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Table of Contents Letter from the Editor Introduction to the Magazine
About the Authors About the different Authors that contributed to this Article
Local is Better Why supporting local restaurants is important
Super Food: Avocado Benefits of Avocado
Off the Rack Population pressures through the eyes Local Austin retailers
2-3 By David Stout
4-5 By Audrey Sandlin
6-9 By Nishtha Tripathi
10-11 By Nishtha Tripathi
12-15 By Audrey Sandlin
The Local Fashion Fix Local Austin Goods and Where to find them
Austin Athenaeum of Knowledge The uniqueness of local Austin bookstores
Top 5 Genres Chosen by Teenagers Top 5 Genres read by High school students
Silicon Hills The relationship of tech startup companies with Austin
Timeline of Austin Startups Significant events for Austin startup since 1969
16-17 By Audrey Sandlin
18-21 By Kevin Seon
22-23 By Kevin Seon
24-27 By David Stout
28-29 By David Stout
2 | The Austonian Vocation
Letter From the Editor By DAVID STOUT
Hello, reader. My name is David Stout, and I have been selected by my fellow authors of the Austonian Vocation to act as its editor. Therefore, it is my privilege to introduce you to the magazine we have all worked tirelessly to create. First, what is the Austonian Vocation? What new facts and stories will enlighten you as you sit utterly enthralled in its pages? Simply put, Austin is a city of diverse people and even more diverse businesses. Before your very eyes, we will explore Austin’s relationship with semiconductor startups, with clothing retailers, with booksellers (athenaeums if you would believe the author of that article) and with restaurants. Each of these explorations is wrought with stories of often harrowing entrepreneurship and jubilant success (or not) and with empirical information essential for understanding the city’s economic climate.
So join us in exploring the many Austonian Vocations that fill the city with so many businesses that, as any resident will attest, are nothing short of amazing in their popularity, ingenuity and overall spectacular portrayal of what I’m sure everyone would agree is but what I can describe as nothing else but the spirit of Austin. As cliché as that might sound, there is really no solid way to disagree with it. Anyway, I’m sure that you are now waiting with bated breath to explore the exciting content I have just outlined, so I will detain you no further. I ask you on behalf of myself and my fellow authors to remember us and our vocations as you read. Sincerely,
David Stout
Image from iStockphoto.com
Spring 2017 | 3
NISHTHA TRAPITHI
AUDREY SANDLIN
Nishtha, an avid freshman orch dork at LASA, loves meeting new people and fluffy dogs. She loves shopping on South Congress and always appreciates a good milkshake from P Terry’s. Her passion for food as well as her stellar social skills has helped her interview local Austin restaurant owners and write an entire article about the food culture of Austin.
Audrey’s favorite Austin activities include hiking the Greenbelt, going stand-up paddleboarding, and going to music festivals. She loves playing piano, sea turtles, and frozen yogurt. Audrey is on the LBJ Softball Team. Inspired by a film she worked on about the Oakland affordable housing crisis, she is passionate about population issues facing her hometown.
4 | The Austonian Vocation
KEVIN SEON
DAVID STOUT
Kevin is a freshman at LASA. He enjoys exploring new places around in Austin as well as eating in different local restaurants. In his free time, he enjoys coding, playing the violin, and playing competitive video games with friends. He loves participating in different organization and clubs at Lasa such as Orchestra, Math club, and Science Olympiad.
A freshman at LASA, David is an active and enthusiastic member of the LBJ Marching Band and the LASA Model UN group, and he enjoys the occasional trip to Barton Creek or Springs. His connections with notable figures in the Austin startup community has been advantageous for securing interviews and information for his article, which concerns the city’s tech startup industry. Spring 2017 | 5
AV
Local is Better
By NISHTHA TRIPATHI
C
ustomers line up outside the teal blue
by and watch Subway and Pizza Hut dominate our
doors of Franklin’s BBQ in Austin, Texas.
seclection of food businesses?
