SXSW was founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, and it is dedicated to helping people achieve their goals. It holds a conference and festivals which celebrate the meeting of different industries such as film, music, and technology.
SXSW has different startup-related events that take place during it. Here you will learn about these different events and what their purpose is.
STUDENT STARTUP
This event brings together students from high school during SXSW EDU so that they can pitch their own business ideas. SXSW EDU gives students the platform to have their voices heard, this then gives the students the experience to get themselves out there and try new things and be bold and show their creativity.
The young entrepreneurs needs to apply while the application process is open. The applicants will then be selected, and these finalists will have the opportunity to present their SXSW startup idea in front of a panel of judges and a live audience at SXSW EDU. Each application which is submitted will be evaluated by the SXSW EDU Student Startup Advisory Board committee.
There is no application fee for this event. You are able to submit your application online through the official SXSW website for free. You can only submit your application in between the specified dates. After the applications have been reviewed, the applicants will be notified about the status of the applications via email.
These finalists and the attendants of the event will be able to connect with each other through social events that take place while SXSW EDU is taking place.
LAUNCH
This event celebrates the emerging innovations and advancements in technology which are going to affect the future of learning and teaching. This event gives the opportunity for SXSW startups to receive feedback for their ideas, get investments, find partners which will help in their business venture, and also to increase awareness for their SXSW startups.
The Launch event has an application process, so if early-stage startups want to apply and take part in Launch, they need to submit their application before the deadline arrives. The Launch Advisory Board which consists of experts in the education industry and venture capitalists will review the applications which have been submitted, they will make sure that all the requirements are met by the applicants, and then they will decide which SXSW startups will be selected as the final participants in the event.
This is an application fee for this event. You will need to pay $200 in order to submit your application for the Launch event. This fee can be paid using a credit card online through the SXSW EDU shopping cart. Applicants will be emailed about the status of their application.
You can only submit one product or service for the Launch event. If more than one product or service is submitted by the same company, that company will not be allowed to participate in the Launch event.
The evaluation of the application will have many factors which are considered before the final applicants are selected. Five of the main criteria that the applicants will be checked against are; creativity, potential, functionality, team/people, and impact.
The selected finalists will have the opportunity to present their product or service in a fast-paced, live pitch event. This will be done in front of a panel of industry experts, investors, early adopters, educators, as well as the people who have attended SXSW EDU. You will also be able to connect with other people at Launch through the different events being held.
The finalists who are selected will be given the opportunity to rehearse their presentations in a private session using the stage. Coaches will be provided to give feedback and help you prepare for the live competition.
LEARN BY DESIGN
This event provides a platform for advancements in the design of physical learning environments, as well as how they affect pedagogy and learning outcomes. It involves collaboration between designers and educators to develop design-based solutions to the challenges that are faced in education. These solutions are developed through the use of physical space where learning and teaching can be elevated and improved.
Individuals and organizations who want to apply to Learn By Design need to do it before the deadline date arrives. The applications which are submitted will be reviewed by the Advisory Committee which consists of experts in the respective field and the SXSW EDU staff. The applicants will be notified by email about the status of their applications.
There is an application fee that will have to be paid in order to submit your application. This fee is of $50. Moreover, you are allowed to submit more than one application, you can submit as many as you want. However, each application needs to be about a different project, you cannot submit multiple applications for the same project.
The selected finalists will then present their projects in a live pitch in front of a panel of educators, designers, early adopters, and all the people that are attending the event. You will also have the opportunity to interact and connect with the others attending the event while SXSW EDU is going on.
The selected finalists will be given the opportunity to practice their presentation before the competition. The finalists will be supported during these practise sessions so that they are prepared for when it is time to actually present. Coaches will be provided so that you can get feedback on what you have come up with so far, as well as being helped with how to improve your presentation to make it better and increase your chances.
AMAZON ALEXA CHALLENGE
This event is new, and it will take place at SXSW EDU in 2020. This event is open to every single U.S. based education technology company. The purpose of this challenge is to find the best possible application for voice-technology in education.
There will be 6 finalists of this challenge, and these finalists will be able to present their Amazon Alexa Skill in front of a panel of judges and a live audience consisting of the people who attended the event.