Featured Application: The Path to Python
The Path to Python from Kiwi Compute aims to provide free training and instruction for coding in Python, a programming language, to students in the city and across the country. This would allow lower-income students the opportunity to learn coding—a vital skill for the tech world—at their own pace while taking pressure off of teachers who may not feel equipped to teach the subject.
Community Profile:
As a hub of technology and innovation that has grown rapidly in recent years, Austin is a go-to for tech solutions and experimentation for businesses and researchers alike. The city has worked for years to incorporate advanced wireless technology into its fabric, blending in tech innovations with a self-described “weird” local culture that stars delectable barbecue, creative food trucks, and live music at every turn.
Austin has long established itself as a haven for those pushing the boundaries of technology. The University of Texas at Austin, the flagship campus of the University of Texas system, consistently ranks as one of the top universities in the nation and is hailed as one of the world leaders in computer science and technological research.
The university esteem is reflected back by forward-thinking companies such as Amazon, Google (Google Fiber internet is available for Austin residents and businesses), Facebook, Apple and more that have put down roots in Austin, complementing a vibrant startup community on par with vaunted Silicon Valley. The city is home to one of the fastest-growing markets for tech jobs—with more than 53,000 already in the city—helping to fuel its overall growth.
Austin has jump-started its Smart Gigabit Community status since being added to the roster in July 2016. In 2017, Austin hosted the GigaTECHs Competition, for the area’s civic-minded app developers and entrepreneurs to compete by coming up with next-generation Gigabit internet applications that provide a transformative public benefit. Some of these applications are in development and on their way to making an impact in the city—and around the world.