Starships & Startups: Venture to Brownsville and a Rocket Launch
By now you’ve likely seen enough rocket launch videos, but using that imagery of SpaceX's Starship lifting off, helps to express a shared vision we as a Texas venture and startup community need to expand across the state.
Standing there on the beach watching something so literally and figuratively enormous launch, made me wonder: if we can have this feat of engineering in the space industry right here, what else is possible when extremely pushing limits (perceived limits) in ALL industries in this great state?
I'm interested in even more "rocket launches", i.e. more startup innovations that we publicize, convene around, and celebrate, in ANY industry, and in ANY Texas city. We've seen the rate of how fast company building, how quickly funding, and how rapid startup and venture in general can change things on its own.
But we need to fully realize our statewide potential if we move together, as one big force in order to keep replicating "launches" and progress like that.
So to that point, I don't think it takes a figure like Elon and everything that he brings to the table, to pull off something that people will talk about and help push forward in major ways. He can be polarizing, but again, at least he gets people talking. And he's shipping it. Just ship it! Will it work perfectly? No! Will everyone love it? Of course not! People are so scared to do things, or even be seen trying, do it anyway. And we learn and go from there. We extremely need to change the mentality here if we want to keep making progress.
Texas is the 8th/9th largest economy in the world (beating out entire countries like Canada and now Italy for example) and I'm proud to say we're starting to act like it. We are now intentionally creating a conducive startup environment here.
It's been seriously moving to spend time with venture folks and real leaders in this community in Fort Worth, Arlington, Dallas, and now Brownsville and the Rio Grande Valley. Houston, San Antonio, El Paso, Midland / Odessa, Frisco, San Marcos, Round Rock, have more meetings on the books. Updates are shared on several venture bill legislative efforts, a statewide community venture event, and more, in the newsletter so, subscribe in the "Featured" section, or get it in your inbox: https://lnkd.in/gFA36VpM
About this pic: We as the Texas venture and startup community need to talk about what's going on down in South Texas, it's impressive. There's much we can learn from and need to pay attention to. The economic development, the spaces, the technology, and truly the people obviously left me inspired. Mayor thanks for your work, I know it's not easy + if you ever want to philosophize about cities (after your much needed break) let me know, I have some thoughts and more than just weird deja vu's haha) More recap on Brownsville in the newsletter!
Chatted with Mayor Trey Mendez before his very special and last "State of the City Address: Launching the Future of Brownsville, Texas"