Baden-Württemberg Delegation's Transformative Journey to Texas

From March 11-15, 2024, a select group led by the Minister of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Dr. Hofmeister-Kraut embarked on a mission to Austin and Houston, Texas, igniting discussions on innovation, entrepreneurship, and transatlantic collaboration. 

Day 1 in Austin: Embracing Innovation at SXSW 

The delegation kicked off with a guided SXSW tour led by Christiane Gillisen, unraveling the essence of Porsche's presence and exploring cutting-edge showrooms. A communal lunch at Ranch 616 set the stage for a deep dive into Austin's AI landscape and a tour of the University of Texas’ Vis Lab, followed by insights into advanced computing applications from Texas Global and a ministerial welcome. The day concluded with a networking event at the German Texan Heritage Society, celebrating a new collaboration between Gründermotor and VfB Stuttgart, symbolized by a US flag flown over the Capitol. 

Day 2: Austin's Startup Ecosystem & Houston's Space Ambitions 

A briefing on Austin's vibrant startup ecosystem prefaced a journey to Houston, where Axiom Space showcased their daring space station project, epitomizing the entrepreneurial spirit. The evening was spent networking at St. Arnold’s Brewing, connecting with our member companies from the German-American community. 

Day 3: Incubating Innovation in Houston 

The visit to the ION District and Greentown Labs unveiled resources U.S. startups leverage, followed by a roundtable on startup investments offering invaluable insights. Discussions ranged from funding opportunities to female entrepreneurship and Houston's innovation initiatives, featuring voices like Markus Hatzelmann and Connor Pogue. The day's highlight was an exclusive tour of NASA Johnson Space Center, visiting the Mission Conrol Center, as well as meeting with the Center Director,  Vanessa Wyche, and Business Development Director, Sam Gunderson, marking the pinnacle experience of the trip. 

Day 4: Fostering International Entrepreneurship 

The journey concluded at Rice Alliance for Technology and Entrepreneurship, with compelling discussions on internationalization and a business plan pitching program, encapsulating the delegation's forward-thinking ethos. 

This business delegation trip not only showcased the vibrant ecosystems of Austin and Houston but also solidified ties between Baden-Württemberg and Texas, charting a course for future innovations and partnerships across the Atlantic. 

Thank you to all participants 

ads-tec Energy, appliedAI, BadenCampus, Baden-Württemberg International, CampusFounders, e-mobil BW GmbH, ESTA Apparatebau GmbH & Co. KG, Festo SE & Co. KG, Gründermotor, Heilbronner Stimme, Hochschule für Technik Stuttgart/ GROUNDBREAKERS, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism of the State of Baden-Württemberg, Next Mannheim, Staatsanzeiger, State Parliament Baden-Württemberg, TFU GmbH, VfB Stuttgart 1893 AG, Wirtschaftsförderung Region Stuttgart GmbH