Austin Impact Accelerator

The Austin Impact Accelerator leverages entrepreneurship in order for everyone in our city to share in its growing prosperity.

The Austin Impact Accelerator is a free acceleration program that develops and brings to market a cohort of solutions focused primarily and purposefully on affordability and workforce development.

We understand that the public, non-profit, and private sectors play by different rules, have different funding strategies, unique market variables, and more. This Accelerator is uniquely developed with these components in mind. We are looking to support solutions that will have the biggest impact, regardless of the sector.

- View our 2019 Impact Report -

- Applications are currently closed -

Thank you to our 2019 Sponsors!

City of Austin Office of Innovation | BuildFax | Capital City Innovation | JP Morgan Chase

The Austin Story

Affordability Challenges

Austin continues to be considered one of the top places to live in America and remains one of the best housing markets in which to invest.

But not everyone enjoys the same opportunities in Austin…

1 out of 4 renters pay more than 50% of their income on housing

Austin housing cost increases are outpacing household income increases at a rate of nearly 750%

There has been a 30% increase in homeless AISD students in the past two years.

Workforce Development Challenges

Austin’s economy ranks number one in our country and remains the best place for startups and small business owners.

But everyone deserves economic security in Austin…

1 out of 3 Travis County residents are considered low-income

20% of adults in Travis County cannot read or write well enough to fill out a job application

50% of the jobs created between 2009 and 2013 do not pay a living wage

Our collective impact

“The government is part of the solution, but not all of it. The Austin Impact Accelerator has created an environment that provides us the answers that will guide us moving forward.”
-Austin Mayor, Steve Adler

The Austin Impact Accelerator began in 2017 and has seen five cohorts all focused on either Affordability or Workforce Development.

In 2019 the City of Austin partnered with Vuka to deliver six $15,000 grants to organizations and businesses focused solutions addressing the city's Strategic Direction.

875 individuals and families empowered with attainable housing

470 individuals equipped with training and/or employment options that provide a living wage

27 new solutions formed and launched addressing economic opportunity and housing

$9.6 million dollars raised by ventures for pilots and follow-on funding

60% of founders and participants are either women and/or people of color

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Community Partners

Our work wouldn’t be possible without the collaboration and support of our community partners.

  • City of Austin Mayor’s Office
  • City of Austin Office of Innovation
  • Capital Area Workforce Solutions
  • Neighborhood Community Development Department
  • Google
  • JP Morgan Chase
  • Austin Community College
  • Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation
  • Noble Capital
  • Austin Board of Realtors
  • BuildFax
  • Capital Plus Financial
  • Mueller Foundation