{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Austin Next","title":"Texas Innovation Ecosystems in the AI Era with Samantha Lewis, Partner Mercury Fund","html":"<iframe width=\"100%\" height=\"180\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless src=\"https://share.transistor.fm/e/4c42653b\"></iframe>","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":3788,"description":"The Texas innovation ecosystem is accelerating at breakneck speed as technologies like AI and institutions such as the Texas Stock Exchange reshape what is possible. Samantha Lewis, Partner at Mercury Fund, recently relocated to Austin from Houston to strengthen the firm's presence in the region. Our conversation reveals how the founders and funders in the Texas Triangle are positioning themselves during this tech revolution, and why the connections between Austin, Houston, and Dallas are a superpower that is just getting started.\n\nEpisode Highlights\nMercury Investment Thesis\nExpansion to Austin\nAI Competition Landscape\nImportance of Founder Vision\nGood Businesses vs VC Backable \nBits Meet Atoms\nHealthcare Innovation Frontiers\nAustin Growth Opportunity\nTexas Stock Exchange Impact \nHigh Speed Rail vs Airports\nTexas Innovation Triangle and Collaboration\nHouston Industry Challenges\nTech Inspiration Moments\nWhat's Next Austin?\"We're so excited to just hang out and see everybody, meet entrepreneurs, hopefully build a big fintech community here as time goes on...The more VC firms that are here, the better. The more entrepreneurs that are getting funding here, the better\"\n\nSamantha Lewis: X/Twitter, LinkedIn\nMercury Fund: Website, X/Twitter, LinkedIn","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/4HrZGXEGyTZvMSwVdOhUF-5lWCTZZWxkKyPeZJOEQTE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wODE0/YzJjMTNjM2YzZTM3/MzZmNmVhOTRkNjNl/MTQ5OC5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}