit in your garage, but powerful enough to run a hyper-scale data center or a mid-size city. And it’s designed to fail safely by default rather than “never fail.”
If they’re right, this design could push nuclear power under $0.03/kWh, and rewrite the cost structure of energy in the AI era.
$100M into an Austin nuclear startup tells you what big funds believe about the next decade: compute demand isn’t slowing down, and the winning cities will be the ones that solve energy. Austin is quietly positioning itself to be one of them.
This Week’s Sponsor
Free Virtual Seminar - How to Stop Losing Leads
📆 Tuesday, February 17th @5PM CT 🎟 Free — Reserve your spot here (free)
Join Austin’s Yifat Cohen, founder of NOEM.ai, for a free live workshop where you’ll see exactly how to:
Deploy an AI agent across your website, phone, text, and DMs (no code)
Qualify leads instantly (Hormozi’s 3-minute rule, automated)
Turn customer conversations into real business intelligence
Build a business that runs without you watching it
Become the kind of founder who relies on systems, not luck.
Founder Spotlight
📰 Gold Hunt: A Game Built for Austin
This week Ken got the chance to sit down with Grace Huang, founder of Gold Hunt. It’s a fun tabletop game that’s crowd built in Austin. During their conversation, Grace breaks down her innovative approach to creating an environment where connections happen organically, and why Austin is the perfect place for it.
Ken: Grace, thanks so much for chatting with me today. I’m excited to talk about what you’re building. Creating a tabletop game is pretty rare in Austin’s startup scene, so let’s start there. What is Gold Hunt?
Grace: Gold Hunt is a fast paced social deduction game, similar to Werewolf or Mafia, but designed to get people talking and engaged very quickly. The goal is to spark conversation and help people get to know each other while keeping everyone involved the entire time.
The mechanics are inspired by the simple, high energy style of games like Exploding Kittens, but with a focus on intentional questions and curiosity, similar to We’re Not Really Strangers.
Ken: How did you come up with the idea?
Grace: After moving to Austin, I realized I had fallen into a routine and wanted to meet new people and try new things. I started going to meetups, then decided to host my own events.
I created a weekly series called Hustle & Play where people would co work on side projects for an hour, then switch to games afterward. It became a consistent way to meet new people and build community. From there, I started other event series like Recess & Play on Saturdays and Wellness & Play a yoga class and a DJ session afterwards.
What I loved most about all of it were the conversations that came out of those gatherings. The curiosity, the questions, the connections. That’s when I started thinking, how do I bottle this up into a game and make it more intentional? That eventually became Gold Hunt.
Ken: Why does Austin feel like the perfect place for something like this?
Grace: Austin really values intentionality and connection. People are constantly moving here and looking to meet others, and there’s such a strong builder culture.
A lot of the people who play test the game end up contributing ideas from their own experiences, which makes Gold Hunt better. It feels very collaborative. There’s also this openness to experimenting, whether that’s with community events, creative projects, or even new tools like AI. That mindset makes Austin a great place to build something new.
Ken: You mentioned there’s a strong community around this already. How can people get involved or learn more?
Grace: You can follow Play ATX on Instagram to come to events and play test the game. I’m also running a Kickstarter right now to help with manufacturing costs. Making a physical game is expensive, and early runs are usually about breaking even, but I’d love to lower costs so we can reinvest more into the community and future versions of the game.
If people want to help in other ways, marketing is a big one for me. Anyone who’s great with video, storytelling, or spreading the word would be amazing. And of course, anyone who just wants to come play is always welcome.
You can support the game by checking out the kickstarter or by being part of play testing!
Poll
Tap your answer below. We want to know why Austin founders chose Austin.
What is Austin’s biggest competitive advantage for startups?
Reply and tell us: Why are you personally betting on Austin for your business?
Announcement
Businesses in the Austin Business Directory Report Increased Traffic!
Don’t miss out on an opportunity to grow your business! Join 25+ Austin businesses that are already listed.
The Austin Business Directory (link) is a database of some of the finest local businesses in Austin.
Apply to become part of the Austin Founders Feed network by filling out THIS FORM.
Economic Outlook
PGA Tour Returning to Austin
The PGA Tour is coming back to Austin in 2026 with the Good Good Championship, scheduled for November 9–15 at Omni Barton Creek’s Fazio Canyons Course.
For Austin founders, that means a short-term spike in:
Tourism & hospitality spending
Temporary and event-driven job creation
Local and state tax revenue
Events like this inject a wave of out-of-town money into hotels, restaurants, transportation, and entertainment in the weeks leading up to and immediately after the tournament.
