New report names Austin No. 3 tech city in nation
This week, IT association CompTIA released a report ranking the top tech cities in the United States, based on factors like job openings, salaries, and overall cost of living. Austin came in at an impressive third place, following Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina. The study cited Austin’s creation of more than 37,500 tech jobs in the last year, a median IT salary of $82,200, and a cost of living 3.4 percent lower than the national average. Meanwhile, San Francisco? A measly fifth place. [CompTIA]
Five local companies make Fortune’s “Best Companies to Work For” list
Congratulations are in order for the teams at Square Root, Book in a Box, WP Engine, Cirrus Logic and CWS Apartment Homes. These five companies were recently recognized by Fortune Magazine in its annual “Best Companies to Work For” list. The list is the result of more than 112,000 individual employee surveys, covering more than 50 areas of workplace life. (Psst! Did you know that Built In Brews is happening Thursday night at Square Root?) [Fortune]
Austin tops the Texas video game market
A new report found that, out of the 270 gaming companies operating in the state of Texas, 140 are located in Austin. With more than half of the state’s industry centered here, it’s safe to say ATX is Texas’ video game capital — as well as, you know, the actual capital. The Statesmen pointed to a variety of factors as influencing this trend: legacy gaming companies like EA and Blizzard setting up shop, scrappy startups digging into the territory, and local universities incorporating gaming into their tech curriculua. [Statesman]
Big scooter will see its day in court
Major scooter rental companies like Bird and Lime have cropped up in Austin so rapidly, their very presence is nearing meme-worthy levels. Now, a new lawsuit filed in Los Angeles may cause a rift in the scooter-verse. The class-action suit accuses several of the largest scooter operators of “gross negligence,” citing a spike in user injuries. The suit has potential to establish precedents for safety regulations on scooter-sharing services. [Washington Post]
SpotHero and FlashParking announce partnership
Drivers reportedly spend more than 17 hours each year on the hunt for a parking spot. A new partnership between parking reservation platform SpotHero and parking garage solution developer FlashParking aims to streamline the process. Currently, the companies are testing a program in which drivers using SpotHero can enter FlashParking-equipped garages using the Bluetooth-ready app. This eliminates the need for driver’s to roll down windows and fuss with tickets. Start planning what you can do with an extra 17 hours each year.