It’s seven am and some families have
been huddled outside since dawn for more than three hours. The small establishment sells
The whole process of creating a local business requires a lot of dedication and support
brisket,ribs, pork and
from the community.
turkey, by the pound,
Aaron Franklin, co-
as well as various
founder of Franklin’s
sandwiches. Ranked
BBQ explained,
number one in Texas
“We started off as
for best barbecue
a trailer and that
by Texas Monthly in
happened pretty
2017, one might say it
organically. We had
accurately captures the taste of typical Austin cuisine.
a camper, I built it in our backyard. It took about a year and then we ended up with that
Local restaurants and shops are essential to culturally diverse and
location.” Franklin went on to explain how may people had helped
rapidly expanding cities such as Austin. They
his family’s business grow and flourish throughout
provide jobs to members of the community and
the years. The business now employs and supports
recycle their revenue back through the community
over 30 families. Some of the employees at
itself. Unfortunately, local shops are disappearing
Franklin’s BBQ have been working there for over
quickly, often being replaced by restaurant chains
six years. Not many chain restaurants can say the
that can offer cheaper food. The question here is;
same about their employees.
should we support our local restaurants or stand 6 | The Austonian Vocation
Terri Hannifin, co-founder of Homeslice said,
smarter, we would prioritize finding a building
“Sometimes I feel like crying with happiness when I
that had previously been a restaurant so the
recall some of the people we have had the pleasure
permitting and build out would be faster and the
to work alongside who have greatly influenced what
cost of building would be much lower. Instead, we
Home Slice has become. We’ve had very talented,
prioritize the neighborhood. That’s what makes us
generous handy people, contractors, artists and
happiest”
other business owners all lend their skills at different times. Mostly the different employees we’ve had throughout the years have been the ones who have made the biggest difference for us.” Franklin’s BBQ and Homeslice are two local restaurants
“We prioritize the neighborhood. That’s what makes us happiest”
in Austin that provide jobs to many community members, even those who may not necessarily
Local businesses also make Austin the unique city
have experience running a business or cooking
it is. People travel from across Texas to visit Amy’s
professionally.
Ice Cream, or Franklin’s BBQ, or Kerbey Lane Cafe. These are just a few of the restaurants that make
Unlike chain restaurants which decide on a store
Austin, Austin.
front location based on where they would get the most customers, local restaurant owners decide on
Local businesses are important to teenagers at
their store front based on neighborhood. They want
Liberal Arts and Science Academy High School.
to appeal to and support a community. They want to
Aspen Kissinger, an avid Kerbey Lane Cafe
bring people closer together. Terri from Homeslice
customer said, “Local restaurants are a lot more
says, “Neighborhood is super important to us. It
friendly and they know a lot more about the city
has always been our mission to be a neighborhood
and about your specific taste of the city. They are
joint. We love having familiar faces. We love being
used to the culture.” Another student, Samantha
in a walking neighborhood. We love the opportunity
Porter, decided to compare Homeslice Pizza to that
to serve all walks of life. Even though if we were
of Pizza Hut. She explained, “ I think it’s better
The sign on the window of Homesclice, a local pizza store in Austin, Texas.
Spring 2017 | 7
because I feel like they [local businesses] take more time on their stuff because they only focus on a few locations. So like, Homeslice vs Pizza Hut. Pizza Hut doesn’t really care as much because they have more locations. They have to focus on more stuff other than the quality of their food.. It’s just not as good as if you focused on the quality.” Both students were also willing to spend the extra money to buy local food rather than food from chain restaurants. Fortunately local restaurant owners have no intentions on compromising the quality of their
“Local restaurants are a lot more friendly and they know a lot more about the city.” food or becoming pchain restaurants soon either. Franklin says he would never like to open up another store front besides the running one. “I really wouldn’t have it any other way. The headache of have multiple locations is horrible. The food quality would never be anywhere near what we wanted it to be, and I want no part of it. Sounds terrible.” The question arises then, “Is eating at local restaurants better than chain?” Local Austinites and business owners certainly seem to think so. We should work hard to protect the local restaurants that have been here for generations. They help bring members of the community together and make Austin unique.
8 | The Austonian Vocation
Customers sitting outside of Franklin’s BBQ before opening time
Aaron Franklin from Franklin’s BBQ cooking the some meat which will be eventually sold to customers. (LEFT) The outside patio of Franklin’s BBQ before store opening time. (BOTTOM)
Thank you to Franklin’s BBQ and Homersclice for providing us with pictures. The image of the pizza was courtesy of PIXABAY. Spring 2017 | 9
AVOCADO: THE SUPERFOOD Avocados are full of healthy fats (specifically one fat called monounsaturated oleic acid which helps fuel metabolism).
