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From right: Lynne Skinner (tournament founder and director), Taylor then Daisy (her daughters), and her sister, Kathy. We all want to give a special shout out to Jeff Browning, formerly of Austin Ventures, for his commitment to chairing our events every year.
Our Story
Over the course of our first 19 Austin Cup tournaments, we have had 161 different tech companies fielding 706 teams. That's more than 3,500 bowlers, all employees of our regional technology companies. Each year, hundreds of fans - workplace buddies, family members - show up to cheer them on. (Check out our Austin Cup Archives for tournament results.)
Why bowling? Well, almost anyone can bowl, right?! Not everyone can bowl well, but it sure is fun trying!
In fact, our founder's parents met at a corporate bowling tournament in St. Louis in 1958, and she always questioned why companies in Austin didn't have these corporate sports teams.
Fast forward 40 years when Lynne was working at Austin Ventures. She had an idea to bring their portfolio companies together to bowl for a big trophy, building camaraderie in, and between, the companies. After Morgan Stanley and Austin Ventures underwrote the first tournament in February 2001, word spread fast! Austin Ventures continued to underwrite the tournament for the first 15 years, with Ernst & Young also sponsoring the family friendly Kids Bowling for 19 years!
Where have we been for 6 years?
Our 20th Anniversary event was slated for April 18, 2020 -- and it was shaping up to be our biggest ever! Alas, the COVID-19 pandemic had other ideas, shutting down the world in mid-March...along with our tournament.
For a few years, corporate leaders balked at allowing their valuable employees to gather indoors at such a close event. The event stalled as our then beneficiary began focusing on larger, more exclusive events.
But we've had y'all banging on the door for a few years now -- and it is TIME!
161 Participating Companies Through the Years
While some companies head into the alley loaded with bowling talent, most show up ready to have fun, bond with their colleagues and compete for the awards: Team, Individual, and Fundraising. Following is a list of all companies that have participated in the annual Austin Cup Invitational Bowling Tournament.
Recognize any names?
212 Studios
724 Solutions
21st Century Tech...
360 Training
3M
Accruent
Aceable
Active Power
Advent Networks
Affiniscape
Agere Systems
Agillion
Alereon
AlertMedia
All Web Leads
AlterPoint
Amicus
AT&T Wi-Fi Services
Atlassian
Augmentix
Baazarvoice
Between Markets
BigCommerce
Blackbaud / Convio
Boundless Network
BOXX Technologies
Britestream Networks
BroadCloud
BroadJump
BuildASign.com
BuildForge
Bulldog Solutions
CA Tech. / NetQoS
Callidus Software
Capital Factory
Caritasoft
Celite Systems
CharityGift
Cisco Systems
Civitas Learning
ClearCommerce
ClearCube
ClearOrbit
Cloudera
CognitiveScale
Compass Learning
Covasoft
CPA Global
CreditCards.com
Crossroads Systems
CSIdentity/CSID
Cygnal
d2 Audio
Dachis Group
DAZEL
Dell
Demand Media / Pluck
Digby
Digital Footbridge
Digital Motorworks
Double Line Partners
Drillinginfo
ECustomers
Entorian
eRelevance
ESO
ETI
Exterprise
Extreme Devices
Factory Logic
FameCast
Forgent / VTEL
Grande Communications
Headspring
Hewlett Packard
Hire.com
Hive9
HomeAway
Hyper9
Hyperformix
Impart Technology
Ineto
InfiniSwitch
Innography
iTexico
Kasasa / BancVue
KMV Technologies
Lane 15 Software
Layer N Networks
LDR Spine
Legerity
LibreDigital
Lifesize
Lithium Technologies
Lombardi Software
Malauzai Software
MegaPath Networks
Metrowerks
Microsemi
mindSHIFT
Mirage Networks
Motion Computing
Motive
Motorola
National Instruments
NetSpend
NetSolve
NetStreams
Newcomlink
Newgistics
Newisys
Noesis
Opcity
Open Labs
Outbound Engine
Pavilion Technologies
Performance Retail
Pervasive Software
PowerEd
Prophesi Technologies
PulseWave RF
Question Technologies
QuickArrow
ReachForce
RetailMeNot
RockSteady Networks
RunTitle
SailPoint
Salion
Silicon Labs
SiteStuff
Socialware
SolarBridge Tech.
SolarWinds
Spiceworks
Spinal Restoration
Spredfast
Staktek
Surgient
Terrace Mountain
ThinkWell
TippingPoint/Trend Micro
TManage
Traq-wireless
TriActive
Towny
Trilogy
Troux
United Devices
Vida Capital
Vignette / OpenText
Veros Systems
Virtual Bridges
Waveset
Wayne (Dresser, GE)
Webify Solutions
WhisperWire
Wireless Valley
Zarlink
Zenoss
Zilliant
We could not have done it without our generous sponsors through the years. Thank you!
***AUSTIN VENTURES***
**ERNST & YOUNG**
MORGAN STANLEY
BRIDGEPOINT CONSULTING
INGAGE
VINSON & ELKINS
SILICON VALLEY BANK
BROADJUMP
TIPPINGPOINT
GRAY CARY
VIGNETTE
MOTIVE
with additional support from:
Entrepreneurs Foundation of Central Texas