Does Austin Lead the State in Startups and Patents?

Our weekly check-in with the Texas Truth-O-Meter.

By Alain StephensMay 25, 2016 10:20 am, ,

In April, Austin Mayor Steve Adler declared that Austin leads Texas in ways that underscore its innovative economy — business startups, venture capital and patents. A few weeks later, he said that the very first tweet was sent from Austin.

Is he right? Gardner Selby of the PolitiFact Texas fact-checking team has the answer.

In April, Austin’s typically soft-spoken mayor recently popped a big-as-Texas boast. “There’s a reason Austin is number one in Texas in startups and venture capital and patents,” Steve Adler said.

Adler, speaking outside City Hall, went on: “There’s a reason that tech and transportation companies come to Austin to roll out their new initiatives. And that’s because Austin is where good ideas become real. Claiming that Austin is anti-innovation has no basis in fact.”

Adler said in a May 17, 2016, morning meeting in Austin with U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx:”Austin is where good ideas become real.” Later, Adler said during a “smart growth” panel discussion not involving Foxx: “The first tweet was sent from Austin.”

Here how Adler’s claims scored in the player above.