Austin, Texas, is known for its vibrant technology ecosystem, but behind the city’s growing reputation as a tech hub are women building companies that are changing the way industries operate.
One of them is Karyl Fowler, a technology entrepreneur and business leader whose career sits at the intersection of technology, global trade and supply chain innovation.
Fowler is currently Chief Growth Officer at Tradeverifyd. Before that, she spent eight years as CEO and co-founder of Transmute, an Austin-based startup that grew from a Techstars Austin company into a technology business working with organizations including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Fortune 500 companies.
Technology Meets Global Trade
Fowler's career is particularly interesting because her work goes beyond traditional software development.
Her experience in biotechnology, semiconductor manufacturing and economic development gave her a unique perspective on how technology, manufacturing and international trade are connected. At Transmute, she helped develop solutions based on verifiable data standards, with the goal of making cross-border trade more trustworthy and efficient.
In a world where products can cross several borders before reaching their final destination, having accurate and trustworthy information is becoming increasingly important.
Technology can help companies verify information, improve visibility across supply chains and make complex international processes easier to manage.
A Woman Building in Deep Tech
Fowler's story is also significant because she has built her career in an area where women remain underrepresented.
According to Austin Woman, Fowler points out that women-led companies receive less than 2% of venture funding in deep tech. Her response has been simple: reframe — looking at challenges from a different perspective and creating new possibilities rather than accepting the status quo.
Her story represents something bigger than entrepreneurship. It shows how women are increasingly becoming founders, executives and decision-makers in industries traditionally associated with men.
Did You Know?
Here's an interesting fact: Transmute began as a Techstars Austin startup in 2018 and went on to work with major organizations involved in U.S. trade and border security.
That journey is a great example of how an idea developed within Austin's startup ecosystem can evolve into technology with applications far beyond the city.
Austin: A Growing Home for Women in Technology
Fowler is part of a much larger community of women shaping Austin's technology ecosystem.
Organizations such as Austin Women in Technology have been supporting women in the industry since 2000 through networking, professional development, mentorship and leadership opportunities.
Austin's technology scene continues to demonstrate that innovation isn't only about creating the next big piece of software. It is also about who is building it, what problems they choose to solve and how technology can transform entire industries.
Karyl Fowler's journey is a powerful example of that idea: sometimes the biggest technological changes happen when someone decides to look at an old problem in a completely new way.