Expect a noticeable bump in demand for local services. This is a prime window to test offers, run local partnerships, and get your brand in front of a high-spend crowd.
From City Hall
2/05/2026 - Austin City Council Meeting Notes
AI / Surveillance “Trust Act” Coming. Council advanced the “Trust Act”, which will lead to an ordinance governing surveillance and AI tech used by the city (think cameras, LPRs, AI analytics, etc.). Any new surveillance-ish tool will likely need a written use policy, public notice, and council approval before contracts get signed, plus tighter rules for “emergency” deployments. Community groups are pushing hard on data privacy, anti-immigrant surveillance concerns, and strong limits on how long “temporary” tools can run.
Growth With Strings Attached. The city is still very much pro-growth: they just green-lit incentives for a Korean life-sciences firm that will bring ~200 jobs and plug into Austin’s tech/biotech ecosystem. At the same time, they’re slowing or shaping projects that collide with key cultural assets (like the Red River music district) to force real stakeholder engagement before rezoning big blocks. Several speakers hammered on “corporate welfare” and the need for efficiency audits and clearer fiscal notes, especially after voters pushed back on some recent spending.
Green Social Housing Study Approved. The Austin City Council voted to study a “green social housing” model, basically city-backed apartment projects that stay affordable forever and are built with high energy-efficiency standards. These would be mixed-income but skewed toward lower-income residents (especially under 50% MFI), with permanently capped rents instead of 30-year affordability windows.
Did You Know??
City of Austin Incentives & Grants
The City of Austin has a host of financial incentives and grants for local businesses, especially those that create jobs or meet community needs:
Cash grants and performance-based incentives for companies that create quality jobs or make significant investments in Austin. Great fit for founders planning to scale headcount or open a new facility.
Flexible financing for working capital, equipment, and expansion. Often on better terms than traditional banks. Helpful if you’re trying to extend runway without giving up more equity.
Designed to help existing Austin businesses grow and stay here. Think site selection help, navigating permits, and connections to workforce/training support.
Get money back for upgrading lighting, HVAC, and other energy-hungry equipment. You cut your utility bill and improve your office or storefront.
The city will literally help pay you to improve your recycling/waste systems—bins, signage, training, and more. Good for the planet and your brand.
Reply and tell us: Which incentive/grant are you going to apply for next?
The Feed
KG BBQ - From Egypt to Austin
KG BBQ is one of my personal favorite places to eat in Austin.
I’m not a barbecue purist, which means I actively seek out spots that take risks instead of just chasing tradition. KG does exactly that, blending Central Texas smoke with Egyptian and Middle Eastern flavors in a way that feels thoughtful rather than gimmicky. It might look like any old food truck, but it’s turning out pomegranate glazed ribs, shawarma spiced rice bowls, lamb bacon ribs, and spice blends you won’t find at a Texas BBQ joint.
KG has earned serious buzz in Austin’s food community, especially among diners who have already hit the classic barbecue pilgrimage stops and want something different.
The project is led by founder and pitmaster Kareem El-Ghayesh, who left a corporate finance career in Egypt, moved to Austin, and rebuilt his life around learning Texas barbecue from the ground up. After culinary school and apprenticeships with top pitmasters, he developed a style that honors both traditions rather than choosing between them.
Operating out of Oddwood Brewing, KG quickly built a cult following, with long lines and sold out specials becoming routine. That momentum recently turned into national validation when the restaurant earned a Bib Gourmand from the Michelin Guide, a designation reserved for places delivering exceptional food at approachable prices.
Reviews consistently praise the creativity and depth of flavor across most of the menu, even if the brisket itself is not what people come here for. That tension is part of the appeal. KG is not trying to replace the old guard. It’s carving out a parallel lane.
Time will tell if it becomes a permanent part of Austin’s top-tier barbecue conversation, but the Michelin nod and steady crowds suggest there’s something real here.
What to Order:
If you’re like me and drawn to flavors that are hard to find in Texas, start with the lamb. The lamb chops are outstanding and the lamb bacon ribs are a signature for a reason. I personally skip the brisket and lean into everything else. Add a rice bowl piled with herbs, sauces, and smoked meat to see how the whole concept clicks in a single plate.
— Ken
Networking / Events
Join Austin’s NOEM.ai for a free live workshop on how AI chatbots can improve your sales this upcoming Tuesday, February 17th @5PM CT. |
|---|
Monday, Feb. 9:
Austin Conscious Connection for founders, leaders, and creatives - A²: Authentic Austin - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM - Austin, TX - If you want deeper connections than small talk, this blends guided meditation with facilitated circles so you actually meet people in a meaningful way (Free).
