The ATXelerator

05/27/2026

Thank you for exploring another cap 'n stitch option and, after council debate, community input and further consideration, maintaining the city's $104 million commitment to future-proofing critical caps and stitches in downtown and central Austin. Future generations will thank this council for being bold and visionary. Item 60 Withdrawal-May 28th Agenda. https://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?p=4900

05/22/2026

https://www.atxelerator.org/post/i-35-parkland-project-faces-new-challenge

You may have heard that Mayor Watson has proposed a new, scaled-back proposal regarding the I-35 Cap and Stitch project. (See recent KVUE and KXAN stories). If it passes city council on May 28, it would counter the council’s May 2025 $104 million commitment to fund the foundational roadway element...

05/15/2026

Stars were born last night! Congrats to Hannah Garcia .14 (first), Reilly Shelton (second) and Vicky Kidder .kidder (third) for taking the top three positions in the 2026 ATXL Live Event. Huge thanks to Jeff Hahn for allowing us to use his beautiful patio for the event and his space for all the class sessions. Will start next week getting ready for 2027. Visit us at atxelerator.org.

05/14/2026

And then there were six. Congrats to our six finalists for the May 14 ATXL Live event: Jared Bethke, Matthew Dang, Hannah Garcia, Vicky Kidder, Neha Shah and Reilly Shelton.

05/07/2026

The 2026 ATXelerator Class, the 8th cohort, concluded its last weekly session last night with an informative overview of the Austin nonprofit community from Jeremy Martin of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, Collin Wallis of the Austin Parks Foundation and Mike Nellis of the Austin Community Foundation. It was the sixth Wednesday evening weekly session and 15th overall of the program which kicked off with nine separate sessions over the March 27-28 weekend, including Mayor Watson’s 10 rules of governing, a scooter tour of the mixed used West campus neighborhood, a talk on the History of Austin from the Austin American Statesman’s Michael Barnes and, of course, a festive outing at East 6th Street’s Esther’s Follies, where each cohort always gets its start. Now we’re on to ATXL Live on May 14 to formally end the program. Click here to attend: https://www.evite.com/event/039AIIAE4SKDAAPA6EPRG5OFEGB4ZA.

04/15/2026

Please join the 2026 ATXelerator class as it concludes the 2026 program with a finalist Pitch Competition covering important Austin public policy ideas. Join the class, family, friends, alumni and others for food and beverages in the spacious and shady Hahn outside patio. Interested applicants for the 2027 class should also attend. A donation of $20 would be appreciated to defray event costs. Please click here: https://tinyurl.com/yc6s6jra.

04/15/2026

Please join the 2026 ATXelerator class as it concludes the 2026 program with a finalist Pitch Competition covering important Austin public policy ideas. Join the class, family, friends, alumni and others for food and beverages in the spacious and shady Hahn outside patio. A donation of $20 would be appreciated to defray event costs. Please click here: https://tinyurl.com/yc6s6jra

03/30/2026

The 2026 ATXelerator class spent an immersive Saturday, over 12 hours, learning about the History of Austin (Michael Barnes of the Austin American States), the future look of Austin from a demographic perspective (Michael Santulli, City of Austin Planning), what it’s like to run for city council (D5 CM Ryan Alter, Pflugerville CM Rudy Metayer, D7 candidate Adam Powell), 10 Rules of Governing (Mayor Kirk Watson), Lime Scooter Campus Tour (led by Dan Keshet, Austin on Your Feet and Class of '19); Red Line ride to Domain (Cap Metro's Peter Breton, Class of '24). This is another great class of talented and committed Austinites who share our love for Austin, Texas.

03/28/2026

And they're off! The 2026 ATXelerator class kicked off this year's program at its traditional opening - Esther's Follies. Busy day today with Austin's history, future demographics, city council panel, Mayor Watson, downtown/west campus scooter tour, and the Cap Metro Redline to domain for a day ending dinner.

03/12/2026

I am very excited to announce the 2026 ATXelerator cohort: https://www.atxelerator.org/post/atxelerator-announces-its-8th-cohort