Creative & Digital Media

The Austin region has become the premier destination for creative and digital media technology. Ranging from game, software, and mobile application development to music and film technology, education technology, advertising, social media, and digital content, the region boasts an extremely creative, innovative, and well-educated talent pool with an unsurpassed quality of life.

  • “Austin is the perfect place for Airtable to be investing because it truly is one of the most tech-forward, innovative and creative cities in the U.S., and it has so much to offer in terms of talent and culture.”
    Brian Hagan, General Manager, Airtable

  • “It’s certainly a lot easier to relocate people to Austin than the Bay Area because of the cost of living and the fact that it’s such a great technology hub.”
    Scott de Haas, SVP of Product Engineering & Operations, Roku

  • “The combination of a huge number of our users — particularly enterprises — being based in the U.S. and the amazing talent available in Austin was really the driving force to set up an office there.”
    Cliff Obrecht, COO, Canva

Both established and emerging players find success in Central Texas. Amazon has grown its digital product development operation to 3,000, including a studio working on Lumberyard, their software for game developers. Magic Leap, an augmented reality start-up with offices around the globe, has put an engineering center in Austin.

Austin is home to institutions like Austin City Limits, the longest running music program in television history, and the SXSW Music, Film, and Interactive conference and festivals. SXSW has become the perfect platform for creative people to develop their careers, uncover emerging trends, and launch new products.

Over 70,000 employees throughout the Austin metro are aligned in the creative and digital media technology industry. Because of this, creativity and innovation really drives the local regional economy, and whether your company is located in the Austin area or you’re considering an expansion or relocation to Central Texas, you’ll find the key ingredients to not only succeed but also thrive in a global landscape.

Our creative culture is fed by our diversity, focus on education, aggressive pro-business stance and ample recreational opportunities. Students come to Austin for computer science programs, as well as for degrees in film, design and new media at The University of Texas at Austin (UT), Texas State University, St. Edward's University, and Austin Community College.

UT opened the Bill & Melinda Gates Computer Science Complex and Dell Computer Science Hall in 2013. With high-tech collaborative laboratories and spaces, the complex marks the start of a new era for the university’s top-10 ranked Department of Computer Science. UT has also launched a new undergraduate game development degree to supply Austin’s creative media companies with top talent.

Austin's creative & digital media tech industry

  • Software/IT
  • eCommerce & mobile payment tech
  • Game & mobile app development
  • Music & film technology
  • Visual effects/CGI/animation
  • Social media & digital content
  • Hardware/enabling technology
  • Education technology

Companies in Austin

  • Activision Blizzard
  • Amazon
  • Apple
  • Bazaarvoice
  • Canva
  • Certain Affinity
  • Condé Nast
  • Daybreak Game Co.
  • eBay
  • Edgenuity
  • El Rey Network
  • Electronic Arts
  • Everi
  • Evernote
  • Facebook
  • Fjord
  • FloSports
  • Google
  • GSD&M
  • KingsIsle Entertainment
  • Magic Leap
  • Main Street Hub
  • Mood Media
  • Mutual Mobile
  • NCSoft
  • Nintendo
  • R/GA
  • RetailMeNot
  • Roku
  • Rooster Teeth
  • Spreadfast
  • Trendkite
  • Under Armour Connected Fitness
  • Wargaming
  • WP Engine
  • Zynga

Additional resources
  • Austin, Texas Region at a Glance flyer
    Download
  • Why the Austin, Texas Region? booklet
    Download
  • IT/Software Employers map
    Download
  • Austin UNESCO City of Media Arts Monitoring Report 2015-2019
    Download

Contact
  • For existing Austin area companies and for relocating companies:

    Charisse Bodisch
    Sr. Vice President, Economic Development
    Email: cbodisch@opportunityaustin.com
    Phone: 512.322.5608