AI Mastermind - AI in Education Mastermind - 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM - Magellan International School K-12 Campus, 7501 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX - A casual mastermind-style session to swap ideas and learn what other builders are doing in AI right now. Great for making a few higher-quality connections (Free).
Momentum Monday - Momentum Coworking - 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Lazarus on Airport - Quiet, focused productivity sprints broken up by 5 minute breaks for connection (Free).
Central Austin Toastmasters - Toastmasters - 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM - Parish Hall, 2008 Justin Lane, Austin, TX - Join in person or via Zoom to improve your public speaking and leadership skills (Free).
Tuesday, Feb. 10:
Scrappy Startups Meetup - Scrappy Startups - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - 701 Brazos St, Austin, TX - A new monthly session for current and aspiring founders all over Austin. Each session focuses on practical, real-world tactics around building early, staying lean, and making smart financial decisions for you and your business (Free).
Don't Boil The Ocean: A Chef-Led Cooking Class for Business Owners In ATX - The Austin Business Review - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Austin, TX - A fun “do something together” event: learn ceviche and knife skills, then hang for a Q&A that pulls in business/investing-minded people (Paid).
How do I raise money for my real estate project and avoid legal landmines? - Hays County Commercial Real Estate Opportunities Group - 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM - Buda Welcome Center, 303 Main St, Buda, TX - Join for a talk by a seasoned commercial real estate and transactional attorney who advises developers and investors nationwide on syndications, capital raises, acquisitions, leasing, and financing (Free).
Let's Talk Business - Austin - Michelle D - 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM - Radio Coffee & Beer, 4204 Manchaca Road, Austin, TX - Fun, networking, and real conversation (Free).
NIA Anderson Mill - NetworkingATX - 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM - la Madeleine, 14028 US-183 Suite 210 Ste 210, Austin, TX - Connect, share ideas, and build valuable relationships in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere (Free).
Jobs-to-Be-Done in the Age of AI - ProductTank Austin - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Productside @ Victory Plaza, 5209 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX - Explore the Jobs-to-Be-Done (JTBD) framework: a powerful way to understand what customers truly need and why they “hire” products or services to get the job done (Free).
Austin Big Business, Tech & Entrepreneur Professional Networking Soiree - Toronto Entrepreneur and Startup Network - 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM - 11420 Rock Rose Ave #130, Austin, TX - Make connections with co-founders, partners, coaches or core team members for your start-up (Paid).
Wednesday, Feb. 11:
Dinner with Entrepreneurs | Austin (Gold Tier Edition) - Ermantourage - 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM - East 6th Street - A cozy dinner with entrepreneurs to network + share experiences! This is for more established entrepreneurs (Paid).
UT BME Evening Mixer - UT Biomedical Engineering - 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM - Biomedical Engineering Building, Austin, TX - Great room for healthtech/medtech networking—students meet industry leaders, and professionals meet emerging talent for internships or full-time roles (Free).
Perfecting the Pitch: How to Communicate Your Start-Up’s Value - Global Sustainability Leadership Institute - 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM - Robert B. Rowling Hall (UT McCombs) RRH 3.310, 300 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin - Learn how to make your startup’s value click fast. Ideal if you’re fundraising, selling, or pitching partners and need sharper messaging (Free).
Creatives & Tech Speed Networking - Reuneo Match Networking - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St, Austin, TX 78701 - Structured matchmaking + speed networking so you actually talk to the right people, followed by founder pitches and open networking (Free).
Behind the Stream: How UT Scholars Are Rethinking Music, Labor & Artist Sustainability (Part 2) - Prosper XO - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St, Austin, TX - A thoughtful town hall on the business of music and artist sustainability. Good if you’re curious about Austin’s creator economy and policy dynamics (Free).
Measuring the ROI of AI - GILD Curated Circuit - 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM - Austin, TX - Invite-only, off-the-record conversation for operators who want to separate “AI hype” from measurable impact and real accountability (Free).
Austin Speed Networking | NetworkNite | Business Professionals Event - NetworkNite - 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM - Higbie's, 720 Brazos St Ste B-710, Austin, TX - A fast-paced speed networking format. Great if you want lots of new contacts in one night and don’t mind high energy (Free).
Rise & Thrive: Connecting Business Owners at Live Oak BNI - Business Networking International ****- 7:45 AM to 9:15 AM ****- Waterloo Ice House Escarpment, 9600 Escarpment Blvd, Austin, TX - Surround yourself with driven, like-minded professionals who are passionate about business growth and building lasting connections. Whether you’re an experienced entrepreneur or just starting your journey, you’ll find inspiration and opportunity here (Free).
