191. San Antonio Joins MIT's REAP Program: Geekdom's Charles Woodin on Building a Startup Ecosystem That Stays
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the changing face of San Antonio’s startup scene through the lens of Geekdom, the well-known downtown tech hub entering a new phase.
Cory Ames is joined by Charles Wooden, CEO of Geekdom, to discuss the organization’s shift from coworking to a membership-driven club model—and why the focus is increasingly on supporting startups past the “Valley of Death”: that risky stage between launch and true validation.
They explore:
- Charles Wooden’s personal journey from Michigan to San Antonio and into local tech leadership
- Geekdom’s evolution since 2011 and why it’s moving beyond coworking
- The impact of COVID-19, rapid changes in downtown, and how local entrepreneurs are adapting
- The growing partnership between Geekdom, Launch SA, and the City of San Antonio
- The significance of the MIT REAP program and what it could mean for retention and growth of innovative companies in San Antonio
- The vital role of UT San Antonio’s downtown expansion in fueling local talent and entrepreneurship
- What success looks like for Geekdom and the broader ecosystem over the next decade—and how locals can get involved
For anyone following the economic and civic development of San Antonio, this episode offers a detailed look at how one institution is redefining its mission in a rapidly shifting landscape.
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