Avocados contain high levels of Vitamin K, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium, Vitamin B5, Vitamin B6, and Vitamin E.
Avocados are very fibrous and are essential for the well being of our digestive systems.
Studies show that eating avocados reduces cholesterol and triglyceride levels and may even help prevent cancer.
Avocados contain antioxidants such as Lutein and Zeaxanthin that are essential for proper eye health.
IMAGES FROM PIXABAY Trick brought to us by http://www.thekitchn.com/use-this-simple-trick-todetermine-whether-an-avocado-is-ripe-inside-tips-from-the-kitchn-172933 10 | The Austonian Vocation
Nutrition Information found at https://authoritynutrition.com/12-provenbenefits-of-avocado/
A HEALTHY RECIPE Ingredients - One ripe avocado - Two slices of bread - Two large organic eggs - Half of one small/medium sized lemon (Optional) for seasoning -Salt, pepper, roasted poppy seeds, and white or black sesame seeds
1. Fill a pot ž of the way full with water and set it onto medium flame. After the water is about to boil, carefully place in your eggs. Set a timer for six minutes as soon as the eggs have been put in the water.
2. Take the pulp out of your avocado and cut it into thin slices. Drizzle some fresh lemon juice and salt on top.
4. Enjoy your healthy breakfast or midday snack
3. Toast or grill the two slices of bread and drizzle with olive oil. Fan the avocado slices on the bread. After the eggs have cooked for six minutes, place them on the middle of each slice of toast. Sprinkle salt, pepper, roasted poppy seeds, white/black sesame seeds on top.
Spring 2017 | 11
Off the Rack By AUDREY SANDLIN
o Austinite can measure the effects of citywide growth better than local business owners. Retail shops are an especially important subsection of business because their merchandise embodies the Austin customer, as well as Austin culture. They are able to watch how the customer and the culture change over time with more people moving to Austin, Texas. Population pressures, coupled with the growth of Austin’s economy, has placed new pressures on local retail businesses. Austin is experiencing an affordable
Clothing rack at Blue Velvet
housing crisis, which raises rents that many business
increased population. There are more people moving
owners have to pay for the space their shop is in. This
to Austin than the city can afford to house. There is a
can cause many shops to shut down, which could
net growth of 157 people moving to Austin each day
threaten the business-friendly culture of the city. In
according to the Austin Relocation Guide.
other cases, business can improve, depending on many factors such as location, prominence, and inventory.
Austin has been described as having an affordable
“Our rents here are so high compared to — with the
housing crisis. Local business owners must rent spaces
rest of the state, and so in order for people to pay
for their shops, and the rising rent prices have forced
rent, you know they have to make a certain amount
some shops to shut down entirely.
of money. And, in order for us to keep our bills down,
“When rents go up and taxes go up, local businesses
we have to pay a certain rate as well,” said Rosemary
can’t afford the properties anymore. So they are either
Wynn, owner of Oat Willies, a novelty shop on located
forced to shut or relocate. And oftentimes when they
near the University of Texas campus.
relocate it’s not in the areas where they’re gonna get the traffic, or the sales and they eventually close anyways,”
A major challenge many business owners have to
said Rebekka Adams, owner of Bloomers and Frocks, a
face is rising rent costs. Rising rents are a result of an
vintage clothing store on South 1st St.
12 | The Austonian Vocation
Retail shops have merchandise that must constantly
and things like that, that appeal to a broader range
update to keep up with new technology and new
of people,” said Wynn.
demands from customers. “We have had technology changes with our industry, and so we’ve had to do lots of Austin retail shops provide the merchandise more research on new things that are coming out. We’ve that Austinites and tourists alike enjoy. Vintage also added new product lines so far it’s like novelty items shops have a particularly interesting cooperation
“When rents go up and taxes go up, local businesses can’t afford the properties anymore. So they are either forced to shut or relocate.”
