2025 Circular Austin Showcase: Creativity Meets Sustainability
Last night I had the chance to attend the 2025 Circular Austin Showcase, an event that celebrates innovation, collaboration, and bold ideas for building a zero-waste future. Hosted by Austin Resource Recovery and the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the showcase brought together entrepreneurs, investors, city leaders, and community members who all share a passion for sustainability. It was an evening that reinforced Austin’s reputation as a city where creativity and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.
Spotlight on Circular Innovation
The event focused on its finalist pitches — eight businesses sharing how they’re tackling real-world waste and resource challenges. Each idea pushed the boundaries of what’s possible when we rethink our relationship with materials.
- Cocarbon is using agricultural plant waste to produce activated carbon for clean water filtration. Their carbon-negative, solar-powered process provides safer water and eliminates the need for costly water transport while creating local jobs.
- CRAFT showed how a public studio model can reduce waste by making art supplies and workshops more accessible. Instead of single-use consumption, they foster creativity through shared resources.
- Save the Good Stuff is tackling the preservation and reuse of historic building materials, ensuring Austin’s architectural history isn’t lost to landfills.
- Wanderlust Wine Co. is proving that even the wine industry can adapt, using wine-on-tap systems with reusable packaging to cut down on waste and emissions.
- Published in General, Professional, Texas
Tackling Texas’ Water Crisis at Austin Climate Innovation Meetup
As Texas continues to face mounting water challenges, from drought-prone climates to water-intensive industries, the conversation around innovative solutions has never been more urgent. I had the opportunity to attend the latest Austin Climate Innovation meetup, where the spotlight was on water access, quality, and sustainability—with a strong focus on Central Texas and its unique regional and growth hurdles.
The event featured two standout companies, Eden Tech and Aquaria, who are developing breakthrough technologies that address water from two very different, but equally important methods. It was a hopeful and thought-provoking night centered around one essential resource: water.
- Published in General, Nature, Professional, Texas
Back at F.I.E.S.T.A.: A Night of Startup Energy at Capital Factory
After over a year or two away, I attended F.I.E.S.T.A. again and was reminded why it’s such a valuable part of Austin’s startup scene.
F.I.E.S.T.A. stands for Founders, Investors, Entrepreneurs, Startups, Techies, and Austin Newcomers. It’s a monthly meetup designed to help early-stage founders connect with peers, potential investors, and other members of the entrepreneurial community. While it’s open to all, the focus is on providing resources, networking opportunities, and visibility for those building and growing startups.
The event is usually held on the third Tuesday of every month at Capital Factory, a well-known hub for Texas entrepreneurs. The format is simple: share your elevator pitch, highlight any wins or needs, and be open to helping others in the room.
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- Published in General, Professional, Texas
Where Space Meets Sustainability: Reflections from Ecosystem Space in Austin
Last night I attended Ecosystem Space, a monthly happy hour hosted by the Space Workforce Incubator for Texas (SWIFT) and the Space Force Association, held at Capital Factory in downtown Austin. Part networking mixer, part brain trust, the event brought together technologists, government representatives, entrepreneurs, academics, and curious thinkers—each playing a role in shaping Texas’ place in the growing space industry.
At first glance, you might not expect a communications professional with a background in sustainability to show up at a space-sector event. But in reality, the overlap between space and sustainability is significant and growing.
Whether it’s using satellite data to monitor geographic data, designing closed-loop life support systems for long-term missions (i.e. water recycling and regenerative agriculture), or exploring how space design innovation can inform sustainable development here on Earth, the space sector is inherently about resourcefulness. It’s about doing more with less, often in environments where every ounce of energy and every drop of water must be carefully managed.
That’s why I was drawn to attend.
- Published in General, Professional, Space, Texas
Taylor’s Professional Career Track
I’ve had a very interesting roller-coaster of a career track, and wouldn’t want it any other way. I began my marketing career at a boutique automotive firm and then worked my way up to larger communications agencies. While I learned and my skills grew, I felt like there was still something missing. Passion. So I took a step back from a traditional path to find it. Through environmental education and adventures in sustainability, I found a career track I’m passionate about using my seasoned marketing skills.
The list below starts with my most recent job and goes back in sequence below:
(more…)- Published in General, Professional, Rotator, Texas
E-Bikes, Trailblazers, and Transit Gaps: What I Learned at the Micromobility Meetup
This month’s Austin Climate Innovation meetup focused on a rapidly growing and essential topic for modern cities: micromobility. Held at Palm Venture Studios, the event brought together sustainability advocates, transportation professionals, and community members interested in building a better, more connected Austin. With drinks, networking, and passionate speakers, the evening served as both a knowledge exchange and a call to action.
The presentations highlighted how smaller-scale transportation options can have a massive impact on our quality of life, climate footprint, and city infrastructure. As our city grows, so does the urgency to reimagine how we move within it—and micromobility is a clear part of the answer.
- Published in General, Professional, Texas