Look alive, Austinites, this city is flush with young talent. The Capital City has so many up-and-coming entrepreneurs, Forbes gave the city its own local 30 Under 30 list.
Forbes took community nominations from 10 cities — including Chicago, Los Angeles, and Miami — to curate youthful lists of movers and shakers. The requirements: all nominations had to have never appeared in a Forbes Under 30 list before and be 29 or younger.
Let’s take a look at a few of these thriving under-30-somethings.
Irfan Alam | 27 | Founder, Frontrow Health
Irfan’s digital healthcare marketplace, Frontrow Health, allows doctors to share discounts on medical devices, products, and vitamins for their patients to peruse. The website launched this spring and has more than 100 doctors online.
Destin Bell | 24 | Cofounder, Card.io
Work out, but make it a game. We’re assuming that’s what Destin thought when he launched Card.io, an exercise app that allows users to “claim” parts of town in a turf wars-style game.
Elle Beecher | 28 | Founder, The Board
Never walk alone again with The Board, a walking club that brings folks together in 45 five-mile walks per week. Its 1,000 members have traveled over 8.7 million steps and created more than 200,000 chats.
Kate Ferguson + Lila Sullivan | 28 + 27 | Cofounders, Flourish Plant
These two high school friends developed their minty-fresh-smelling organic fertilizer, Flourish Plant, using entirely food waste. Their products can be found in-store at Tillery Street Plant Company, 801 Tillery St.
Rich Fortune | 25 | Cofounder, Hangtight
In a post-pandemic world, the Hangtight app aims to bring people together through common interests when it launches this fall. The app has 8,000 waitlisted users.
Victor Guardiola + Jordan Hicks | 25 + 25 | Cofounders, Bawi
This duo’s 40-calorie canned beverage line, Bawi, has just three ingredients: water, fruit juice, and organic cane sugar. You can find it at several independent retailers and at Sprouts.
Miriam Laeky | 25 | Executive Director, Texas Legislative Black Caucus
Miriam is the first-ever Black and Gen-Z executive director of the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, which has worked on bills including The CROWN Act and expanding medicaid coverage to expecting mothers.
Johnathan Newton + Mark Phillips | 29 + 28 | Cofounders, Dream Con
Since its inception in 2017, gaming and anime convention Dream Con has become one of the nation’s largest Black-owned conventions. Plus, it’s right here in ATX.
Nico Ramsey | 28 | Senior Account Executive, ECPR Texas
Through ECPR Texas, Nico has worked with companies including Google, the Texas Library Association, and the Downtown Austin Alliance, in addition to becoming the face of grassroots organization Austin for All People.
Jenna Palek | 25 | Creator and Founder, Fun on Weekdays
Jenna’s “Fun on Weekdays” podcast helps inspire locals to get out, try new things, and challenge themselves off the clock. Since 2021, the podcast has garnered 2.3+ million downloads.
This is just a few of the young trailblazers who made the ranks — click here to view the full list.
