Austin Community College District's Career Services Department is collaborating with ATX DAO to organize a pitch competition. This event will allow 21 founders to present their business ideas to a panel of judges, with the opportunity to win a $10,000 prize aimed at supporting the launch of their businesses.
The participating startups were sourced by ATX DAO, a community organization that connects technologists in Austin's crypto industry. Established in October 2021, ATX DAO has been active in local art and government initiatives. The prize money was gathered through sponsorships from Ava Labs, Polygon Labs, Silicon Valley Bank, and brands&people.
Mason Lynaugh, Co-Founder of ATX DAO, stated: “This pitch competition will provide not only an introductory crash course to students on how to best pitch investors on their business ideas and a glimpse into what a career in technology entrepreneurship looks like, it will serve as an opportunity for people to make inroads with local leaders in the cutting-edge technology space.” He emphasized the importance of sharing knowledge and networks within the ATX DAO membership with the broader Austin community.
Contestants' pitch ideas cover various technology topics such as artificial intelligence, fintech, and web3. Tatiana Randolph, ACC Career Services manager, expressed: “Promoting student success and community development is at the heart of what we do. Ensuring students have access and exposure to what realistic use cases may look like once they have the opportunity to apply what they’ve learned at ACC into the real world is a vital step in their educational process."
For more information about this initiative or future events, visit austincc.edu or follow ATX DAO on X (formerly Twitter).
ATX DAO operates as a decentralized autonomous organization focusing on mobilizing Austin's web3 and crypto community. Since its inception, it has engaged with state and local governments on crypto policy initiatives and supported local artists through projects like murals downtown and artist residencies focused on NFTs.