Accelerators have played a big role in helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into tech startups -- and a wide variety of other businesses.
So, if you believe accelerators can help produce better startups, then why not do the same thing to develop better politicians?
That's the thought behind the ATXelerator, an accelerator launched simultaneously on Wednesday with the Center for Austin’s Future, a nonprofit dedicated to recruiting, mentoring and promoting "future-focused city leaders."
The program includes intense training with experienced elected politicians and community leaders. Like a tech accelerator, the aspiring civic leaders will compete in a pitch competition judged by a panel of experts at the end of the accelerator program.
The accelerator is accepting applications until Nov. 27. The first cohort of 10-15 people will be announced Dec. 13, and the group will start with a weekend retreat in mid-January. Then, they'll have eight weekly sessions that focus on transportation, economic development, land use and other topics germane to local governments.
“The key to our city’s evolution is to hold onto the things that make our community a special place while focusing on solutions that position Austin for future success and a high quality of life," former city council member Brewster McCracken said in a news release. "I think this accelerator approach will give Austin voters choices they can get excited to support.”
The new effort is part of a wave of tech-oriented civic engagement efforts. Last year, the Austin Tech Alliance emerged from a Facebook group created when Uber and Lyft were threatening to leave the Austin market if the city's voters didn't reverse a city council decision to add fingerprint-based background checks for drivers.
Meanwhile, The Austin Tech Council formed the ATC Policy Coalition last year to engage the tech community with city council member forums, policy discussions and financial backing to support candidates and proposals. Separately, TechVotes was launched as a nonprofit to help register voters in the Austin tech community ahead of last year's November elections.
The Center for Austin’s Future, a 501 (c) (4) political advocacy organization, is led by Executive Director Ward Tisdale, former director of the Real Estate Council of Austin and the former director of global public affairs for Advanced Micro Devices -- or AMD.
The organization has several former political leaders on its advisory board. Those include former mayors Lee Leffingwell (2009-2015), Bruce Todd (1991-1997) and Lee Cooke (1988-1991). Also on the board are former city council members Brewster McCracken, Chris Riley and Randi Shade; and community leaders Greta Goldsby, Jeff Hahn, Pike Powers, John Scarborough and Robert Thomas. They plan to add more to the list in the near future.
“We have an exciting and opportunity-rich future in Central Texas, but we must get ahead of the curve on major issues such as mobility and affordability to maintain and improve our quality of life,” Tisdale said. “Growing an ecosystem of future-focused policy makers will, over time, help move our city forward.”
