Austin Hardtech: What We're Building
Bring what you’re building. See what others are making. Be first to hear what’s next.
Join Austin Hardtech and Antler for an evening focused on the people building the physical future in Austin.
The evening is designed to help builders learn from one another, share useful lessons, and find relevant people, resources, and opportunities.
Curated Hardtech Show & Tell
A selected group of Austin builders will share short presentations about hardtech projects, experiments, prototypes, and works in progress across hardware, robotics, sensors, energy, manufacturing, materials, and other physical-world technologies.
Each contributor will also answer one practical question:
How has AI helped you move this work forward?
The hardtech project is the focus. AI is the practical takeaway. Contributors might discuss how AI has helped with design, engineering, research, simulation, documentation, manufacturing, operations, fundraising, or another part of the journey. We want to explore how builders are applying AI to real hardtech work and to share useful lessons with the community.
Bring a Demo
Anyone is welcome to bring a physical project for informal display during the evening. Bring a working prototype, an early experiment, a half-built project, a test rig, a circuit board, a robot, a sensor setup, a CAD model, or an idea you are exploring.
Demo tables will be available throughout the event. You do not need to be selected for a featured presentation to bring something.
Need / Offer Open Mic
We’ll also host a short, structured Need / Offer open mic.
Selected attendees will have a brief opportunity to complete the following sentence:
“I’m looking for ___, and I can offer ___.”
This might include a cofounder, technical expertise, funding, manufacturing help, early customers, mentorship, or something else.
We’ll keep this segment concise and practical so people can quickly identify useful opportunities to follow up on.
A Special Announcement
We’ll share the first details of a special Austin Hardtech x Antler event happening later in September during Austin Deep Tech Week.
The details will be revealed at this event. Attendees will be among the first to hear about it and will receive priority access to apply before applications open more broadly.
Austin Hardtech Community Directory
We are also building the Austin Hardtech community directory to help people find more relevant connections after the event.
When you RSVP, you will have the option to share your LinkedIn, company or organization, what you are working on, what you need, and what you can offer. With your permission, this information will help us make more relevant introductions within the community.
What to Expect
Curated hardtech show-and-tell presentations
Real projects, prototypes, and works in progress
Concrete examples of how AI is helping with hardtech work
Informal demo tables
A structured Need / Offer open mic
An opportunity to join the Austin Hard Tech community directory
A first look at a special upcoming Antler x Austin Hardtech event
Priority access to apply
Rough Agenda
5:00 pm Doors open, informal conversation, and demo tables
5:30 pm Welcome and event overview
5:35 pm Curated Hardtech Show & Tell
6:20 pm Special announcement and priority application access
6:30 pm Need / Offer open mic
6:45 pm Demo tables and informal conversation
7:30 pm Wrap up
Want to Contribute?
When you RSVP, let us know if you would like to:
Be considered for a featured hardtech presentation
Bring a physical demo for informal display
Participate in the Need / Offer open mic
Featured presenters should be prepared to share:
What hardtech project, experiment, or work in progress they are working on
One concrete way AI has helped move the work forward
One useful lesson the community could take away
Any setup or equipment requirements
We’ll select a small group of contributors so each presentation can remain short, practical, and useful.
Everyone interested in building the physical future is welcome.
Thursday, September 3, 2026
5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Antler Austin