SXSW Accelerator returns for its sixth edition to showcase some of the web’s most exciting innovations – could your company be one? Take advantage of the opportunity to showcase your emerging technology product or service in front of industry leaders by participating in the 2014 SXSW Accelerator. This event takes place on March 8 and 9 as a part of the SXSW Interactive Festival, during which you can improve your product launch, attract venture capitalists, polish your elevator pitch, receive media exposure, build brand awareness, network, socialize, and experience all that SXSW Interactive has to offer. The deadline to register is Friday, November 8, less than a few months away, so visit http://sxsw.com/interactive/accelerator/entry-info today.
SXSW Accelerator FAQs:
1) Deadline:
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Friday, November 9
2) Launch date eligibility requirements:
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a. A company’s product / service must have launched no earlier than March 15, 2013.
b. A company’s product / service must not be launched after June 15, 2014.
c. Companies will be allowed to submit only one product / services to the SXSW Accelerator event.
d. Companies who submit more than one product / services will not be eligible to participate in the SXSW Accelerator pitch event.
e. Founders of the applying startup must retain some portion of ownership in the company to be eligible to participate.
f. Company must not have raised over five million in funds from combined funding sources.
g. Product or service must fall within one of the SXSW Accelerator pitch event categories.
3) Is there an application fee?
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Yes, a non-refundable $200 entry fee will be required from all applicants who would like to be considered for participation in the event.
4) Applicants must be within one of the six categories:
- Enterprise and Big Data Technologies
The Enterprise and Big Data Technologies category encompasses applications and technologies that facilitate comprehension and application of information. These startups seek to improve productivity and management of data, analytics, text, documents, and engagement for business and individual use. - Entertainment and Content Technologies
The Entertainment and Content Technologies category highlights applications and technologies for news and publishing, gaming, music, film, television, video, streaming, and digital storytelling, as well as new and hybrid forms of entertainment and news media. These are reinventing the ways in which we learn, relax, and enjoy our time. This category also contains technologies that focus on other cultural sectors such as sports, travel, mapping, publishing, and food as they pertain to entertainment. - Health Technologies
The Health Technologies category involves patient-centric health applications and technologies that connect patients, families, physicians, pharmacists, care providers (hospitals, clinics), and benefit providers. These services enable people to share timely, relevant health data and drive better outcomes at affordable and sustainable cost levels. - Social Technologies
The Social Technologies category includes applications and technologies that enable personal connections. With this category we’re looking for new and interesting uses, cases, products, and services that push the boundaries of how we find, follow and share our lives with others. If your business or service has a strong social component but is primarily focused on entertainment, health or wearable technologies, then you should enter that category instead. - Wearable Technologies
The Wearable Technologies category focuses on technology worn on, in, or around the body. As this major technology cycle advances we are seeking all types of wearable products that advance human performance and wellness, as well as those involved in apparel, accessories, fashion, and lifestyle. - Innovative World Technologies
Any creative and innovative technology that does not fit in another category is encouraged to apply here. We are currently seeing lots of innovation in real-time search, augmented reality, the World Wide Web, sensor, security, space, robotics, artificial intelligence, the Semantic Web, recommendations technologies, and personalization technologies. If your business / service / application applies to one of these fields (or something not on this list that is even more ground-breaking), then this is your category.
5) Will SXSW announce the Judges and Emcee before the event?
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Yes, the Judges and Emcees who are industry experts and/or investors from the financial community will be announced later this year on the SXSW website. Here is an example of past Judges and Emcees – Tim Draper of DFJ, MC Hammer of Wiredoo/Musician, Tim O’Reilly of O’Reilly Media, Paul Graham of Y Combinator, Guy Kawasaki of Alltop, Craig Newmark of CraigList, Robert Scoble of Rackspace / Scoblizer, Chris Shipley of Guidewire Group, Chris Sacca of Lowercase Capital, Paige Craig, Adam Ostrow of Mashable, Chris Hughes of Jumo / Facebook, Mark Suster of GRP, Albert Wenger of Union Square Venture, Naval Ravikant of AngelList, Tom Conrad of Pandora, Scott Weiss of Andreessen Horowitz, and Jeff Pulver of 140 Conference to name a few.
6) Where can I get more information:
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Visit the Accelerator website at sxsw.com/interactive/accelerator