Startup Scene

Round Rock is a budding entrepreneurial hub in Central Texas, where accessing Austin is easy, operating costs are low and the headaches related to doing business are few. The ecosystem here is ripe for startups thanks to our solid business environment and community leaders who stand ready and willing to help you support your dreams. 

Just look at Dell, one of Texas’s biggest success stories, founded in a dorm room and scaled up in Round Rock. The technology giant is now one of the largest private employers in the Austin metro area, with its global headquarters in Round Rock. Other startup successes include Round Rock-based Infinitum Electric Inc., which was founded in 2016 and is now disrupting the electric-motor industry, and Round Rock Honey, which started with four hives in a Round Rock backyard and is now available online and on shelves in more than 1,000 stores across the country.

Venture Highlight

The Round Rock Chamber launched a $250,000 Round Rock Defense Innovation Fund (DIF) earlier this year aimed at accelerating growth of defense innovation-focused startups. The purpose of the fund is to develop a thriving innovation ecosystem that supports high-growth entrepreneurs and start-up businesses within Round Rock’s target industries including aerospace, defense and security.

The Round Rock Defense Innovation Fund is designed to drive the growth of defense innovation companies at various levels of revenue and funding stages during the timeliest need in the startup lifecycle. DIF grants will be awarded through a competitive application process and on a case-by-case basis for amounts up to $50,000.

Round Rock is quickly and intentionally emerging as a leading location for the aerospace and defense industry due to the city’s pro-business climate and abundant veteran and military workforce. Round Rock is home to thousands of current and former military personnel from nearby bases like Fort Hood, Joint Base San Antonio and Camp Mabry. The city is also home to Army Futures Command’s Resource Operations Center, the global headquarters of Dell Technologies and countless other military contractors and suppliers. Startups with a focus on defense innovation interested in launching or expanding operations in Round Rock are encouraged to apply. Companies will be evaluated by a team of industry experts to determine grant amounts.

Click here to learn more about Round Rock’s defense industry and apply for the Round Rock Defense Innovation Fund.

Business Environment

You can forget about red tape, bureaucracy, delays and high costs when it comes to doing business in Round Rock. We solve for “Yes.” We’re responsive. We collaborate to find solutions to make business happen. We understand the importance of speed-to-market, and we want to get companies up and running as fast as possible. Some might call us a sophisticated suburb that offers all the amenities of a major metro, but with lower operating costs. 

Round Rock’s property tax and utility rates are among the lowest in the region, and we offer fast-track permitting and an array of incentives to benefit companies of all sizes, including Fortune 500 companies like Dell Technologies and Emerson, to hundreds of high-growth start-ups and thriving small businesses. Top industries include technology and computing, advanced manufacturing, health and life sciences and professional and corporate offices. We’re also well-positioned for growth in the defense industry given our proximity to Fort Cavazos and the Army Futures Command, which is headquartered in Austin. Round Rock is a solid city, in a solid state, and a solid choice for business.

General Culture

Austin may be known for keeping it weird, but in Round Rock, we keep it real. Round Rock is one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, boasting all the amenities you crave, from sports and outdoors to music and culture. Apartment Therapy calls us one of America’s coolest suburbs.

Round Rock is home to the Round Rock Express, the Triple-A affiliate of the Texas Rangers, and the Dell Diamond ranks among the top Minor League Baseball parks in the U.S. Old Settler’s Park is a well-known destination for youth and amateur sports, providing 640 acres for activities like baseball, softball, soccer, disc golf, cricket and more.

Round Rock is home to the new 1.5 million square-foot Kalahari Resorts and Conventions, featuring America’s largest indoor water park. We also have a thriving arts, culture and entertainment scene. Round Rock offers a connected and caring community vibe, made up of real people and rock solid quality of life amenities.