Vintage store at North Loop
between companies, because their merchandise is never identical. Adams describes selling Austin vintage clothing as “a cooperative effort that we put together for marketing for all the vintage and antique stores so it’s for tourists or people out of town who specifically love vintage or antique stuff and that’s what they wanna look for — We put that in downtown hotels, we put it in the visitor’s center and then all the shops have it. Because we all carry very unique things. You’re not gonna find something in my shop that you’re gonna find in another vintage
Photos by Audrey Sandlin
Spring 2017 | 13
store —”. The unique product of vintage clothing
go work somewhere else,” said Oat Willies’
makes it so every shop has a completely
owner Wynn.
different inventory. Another issue for businesses, is when they hire employees they must compete with other companies to have the lowest wages while still making money. “There’s a difficult balance and we can definitely tell sometimes we’ll be trying to hire and we won’t get as much for, you know as much response to an ad on Craigslist, or we don’t get as quality of employee,” said Wynn. They must compete to keep the employees working at their store, instead of working at the store with the higher wages. “Say
“When they hire employees they must compete with other companies to have the lowest wages while still making money”
they don’t think they’re making enough money working for us — it’s really easy just to quit and
14 | The Austonian Vocation
Mural outside of North Loop
Room Service Vintage
way to financially support themselves and their For these companies, shopping local makes all the
families. So they either have to move or live in
difference. “It’s important to keep your money
poverty. And then--or they can go work for the
in your local community as much as possible
big-box and then they get lower wages than what
as opposed to just going off to a huge multi-
they were originally making, and then you never
international corporation or something,” said
know if that big-box is gonna leave or not. And if
Jennifer Barker-Benfield, owner of Blue Velvet.
they do leave, it’s just decimating the community. So it’s really important to stay self-sustaining as a
This helps keep us in a self-sustaining economy,
local economy.”
Adams explains, “It goes to purchasing for other local businesses and it keeps us self-sustaining. And
Austin retail has experienced many changes over
that’s really important because, if you look at small
the years. The effects of these changes can only
towns where Walmart has come in and you see
be measured based on personal experiences of
downtowns just decimated. Local businesses gone
the owners. Shopping locally can help protect
out of business. What happens is when Walmart
the shops that provide Austinites with their
leaves — well, when they come in first of all they
merchandise and, ultimately, a part of
take away the jobs, and people there have no
Austin culture.
Photos by Audrey Sandlin
Spring 2017 | 15
The Local Fashion Fix
Dino Earrings by Vinca https://vincausa.com/
Schnauzer Print Illustrated Ink By Leila Cothran www.illustratedinkart.com
16 | The Austonian Vocation
Earings JemJunkie
Hat ATown
Pants Pistola
Spring 2017 | 17
AV
Austin Athenaeum of Knowledge By KEVIN SEON
T
he world is slowly moving toward into the realm
books available to the readers across many
of electronic books as our society consistently
places in Austin. It was the successor to a
develops new technology, such as smartphones
bookmobile that was maintained as a library for
and variety of tablets. Technology allows us to do
25 years, and was the first mobile book retailer
many tasks within close proximity such as reading
in Austin to obtain the permit to be mobile
books. But how will new technology affect the future
retailer. Sukyi McMahon, an owner of Fifth
of our local bookstores? What is it about bookstores
Dimension, was motivated to start this business
that keep people coming back?
from the love that she had her books.
Book Stores in Austin, Texas, such as Dragon’s Lair
This is not a typical book store. It has many
and 5th Dimension, have many features that allow
different characteristics. They have many types
readers to engage and keep on reading. But many
of customers, “tourists, students, faculty, and
things have changed over the years as technology
staff on The Drag. We get hardcore geeks
expands.
at the science-heavy events we attend. And we still draw a great group of neighborhood
Local bookstores are secretly hidden in the corner of
regulars in Hyde Park,” according to Sukyi. And
our daily lives, such as Fifth Dimension, the mobile
because of their unique selling methods, their
book store that has a selection of more than 100,000
business is highly impacted by the weather.
18 | The Austonian Vocation
The Austonian Vocation Courtesy of 5th Dimensions
Their schedule and sales depend heavily on the
seen many changes that have occurred from the
weather. They face problems such as tight corners
ability to acquire books online very easily. But both
and speed bumps. Parallel parking. because of the
businesses also expressed different aspects of local
mobility that the bookstore needs in order to spread
bookstores that kept the businesses successful. As
the books to different areas.
