---
layout: post
title: APIs in DFW
image: >-
  http://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/api-evangelist-site/blog/dfw-api-meetup-group.jpeg
author:
  name: kinlane
tags:
  - APIs
---
I just got back from the Dallas-Fort Worth area. I visited Dallas last night to help kick off the first gathering of the DFW API Professionals Meetup.

We got together at Microsoft around 6PM and I talked from 6:30 until 8:00, evolving on my [From Web, to ProgrammableWeb to ProgrammableWorld](http://kinlane.github.io/talks/api-meetup-dallas-tx/web-to-programmableweb-to-programmableworld/index.html#/) talk.

[![](http://kinlane-productions2.s3.amazonaws.com/api-evangelist-site/company/therightapi-logo-2.png)](http://www.therightapi.com/ "TheRightAPI")

The meetup was about 45 people ranging from developers to investors. I showed up with a lot of content, but I wanted to make sure and cover the full API spectrum, while also introducing some new content about specifically about API consumption.

During the event I had some time to get to know the [theRightAPI](http://www.therightapi.com/), [Proxomo](http://www.proxomo.com/ "BAaS"), [Layer 7 Technologies](http://www.layer7tech.com/ "API Management") and [Pariveda Solutions](http://www.parivedasolutions.com/ "Tech Efficiency and Innovation") folks--while connecting with the rest of the meet up group members.

[![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/api-evangelist/att/att-foundry.png)](https://www.foundry.att.com/ "AT&T Foundry")

Then, this morning theRightAPI crew brought me out to Plano, TX to the [AT&T Foundry](https://www.foundry.att.com/ "AT&T Foundry") ([@attfoundry](https://twitter.com/attfoundry)), where I got to talk with Vincent Button ([@vebutton](https://twitter.com/vebutton)) and Jennifer Conley ([@jenniferconley](https://twitter.com/jenniferconley)). I was a little blown away by what I saw. It wasn't what I was used when visiting the campuses of big telco companies in the past. The facility was something you associate with Silicon Valley and Bay Area. Open layout with a variety of people working on things ranging from voice solutions to the internet of things.

[![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/api-evangelist/gravity-center/gravity-center-logo.png)](http://gravitycentredallas.com/ "Gravity Center")

Afterwards, Jennifer walked us up to the [Gravity Center](http://gravitycentredallas.com/ "Gravity Center"), which has been provided access to AT&T and Alcatel-Lucent resources to support multiple startups in the North Texas area. I got to meet to the [BookShout](http://bookshout.com/ "Bookshout") team and hear about how they are navigating and working to change the book publishing space, while allowing people to discover books, and build social networks around books and authors.

[![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/kinlane-productions2/api-evangelist/bookshout/bookshout-logo.png)](http://bookshout.com/ "Bookshout")

I'm pretty impressed with what I saw in Texas in the last 48 hours. I met some pretty tech savvy people building interesting startups, putting APIs to use in meaningful ways, and a community around them that is investing in what they are doing. While I was there, I saw all the same elements for startup success I see in Silicon Valley, but without much of the hype.

I was stoked to be able to help kick off the DFW API Professionals Meetup Group. I appreciate theRightAPI for bringing me out, and Proxomo, Layer 7 and Pariveda Solutions for making it happen.