The tech ecosystem is wide and varied in San Antonio. Here is a photo of a crowd from one of the tech industry's Tech Bloc events in 2018.
Gabe Hernandez
San Antonio's first notable foray into the tech and innovation industry started in the late 1960s when two computer pioneers arrived in the city looking for a manufacturer to help them develop a programmable integrated circuit — a still novel idea at the time. The pair connected with then-local firm Computer Terminal Corporation. The end result of this partnership was the Datapoint 2200, which was arguably the first personal desktop computer and the company that developed the first microprocessor.
Some 30 years later, three Trinity University students founded Rackspace Hosting Company. Now known as Rackspace Technology, the company has helped launch many local tech entrepreneurs who in turn have started such notable local companies as Jungle Disk, Pathwire, Scaleworks Inc., Active Capital, Geekdom LC, and Xenex Disinfection Services LLC.
These companies help make up the foundation of San Antonio's innovation industry, but there are many other up-and-coming companies and entrepreneurs driving the community forward. To provide insight and help you navigate this ecosystem, we've created a guide that details the businesses, people, schools and other resources that you need to know about. This guide will be updated with new names as the San Antonio region's tech industry grows.
If you feel we have missed someone, please email reporter Jeannette E. Garcia at jegarcia@bizjournals.com.
SA's notable tech-related companies
- 6Connex | a virtual events platform
- Allosense Inc. | manufacturers of military-grade asset trackers that help reduce theft and loss
- Appddiction Studio LLC | software development and health care staffing for government and corporations
- Bridgehead IT | provide information technology and cloud-based services for various clients
- Chargify | an online billing platform for business-to-business software companies with reoccurring revenue
- CNF Technologies | a cybersecurity focused company that also provides technology-focused research and development to commercial, federal, and Department of Defense clients
- Coviant Software | provide automation for secure file and data transfer
- Dura Software | a software company with various subsidiaries that provide hyperniche products
- Easy Expunctions | a company with a patented method that provides an affordable way for people to file requests to expunge a criminal record.
- Element Finance | a lending company specifically aimed for business to business cloud software companies with reoccurring revenue
- Elevate Systems | a product design and development company specializing in mechanical engineering services, prototype design and production
- Enflux | a cloud-based platform that offers an accessible view of a school’s overall program performance
- Floatme | a microlending app that helps users avoid overdraft fees with small advances, which the company calls "floats."
- Filestack | a cloud-based file upload storage and email delivery space specifically designed for use by software developers
- Grain4Grain | a company that uses the byproduct of spent grain from breweries in San Antonio and turns it into a low-carb, high-protein keto flour
- IPSecure Inc. | a company that provides cybersecurity solutions to the government and commercial companies worldwide
- Irys Technologies Inc. | a cloud-based software development company that helps government, engineering and other firms collect opinions and insight from the public through an app
- Merge EDU | produce virtual reality headsets that use spatial computing technology to allow students to touch and interact with 3-D digital content.
- Modern Managed IT | a company that provides managed information technology services aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises
- Pathwire | an email marketing and optimization platform
- Parlevel Systems | a company that provides vending machine and payment solutions
- Perytor Therapeutics | a pharmaceutical drug using placental tissue that can be used to promote tissue regeneration, while reducing pain and inflammation.
- Plus One Robotics | manufacturers software that helps run logistics for robots
- Promoter.io by Medallia | an e-commerce data analytics cloud software company
- Rackspace Technology Inc. | a publicly-traded managed cloud computing and engineering company
- Silotech Group | provides cybersecurity and intelligence solutions, as well as managed information technology services to Federal, state and commercial clients.
- Scaleworks | invests in and operates business to business cloud-based software companies.
- Searchspring | a provider of online search and merchandising platform for e-retailers
- Skipcart Inc. | a delivery fleet that provides same day and on-demand delivery for a variety of industries.
- Southwest Research Institute | an independent, nonprofit, applied research and development organization
- SwipeTrack Technologies Inc. | a hardware and software mobility solutions provider
- TaskUs Inc. | publicly traded outsourced customer service company
- TINT | a cloud-based software platform that helps enterprises compile content created by users talking about them on various social media platforms
- Transect Inc. | software that helps developers working with a variety of projects, including oil and gas and various types of real estate, to identify early state or federal restrictions and streamline their due diligence on projects.
- Jungle Disk | a company that provides online backup services and data security
- Visual Net Design, LC doing business as VND | provides software development, server hosting and managed IT for both private and public clients
- Webhead Technologies | a company that provides various software development, cloud computing, visual design services and more for both private and public clients
- WellAware Holdings Inc. | a data collection platform that monitors and control industrial equipment through an attached monitoring system
- Wytec International | a company that creates wireless infrastructure to provide broadband ac https://www.xpel.com/cess at gigabit speeds with low latency
- Xenex Disinfection Services LLC | a company that manufacturers medical-grade germ-zapping robots
- XPEL | a publicly traded company that specializes in technology-based coatings and protective films
Area higher education
With the University of Texas at San Antonio as one of the top ranked cybersecurity programs and San Antonio College acting as one of its key talent pipeline partners, as well as non-traditional forms of tech training from placed like Codeup and New Apprenticeship, San Antonio has a lot to offer in higher education. Here are links to our local area colleges.
