Hello Soda -- a fast-growing big data firm based in the United Kingdom -- has chosen Austin for its first U.S. office. Before choosing Austin, Hello Soda looked at a number of cities, including New York and Chicago. But Austin's talent pool and the University of Texas put it at the top of the list. Officials expect the Austin office at 600 Congress Ave. to hire 20 employees over the next year, with plans to expand further by adding positions in data science, development and creative work. Hello Soda offers a data analytics platform that targets finance, insurance, recruitment and gaming industries.

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