Megan Borges, Content Manager from Dragon’s Lair mentioned,“Although there are many electronic
On the other hand, another local bookstore and comic store called the Dragon’s Lair, has been running their business locally for over 30 years. In the beginning, the Dragon’s Lair, was a small business located in a tiny space. Eventually, They expanded to a big expansion to a comic/game store that has over 10,000 square feet. Dragon’s Lair has been supporting our local community by participating in marches and charity. They also
reading options available, many people still love to
“Although there are many electronic reading options available, many people still love to have a physical copy in their hands to read, own and love.” - Megan Borges
provide a friendly environment at their shop with two store pets that greet customers at the door.
have a physical copy in their hands to read, own and
They have a friendly and passionate staff. They love
love. Larger publishers such as Marvel will include
talking about books and comics with each of their
digital codes in their physical comics, so that buying
customers.
it at the store also allows you to read the comic electronically as well.”
As the power of technology grew, both shops have
Sukyi shared her way of her business interactive Spring 2017 | 19
Courtesy of Dragon’s Lair
and relevant to the community, “We knew coming
local writers in for signing, and it’s great to see
in that online book sales were a key competition,
the community get behind them.”
but what business nowadays doesn’t have to deal with that? We have the benefit of taking the books where we know they will sell. So, we combat the competition of online books sales by placing ourselves at events or locations where our presence is convenient.” Both of the bookstores also show appreciation to the big support that Austin shows for Local bookstores, as Borges mentioned,”Austin is a great city of local supporters and readers. We love having
20 | The Austonian Vocation
“We combat the competition of online books sales by placing ourselves at events or locations where our presence is convenient.” - Sukyi McMahon
! s e r o t s k o o B r u o Y t r o p p u S 40000
Number of Bookstores in the US from 2004 to 2017
35000
30000
25000 Data from statista.com
20000
2004 2005
2006 2007 2008
2009 2010
2011 2012 2013 2014
2015 2016 2017
This graph shows the decrease in the number of bookstores in the US as it approach 2017. wThe number of independent book selling
Support your bookstores and keep Austin reading!
companies are increasing, but the number of bookstores are decreasing.
Spring 2017 | 21
Top 5 Genres Chosen by Teenagers Poetry 2.2%
Drama 2.2%
Non-Fiction 10.9% Fantasy 6.5%
Mystery 10.9%
Fiction 28.3%
Genres Historical Fiction 6.5%
Action and Adventure 10.9%
Science Fiction 10.9% Comedy 8.7% Satire 2.2%
Fiction
literature in the form of prose, especially short stories and novels, that describes imaginary events and people.
22 | The Austonian Vocation
Science Fiction
fiction based on imagined future scientific or technological advances and major social or environmental changes, frequently portraying space or time travel and life on other planets.
Action and Adventure
A genre of fiction in which action is the key element, overshadowing characters, theme and setting. ‌ The conflict in an adventure story is often man against nature. A secondary plot that reinforces this kind of conflict is sometimes included.
Mystery
a novel, play, or movie dealing with a puzzling crime, especially a murder.
Non-Fiction
prose writing that is based on facts, real events, and real people, such as biography or history. Spring 2017 | 23
Silicon Labs Austin Headquarters Photo Courtesy of Clear Sky Professional Photography
AV
Silicon Hills By DAVID STOUT
T
he year is 2000, and hours remain until
it will bring Silicon Labs are just one step in the
Silicon Labs, an Austin-based semiconductor
journey made by the city from a blip on the radar
company that grew from a startup founded
of the tech industry and the nation to a modern
in 1996, releases its stock to the public.
metropolis with a place in the industry to rival
This is the moment of truth for the company’s
that of Silicon Valley. Such a lofty achievement
founders, its early employees, and its investors.
demanded a title, and one was soon devised: Silicon
Tension is high. All of these people own significant
Hills. Silicon Labs currently employs 1,400 people
stock in the company that they bought for less than
according to Tuttle, 510 of which work in Austin,
a dollar per share. If all goes well, this value will
placing it as the 45th largest employer (excluding
spike from 50 cents to more than $50. With shares
government organizations) in the city according to
numbering in the thousands, that adds up quickly.
Austin Texas Homes. With a revenue of $183 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 according to their own
“One of the motivations of going public is to cash
press release, Silicon Labs is but one of the dozens
out. The people who started the company—they
of successful technology companies to call
created value and wanted to be able to sell their
Austin home.
interest to a certain degree,” said Tyson Tuttle, the current CEO of Silicon Labs.
