WhenWhereWhatAustin founder diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer

Chris Cates and Esteban Rey are the faces behind the @whenwhatwhereaustin Instagram account that informs 230,000 Austinites on events around the area.

The founder and CEO of the Instagram page @WhenWhereWhatAustin, Chris Cates shared a deeply personal update on the page on Tuesday, revealing he has been diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer that has spread to his liver.

In the post addressed to the community he’s built since launching the Austin-based culture platform in 2015, Cates said the past few weeks have been marked by shock, hospital visits and medical tests, culminating in his first round of chemotherapy.

Cates has been a key promoter of Austin events, posting daily listings to the “WhenWhereWhat” account using a simple, recognizable format: white text on a plain blue background. Additionally, he runs a second Austin-focused Instagram account, @thedirtyteam.

Cates also founded the Four Record Friday pop-up, a listening event where four vinyl records are played back to back at local venues before being given away.

Deciding whether to share the news publicly wasn’t easy, Cates said, but it felt right given the “close bond” he’s developed with readers and the city over the last decade.

“I’ve got a difficult road ahead, but I am built for this,” he wrote. “I have so much life left to live, and I will power through to the other side, whatever it takes.”

Cates credited his family, girlfriend, friends, coworkers and broader support system for helping him through the early days of treatment, adding that he hasn’t felt alone. He also thanked the When Where What community — now more than 417,000 strong — for its continued support, prayers and encouragement.

While acknowledging the months ahead will require flexibility, Cates said it will largely be “business as usual” for the brand, noting that he still enjoys posting and has a strong team in place. “Just another challenge on the road to the top,” he wrote.