February Roundtable Breakfast - Austin Technology Council - 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM - 9225 Bee Caves Rd, Austin, TX - This discussion will explore practical frameworks for building and expanding global teams, including how to select the right geographic markets, balance cost optimization with quality outcomes, and navigate cultural and operational complexities (Paid).
Thursday, Feb. 12:
ABLE MONTHLY Meeting - Austin Business Lead Exchange - 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Casa do Brasil, 10515 N Mopac Expy NB, Austin, TX - Referral-style networking for professionals. Good if you’re trying to build consistent local deal flow and repeat connections (Free).
NIA South Austin - Networking With Purpose - NetworkingATX - 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM - Chuy's (South I-35), 126 E Ralph Ablanedo Dr, Austin, TX - A structured networking lunch designed around intentional introductions. Solid for meeting local operators (Free).
CISO AI Roundtable w/ Antler - Keep Austin Secure x Antler - 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM - Antler Austin HQ, Austin, TX - High-signal roundtable for security leaders to trade notes on emerging threats and AI’s impact on security strategy (Paid).
Austin Investor Social Hour - Austin Real Estate Investors - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Draught House Pub & Brewery, 4112 Medical Pkwy, Austin, TX - Casual real estate investor meetup. Bring your questions and meet locals who are actively buying, learning, and sharing deals (Free).
Happy Hour - talk Shopify & ecommerce - Austin Shopify Meetup - 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Cosmic Saltillo, 1300 E 4th St, Austin, TX - Perfect if you run (or want to run) an e-commerce brand. Meet store owners and marketers, swap tactics, and make hiring/partner connections (Free).
PCA's First-Ever Networking Night - ProductCamp A. - 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM - Wanderlust Wine Company, 702 Shady Lane, Austin, TX - For product professionals, but also could be a valuable network for builders of all sorts (Free).
APA February 2026 | Interlude - Austin Producer Alliance - 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM - Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St, Austin, TX - Join fellow music producers in Austin for an evening dedicated to networking and collaboration. Producers of all experience levels and genres are welcome (Free).
ACE February Meetup: New Year Meet & Greet - AI for Creatives and Entrepreneurs - 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM - 701 Brazos St, Austin, TX - Connect with other artists, creatives, technologists, and entrepreneurs working at the intersection of art, tech, and AI (Free).
AI-Driven Search: SEO Meets GEO - Robot Creative - 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM - Online - Host Lara August and guest Lana Harris will be discussing the changing landscape of search engine marketing now that AI is in the mix, now referred to as GEO (Free).
Friday, Feb. 13:
Crack the Shark Tank Code: 1 Day Founder Workshop (Austin, TX) - Mangates - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM - Regus (Dobie Center), 2021 Guadalupe St #Suite 260, Austin, TX - Sharpen your idea and pitch around what investors actually listen for. Good prep if you’re raising or selling soon (Paid).
Meet a Founder Friday - Hosted Open Play PickleBall - John D (Host) - 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Waterloo Pickleball, Austin, TX - Casual open play with early-stage founders. Easy way to meet interesting builders while doing something fun— all levels welcome (Free).
512 Networking - NetworkingATX - 8:30 AM to 10:00 - Aloft Austin South, 4108 S I-35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX - Meet awesome people face-to-face, swap ideas, and build your network in a relaxed, friendly vibe (Free).
Saturday, Feb. 14:
Primewise Founders Club VC Connect and Networking Event- Austin - Primewise Founders Club Austin - 11 AM to 12:30 PM - Online - Pitch your startup directly to leading venture capital investors and Join Primewise Founders Club's exclusive networking session where visionary entrepreneurs connect, collaborate and create magic together (Free).
Founders Running Club Austin - Founders Running Club - 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM - Estacionamiento Edward Rendon Park, 1601-1999 Nash Hernandez Senior Road, Austin, TX 78702 - Join founders, investors, tech, creative people and startup enthusiasts together for weekly easy runs and networking (Free).
Dinner with Entrepreneurs | Austin (Gold Tier Edition) - Ermantourage - 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM - East 6th Street - A cozy dinner with entrepreneurs to network + share experiences! This is for more established entrepreneurs (Paid).
Big Ballers: Dinner with Entrepreneurs | Austin (Giving Back Edition) - BarCada - 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM - Congress Avenue - Join for a cozy dinner with local entrepreneurs to network, share experiences, & make new connections while giving back to those in need (Paid)!
P.S. Both Ken and I will be at the New Media Summit Feb 26-27. We managed to snag a promo code: “KEN20” for 20% off.
If you can make it, be sure to come say hi!
Last Week’s Poll Results
Where do you mainly work from right now?
Which event are you going to this week? Hit reply and let us know.
Until next week,
Austin Founders Feed