- Alamo Colleges District, comprised of five total colleges – Northeast Lakeview, Northwest Vista, Palo Alto, St. Phillip’s, San Antonio Colleges
- Codeup
- DeVry University
- Dynamic Advancement
- Hallmark University
- New Apprenticeship
- Our Lady of the Lake University
- Schreiner University
- St. Mary’s University
- Texas A&M – San Antonio
- Texas Lutheran University
- Texas State University
- The Art Institute of San Antonio
- The University of Texas Health Science Center – San Antonio
- The University of Texas at San Antonio
- Trinity University
- University of the Incarnate Word
Area Tech and Startup Thought Leaders
Here is a comprehensive list of tech and startup thought leaders in San Antonio with their names linked to their LinkedIn profiles, in case you'd like to connect with one of them.
- Alberto Altamirano | co-founder and CEO of Irys Technologies Inc.
- Sean Attwood | Vice president of tech development at Greater: SATX
- Ed Byrne | co-founder and general partner of Scaleworks, Soilworks Natural Capital, tech investor
- Deborah Carter | Director of economic development for Bexar County, former director of global talent development at Rackspace
- Magaly Chocano | founder and CEO of Sweb Development
- Pat Condon | Rackspace co-founder, tech investor and partner at Active Capital
- William Conway | CEO of Pathwire
- Angel Crockett | CEO of Inflow NS
- DeAnne Cuellar |Texas State Director of Older Adults Technology Services
- Tom Cuthbert | CEO, Sandler Training, Vistage Worldwide, Cuthbert Capital
- Steven Darby | Co-founder and creative director at Heavy Heavy
- John Dickson | Vice president at Coalfire, which acquired company Denim Group
- Brian Dillard | Chief innovation officer at the City of San Antonio
- Cat Dizon | Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer Active Capital
- Don Douglas | Local investor and co-founder of Geekdom Fund LC and chairman of local telecommunications company Liquid Networx
- Dirk Elemendorf | Co-founder of Rackspace and founder of Jobward
- Alexandra Frey | Executive director of the 80/20 Foundation
- Will Garrett | Vice president of cybersecurity at Port San Antonio
- Juan Sebastian Garzon | Executive director at Alamo Angels
- Marina Gavito | Innovation business development director at USAA, former executive director and chief operating officer at Tech Bloc
- Michael Girdley | Co-founder and chairman of Dura Software, co-founder and venture partner at Geekdom Fund and Dry Line Partners LLC
- Luz Cristal Glangchai | Founder and CEO of VentureLab and a best-selling author
- Lorenzo Gomez III | Co-founder and CEO of Geekdom Media, chairman at Geekdom, best-selling author
- Iris Gonzalez | Founder Startups San Antonio website
- Janie Gonzalez | Co-founder and CEO of Webhead Technologies
- Mariano Gonzalez | Founder and general partner of MGV Capital Group
- Randy Harig | CEO at Texas Research & Technology Foundation and VelocityTX
- David Heard | CEO of Tech Bloc, chief marketing officer of SecureLogix
- Phillip Hernandez | Chief operating officer at Geekdom
- Sameer Kamat | CEO of Filestack and TINT
- Amanda Keammerer | Founder and CEO Javilud LLC, a Truman National Security project fellow
- Chad Keck | Principal advisor at Medallia, which acquired his company Promoter.io
- Nick Longo | Co-founder of Geekdom, tech entrepreneur
- Luis Martinez | Director for the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Trinity University
- Pat Matthews | CEO and co-founder Active Capital
- Morris Miller | CEO of Xenex Disinfection Services Inc. and managing partner of Tectonic Ventures, co-founder of Rackspace
- David Monroe | founder of the San Antonio Museum of Science and Technology
- Lew Moorman | Co-founder and general partner of Scaleworks, Soilworks Natural Capital, former president of Rackspace
- Dax Moreno | Founder of Verity SA and former chief talent officer of Tech Bloc
- Erik Nieves | Co-founder and CEO of Plus One Robotics
- Manuel Oblitas | Co-founder of Visual Net Design, LC
- Bret Piatt | CEO at Jungle Disk, Co-founder and venture partner at Porthcawl Holdings and Dry Line Partners LLC
- Drue Placette | Co-founder CANopener Labs LLC
- Roxanne Ramirez | CEO CNF Technologies
- Jesse Rodriguez | Founder, president and CEO of IPSecure Inc.
- Joshua Sanchez | Co-founder and CEO of Floatme
- Chris Saum | Director of Business Development at Active Capital
- David Spencer | CEO Prytime Medical Devices
- Jason Straughan | CEO and co-founder Codeup
- Melanie Tawil | CEO and co-founder SwipeTrack Solutions LLC
- Tiffany Tremont | President and CEO of the Silotech Group
- Richard Valdez | Chief technology officer at IPSecure Inc.
- Graham Weston | Co-founder of Rackspace and former CEO, tech and real estate investor
- Greg White | Director at University of Texas at San Antonio and the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security
- Matt Wilbanks | Chief marketing officer at SecurityGate.io, former co-founder and CEO of HelpSocial
- Cole Wollak | Partner at Geekdom Fund
- Charles Woodin | CEO of Geekdom
