The Secret Town in Texas Saving America
In a Nutshell
Prototown, a 12,200-acre ranch halfway between Austin and San Antonio, Texas, founded by Josh and Merl, attracts hardware startups to build a reindustrialized "new Detroit" or "Texan Shenzhen" with cheap land, fewer rules, and a collaborative pioneer community living in trailers amid factories-in-progress. Key projects include Evan's Atmos solar-powered AC panels that eliminate compressors for efficient cooling, Zach's Eden Technologies centrifuge for low-energy desalination, and Bedrock Robotics' autonomous excavators, all fostering a cult-like "capitalist commune" vibe. Founders emphasize Texas's mechanical spirit and long-term vision to revive American manufacturing, with rapid progress like Oklo's nuclear reactor and semiconductor setups proving its legitimacy despite hardware's delays.
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Prototown is ranch land located halfway between Austin and San Antonio, Texas. It aims to be the birthplace of a revolution and a new age hardware utopia. Founders summon people to make things with plentiful cheap land and fewer rules, offering spots for startups and factories. They aspire to create a new Detroit, Los Alamos, or Shenzhen.
The man who started it is Josh. Josh went to Duke, built hardware there, and after college decided people like him needed a place for big ideas. He recruited fellow Duke alum and best friend Merl. Josh pitched the concept in boardrooms but found little buzz, so he converted a bus into a 50s VW-style bus and went on a 60,000-mile journey around the US to sell his vision, like the Merry Pranksters focused on reindustrialization.
In Lockhart, Texas, halfway between Austin and San Antonio, heading to secretive Prototown for the first outsider look. It's a 12,200-acre compound with people living in ConX trailers, startups working on projects, and foundations laid for factories, all drenched in America-can-do-big-things propaganda.
Engaged in Texan ritual of eating barbecue with founders Josh, Merl, and John, the only real Texan. Founders express gratitude for the ranch experience and learning. Early pioneers convince families to move to this unknown ranch for building a hardware cluster. Once there, they realize they can get stuff done with open spaces and no interference. Prototown helps with networking and growth.
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