However, there is something else at work here
This initial public offering (IPO) and the success
besides simply the growth of a job market in
24 | The Austonian Vocation
an American city. It was clear from the
founder and former CEO of the startup
beginning that there was something special
Zilker Labs.
about this new breed of company in the semiconductor (processor hardware) industry: the startup.
Despite the comparative lack of Tyson Tuttle CEO, Silicon Labs
funding of hardware startups nowadays compared to the time of Silicon Labs, this
“It’s a little bit of a small family, where you
entrepreneurial element is still prized in
really feel like you get to know the people,
the industry, leading to larger companies
and you share in the stresses every day or
provide funding for startups.
the fun things that happen every day, and when you get a bigger company, it’s just …
“That’s exactly what larger companies and
politics,” said Brad Fluke, one of the earliest
technology try so hard to do which is to
employees of Silicon Labs and the founder
find a way to foster and nurture the new
of his own startup a decade later, “and …
ideas within the company and find a way
[in a small company] you feel like anything
to stay agile like a smaller company would
you do will be noticed. That could be good
and not put so much bureaucracy and
or bad, but there’s really nowhere to hide
rules in place that stifles creativity and
in a group of five people or 10 people. Everyone knows what everybody else is capable of and you’re kind of accountable to those folks, and you get self-motivated — you really want to contribute.”
Brad Fluke
some smart engineers,” said Fluke.
Founder and Former CEO, Javelin Semiconductor
During the city’s tech hardware boom,
Vice President and General Manager, MEMS Division, Cirrus Logic
the millennium) this funding came from
(in the five-or-so years before the turn of investors called venture capitalists.
A startup is a company started from
“They’re mercenaries,” explained
scratch by a few people with nothing
Templeton. “Their model is find somebody
but some venture capital funding and an
with a great idea, to give them resources
idea, and there is a reason startups in
and money so that they can manifest that
Austin collectively grew by 81 percent in
idea into a product or service which some
2016 according to the Kauffman Growth
companies cash in.”
Entrepreneurship Index. “If you were a marketing guy and you “Well a lot of new products, new ideas that are solutions to existing problems … all come from the minds of entrepreneurs who ultimately work at startups,” said Jim Templeton, a Silicon Labs alumnus and the
knew some smart engineers you could Jim Templeton Founder and Former Vice President of Marketing, Zilker Labs Vice President of Worldwide Operations, Yarborough Solutions Worldwide
likely put this plan together for making a chip and take it to a venture capitalist and explain it to him and he would be convinced or believed in the hope that if Spring 2017 | 25
he put in five or 10 million dollars he could get 10 or 20 times that back when that company became
“The company usually has one of two goals,
successful,” said Fluke.
which is to go public and basically sell their company to the open market in the form of
Obtaining capital is just the first phase in a cycle
stock, or to sell their company to a bigger
that virtually all startups go through. The next is
company … If [the investors] can see a near
the recruitment of personnel such as marketing
term exit that’s a sure thing to get two or three
specialists or other engineers to roll out a
or four times their money back, they might very
product and gain a source of revenue. This
well take it instead of waiting for the big bet,”
was the case for Templeton, who was originally
said Fluke. “It depends on the circumstances.”
recruited by fluke to join Silicon Labs. Such was the mindset of the founders and early When a company grows sufficiently large and
employees of Silicon Labs: startups can be an
profitable, it begins to more urgently consider
invigorating environment in which to work, the
what are commonly called exit strategies, plans
driver of innovation in a technological field and a
for, as Tuttle put it, “cash[ing] out” or “selling …
savvy business venture for everyone involved.
interest.” This brings us to the place in the cycle
The true impact of startups may best be
occupied by Silicon Labs at the beginning of our
summarized, however, by an experience of
story. However, releasing company stock to the
Fluke’s while working as vice president of
public is not the only way for people with a stake
business development at Silicon Labs:
in the company to reap the fruits of their labors.
