Speaker
Alec Rios
Founder and CEO of Austin Young Professionals Network, a community in Austin that brings young professionals and entrepreneurs together through events, media and monthly service projects. Alec Rios spent about a decade in finance before building it, and took the mic at Network of Directors on May 22, 2026.
Role
Founder and CEO, Austin YPN
Young Professionals Network
Based in
Austin, Texas
By way of California
Known for
Events, media and service
For young professionals
Find Alec Rios online
The network's site, its Instagram, and Alec's own accounts.
The short version: Alec Rios is the founder and CEO of Austin Young Professionals Network, a community in Austin built on three parts: events, a media arm with a podcast, and monthly service for local causes. He spent about a decade in finance first, and he is working toward a business conference during South by Southwest.
Who is Alec Rios
Alec Rios builds community for a living. He is the founder and CEO of Austin Young Professionals Network, often shortened to Austin YPN, which connects young professionals, entrepreneurs and creators in Austin. He told MyAustin Magazine he has been an entrepreneur working long hours since he was 18.
Before Austin he lived in Silicon Valley for a time and in Fresno, in California's Central Valley. He has said Austin felt like a blend of the two: the growth and money of the Valley, with the friendly, family feel of a farm town.
It wasn't until I moved to Austin 5 years ago that I realized you can be highly productive in this life, but also have a blast while doing it!
Austin Young Professionals Network
He started the network as an events and media company with a nonprofit side. In his own words there are three parts. Events come first, with a business conference as the long-term goal. Then media: a newsletter, a podcast, and documenting what the network does. Then service, a monthly pop-up where 20 or 30 members go support a local cause.
That service work has included a food drive with Backpack Friends, a Christmas toy drive for Dads Assisting Dads, and helping run a gala for the Best Day Ever Foundation, according to MyAustin Magazine. His friend John Castillo has helped since the beginning and is the network's Director of Operations.
Why he builds community
On stage at Network of Directors, Alec said he spent about a decade in finance, and the first five years were so focused on work that he blocked out everything else. It grew, he said, but it was pretty empty. Austin added fun, and church and local nonprofits added the part that was missing: serving other people. Those became the three things the network stands on: being highly effective, having fun, and service.
His talk at the room
Alec sat down with Connor Cullip at the Network of Directors room in Austin on May 22, 2026, for eight minutes on building a community that runs on roles, not on one person: the three parts of the network, why a team of eight still had him in every meeting, and why a big vision needs a plan behind it. You can watch it and read the writeup on his event page.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Alec Rios?
Alec Rios is the founder and CEO of Austin Young Professionals Network in Austin, Texas. He spent about a decade in finance before building the network.
What is Austin Young Professionals Network?
A community in Austin that connects young professionals, entrepreneurs and creators through events, media and monthly service projects for local causes.
How can I find Austin YPN?
At austinypn.com and on Instagram at @austin.ypn.
More voices from the room
Founders and operators who have taken the mic at Network of Directors in Austin.
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Friday, October 23, three to five in the afternoon, Austin. Free.
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