The Texas innovation ecosystem is accelerating at breakneck speed as technologies like AI and institutions such as the Texas Stock Exchange reshape what is possible. Samantha Lewis, Partner at Mercury Fund, recently relocated to Austin from Houston to strengthen the firm's presence in the region. Our conversation reveals how the founders and funders in the Texas Triangle are positioning themselves during this tech revolution, and why the connections between Austin, Houston, and Dallas are a superpower that is just getting started.
Samantha Lewis is a Partner at Mercury Fund. Her specific focus is on Mercury’s Power theme, where she seeks to fund startups utilizing blockchain, data platforms and fintech to rethink the way people access capital and opportunity, build wealth, spend money and organize as communities. Samantha currently serves on the boards of Mercury portfolio companies Apparatus (infrastructure), Arden (infrastructure), Civitech (data platform), Brassica (fintech infrastructure) and Cooklist (data intelligence).
Samantha is an active Kauffman Fellow, the world’s premier venture capital fellowship.
Before joining Mercury, Samantha was the Investment Director at Goose Capital, a Houston-based investment group of serial entrepreneurs and F500 CEOs, where she led deal sourcing, structuring and portfolio management. At Goose, she led investments in Syzygy Plasmonics, Rufus Labs, and Emerge. Samantha is a repeat entrepreneur with a background spanning agribusiness, logistics and supply chain, beauty, and deep tech.
Episode Highlights
Mercury Investment Thesis
Expansion to Austin
AI Competition Landscape
Importance of Founder Vision
Good Businesses vs VC Backable
Bits Meet Atoms
Healthcare Innovation Frontiers
Austin Growth Opportunity
Texas Stock Exchange Impact
High Speed Rail vs Airports
Texas Innovation Triangle and Collaboration
Houston Industry Challenges
Tech Inspiration Moments
What's Next Austin?
"We're so excited to just hang out and see everybody, meet entrepreneurs, hopefully build a big fintech community here as time goes on...The more VC firms that are here, the better. The more entrepreneurs that are getting funding here, the better"
Samantha Lewis: X/Twitter, LinkedIn
Mercury Fund: Website, X/Twitter, LinkedIn
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