26 | The Austonian Vocation
“There was just one case where [some] of our favorite engineers, Tim and Andy, were eating Vietnamese food across town … and Tim was looking at some little feature that … customers were asking me to put on their chip, and I had asked Tim, and he [had been] thinking about for a week, and he [said,] ‘Hey we could do a whole low speed modem chip if we just follow that thread.’ And I kind of looked at Nav and he [said], ‘We can do that?’ and then this brilliant engineer says how he would do it and he would just get a Linux box and he would write this code and we ask how many guys would you need, and he says just a couple. That sound[ed] really clever and we trusted him enough that we asked him to go look at it, and if you fast forward three or four years that became at $75-million-revenue product. It drove a lot of profits. It became the standard chip inside DirecTV or dish network set top box where you plug the phone in when you order movies, and that was … 20 years ago. But those kind of stories where there was a moment of clarity or risk taking [or] betting … or a challenge or a competitive error or customer demand … At the time it’s … it was this new thing that came up—an idea or overcoming this thread or this trouble, and when it prospers it took. Good thing we all remember those occasions. We have our little greatest hits list of some of those most amazing moments, and that is what is my favorite thing about it. You get so proud of this place that was small and you helped get through it but what if you work in a company with 5,000 or 10,000 people. Your chance of you being the guy that was really on the hot seat or really sitting at the table when those strokes of brilliance occur, or those pivotal moments … So that’s really—I think—what matters. It’s fun to make the money, but the process of working with people that you respect and enjoy and working as a team together, focus[ing] internally on … making the right product for the customer, [and] ultimately and looking at that success. The reflection back on what were the moments that’s created … is just a pretty special thing.” Image from iStockphoto.com
Spring 2017 | 27
1995: IBM Research - Austin Established
1954: Geophysical Service Inc. in Dallas Rebrands as Texas Instruments after their invention of the silicon transistor
1948: Applied Research Laboratories established at UT Austin
Other Important Events
28 | The Austonian Vocation
moves headquarters to Austin
2000: Cirrus Logic
2000: Silicon Labs IPO: $99 Million
founded by Crystal alumni in Austin
1999: Cygnal Integrated Technology
1996: Silicon Laboratories
founded by Crystal alumni in Austin
founded by Mostek alumni in Austin
1993: SigtmaTel
1991: Acquired by Cirrus Logic, a Silicon Valley startup
founded by Mostek alumni in Austin
1984: Crystal Semiconductor
2003: Acquired by United Technologies
founded by ARL alumni in Austin
1976: National Instruments
founded by TI alumni in Carrollton, Texas
1969: Mostek
Timeline of Austin Startups
This family tree/timeline showcases both of these (essentially) with context. It displays the origins of many Austin startups, including Silicon Labs (about which the feature is centered), and each event in its progression from a half-dozen with an idea to a full-fledged national or international corporation, including acquisition and IPO, which are touched on in the article.
2010: Intel establishes an Austin office
1995: Phoenix-based Motorola spins off its Semiconductor Products Sector in Austin as Freescale
Spring 2017 | 29
Texas Instruments Logo is a trademark of Texas Instruments, National Instruments Logo is a Trademark of National Instruments Corporation, Silicon Labs Logo is a registered trademark of Silicon Laboratories Inc. in the United States and other countries, Cirrus Logic Logo is a trademark of Cirrus Logic, Qualcomm Logo is a trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated, registered in the United States and other countries, Intel logo is a trademark of Intel Corporation or its subsidiaries in the U.S. and/or other countries, IBM logo is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in
2013: Acquired by Avago Tecnologies, a Silicon Valley startup based in Singapore
founded by Silicon Labs Alumni in Austin
2014: Acquired by Qualcomm, a Silicon Valley startup based San Diego
founded in Austin
2007: Javelin Semiconductor
2015: Merges with NXP, a Dutch-founded, Austin Based Semiconductor Startup
2015: Rebrands as Vorago
founded as a spinoff of Motorola in Austin
founded by Silicon Labs Alumni in Austin
2006: Evolve IP
2008: Acquired by Intersil Corporation, a Silicon Valley startup based in Singapore
Technologies founded in Austin
2004: Silicon Space
2004: Freescale Semiconductor
2005: Black Sand Technologies
2002: Zilker Labs
founded by Silicon Labs Alumni in Austin 2003: Silicon Labs Acquires Cygnal 2003: SigmaTel IPO: $32 Million
Austonian, adj. /ɒs`toʊniən/ a. adj. Originating from or pertaining to Austin (usually the city in Texas as opposed to alternatives in Minnesota or elsewhere) Cf. AUSTINITE adj.
Vocation, n. /voʊ`keɪʃən/ a. n. A strong predisposition for or calling to a certain profession or occupation b. n. Profession or occupation Cf. CRAFT n., MÉTIER n.