Jim Brazell

Storyteller/Venture Catalyst/Technology Forecaster

Living the dream: Speaking for food and venture accelerating for sport.
@radicalplatypus

Jim Brazell is a technology venture accelerator, a technology forecaster, and public speaker. In the past decade, his work includes supporting the formation of the Austin-San Antonio Corridor, accelerating one dozen start-ups, performing technology forecasts for the State of Texas, and advocating for STEM and the arts in U.S. education reform. Jim is one of the first public voices proclaiming the need for a Sputnik-like awakening of the public to the importance of science and technology (STEM) to modern issues of educational innovation, workforce stimulation, economic prosperity, and global security.

During 2012, Jim contributed to “Building a More Secure and Prosperous Texas, A Report from the Texas Cybersecurity, Education, and Economic Development Council” catalyzing a SEMATECH-like movement for industry R&D collaboration and information sharing for global cyber security. He was featured in “Cyber-Crime: You’ve Got Nothing to Steal – Just Everything to Lose,” by Troy Anderson, Reuters, NBiz, April 2012 and “Central Texas bids to make itself commercial hub of cyber security industry, Cybercrime. Cyber terrorism. Cyber war.” Austin American Statesman, By Laylan Copelin, December, 2011.

For the past 6 years, he has been a featured speaker at the National School Boards Association and national education, workforce, defense, and economic development conferences. A collegiate national champion from the Bradley University, a few of his audiences include: The World Book Fair, 11th and 12th International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation, The World Congress on Information Technology, Reliance 21 – Defense Science and Technology, Armed Forces Communications Electronics Association, Society for Design and Process Science, and the Chautauqua Institute.

Today, Jim is CEO of PassionTag.com, STEM advocate for the IDEAS creative team, and a member of the Thornburg Center for Teacher Professional Development. Jim is an active volunteer to the Society for Design and Process Science, the Software Engineering Society, the Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce IT Committee, and Cybercityusa.org.

Jim is a 1995 George Gilder Fellow in High Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Public Policy. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology from Bradley University. Jim resides in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife, Lisa Cervantes, and daughter, Ava Brazell.