What happens when a man who helped build the e-commerce engine behind Dell sits down with a mentor of 100,000 entrepreneurs? You get Kevin Koym, founder of Tech Ranch, a global force for entrepreneurial innovation, and you get a powerful reminder of what business is really about.
Before there were venture capital firms on every corner in Austin, Kevin was building companies with grit, vision, and a whole lot of coffee shop conversations. In fact, that’s where we started our talk, his approach to “campfire networking,” something he’s been doing long before startup events were trendy.
Kevin’s belief? Communities build businesses, not the other way around.
He told the story of his grandfather, a cotton farmer whose crops were wiped out seven years straight. How did they survive? Neighbors. People. The community. That same spirit now drives Tech Ranch. Entrepreneurs don’t just need cash. They need each other. They need a safe place to share wins, losses, and a little wisdom.
“Five minutes of the right advice at the right time,” Kevin said, “can be worth tens of thousands of dollars.”
It’s not about networking to sell. It’s about showing up. Listening. Offering insight. Creating relationships that grow businesses organically. And if something more comes of it, great. But the goal is connection.
We talked loneliness. Any founder will tell you, it gets heavy. Kevin’s lived it. And that’s why social capital, not just financial capital, is at the heart of what he builds. Real community is what moves ideas forward. It’s what keeps entrepreneurs going when the wheels come off.
Tech Ranch is more than just a local Austin story. Kevin’s taken it to 22 countries. Whether it’s $2 heart attack tests in Mexico or revolutionary startups in Uzbekistan, the idea is the same. Connect the solution with the market. That’s how you solve problems and build scalable businesses.
But what makes his story feel grounded, especially here in Round Rock, is this. His roots run deep in Williamson County. Kevin’s family has been in this region since 1846. His grandfather farmed the land. His uncle’s ranch near Florence inspired the name Tech Ranch. That history isn’t just nostalgia. It’s the foundation of his mission. Build things that last. Serve people where you’re planted. And carry the legacy forward.
When we asked him how Round Rock fits into this picture, he lit up. “This region has deep roots,” he said. “And with the right support, it can become a powerful hub for entrepreneurial growth.”
He’s excited by what the Chamber is doing. And he’s not into the whole Austin versus Round Rock narrative. He sees a chance to blend strengths, big city energy with small town values.
Kevin’s story started with working at Steve Jobs’ startup, NeXT. It shaped him. Not because of the fame. But because of the vision. Jobs didn’t just want to sell computers. He wanted to change the world and he told that story relentlessly.
That stuck with Kevin. Entrepreneurs, he says, need vision. But they also need resilience. It’s one thing to dream. It’s another to keep going when that dream feels like it’s crashing down.
So what’s Kevin doing now? He’s diving deep into nervous system health. Meditation. Nature. The stuff that keeps you grounded when chaos hits. Because if you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t lead.
He gave simple advice. “Start with five minutes of stillness,” he said. “You can afford that.” And if you want to reconnect to the land that inspires him, take a walk through the hills around Florence, visit Lake Georgetown, or just enjoy the Round Rock town square.
At the end of the day, Kevin believes the secret to success is simple. Believe in your vision, share it, and find others who will believe in it too.
If you want to connect with Kevin or learn more about Tech Ranch, visit techranch.com. There’s a global community waiting to support you.
