It's time to cast your vote. And there are 4,517 candidates to choose from.
The good news is that you don't have to pick just one.
Each year, South by Southwest takes a democratic approach to help it select the best proposals for panel conversations and demonstrations. It does this with its Panel Picker, an online platform where anyone can vote for the conversation pitches they most want to see during next year's conference and festival.
Panel Picker voting is already underway, and it closes on Sunday, Aug. 20. With that in mind, we've plucked out a bunch of interesting-looking sessions proposed by Austin-area innovators. There are many more pitches from Austin residents than we can include here. So, in this case, we're focused on the ideas that, to us, seem worthy of consideration when you browse through the sessions.
And, before you think we're picking the winners, take note that many of this year's pitches have already seen thousands of eyes as the proposed speakers and their companies promote their panel ideas across social media and through their networks.
Alright, let's check out some intriguing conversation pitches.
Title: Startup Ecosystems: How U.S. Cities Foster Innovation
Speakers: Angelos Angelou, owner of International Accelerator; Juan Munguia, CEO and founder of M Aerospace RTC; Laura Kilcrease, CEO of Alberta Innovates.
Why we like it: Austin is fortunate to be one of the nation's top startup ecosystems. This means we have a lot to learn, as well as a lot to share with other cities that hope to achieve the high level of startup and venture activity we've developed here in Austin. So, let's share the wealth and learn from fellow founders and ecosystem leaders.
Title: Raising Venture Capital During a Market Downturn
Speakers: Aasim Hasan, general partner at Moneta Ventures; Katherine Allen, CEO of Flo Recruit; Dave Copps, CEO of Worlds.
Why we like it: Everyone in startup land recognizes that it's not as easy to secure a venture capital investment as it was a couple years ago. But there are some strategies that might help you break through. This session, led by an Austin-based VC, an Austin founder and a Dallas-area founder, looks like it might offer valuable insight for fellow Texans hoping to raise that VC round.
Title: AI is Not the (Only) Answer: Smart City Co-Creation
Speakers: Junfeng Jiao, co-founder and past chair of UT Good Systems; Daniel Schulz, co-founder of CoMaps.
Why we like it: Well, for one, Junfeng is an expert on smart cities and ethical AI. He'll also be speaking at an upcoming Austin Inno/Austin Business Journal event on Sept. 14. And this conversation appears to be zagging when everyone else is zigging toward AI. The duo will talk about digital twins and other modeling methods to develop smart cities.
Title: New Startup Support: Texas' Small Towns Enter the Arena
Speakers: CS Freeland, co-founder of Texas Venture Alliance; Marisa Vickers, director of global brand growth at Builders + Backers; Adriana Nunez-Young, director of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce; Nathan Burkhart, business development and entrepreneurship equity at Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation.
Why we like it: This one has Texas startups written all over it. The discussion focuses on how chamber organizations have stepped in where private industry has not when it comes to developing atmospheres conducive to starting businesses.
Title: Revitalizing the American Entrepreneurial Base
Speaker: Tyler Norwood, managing partner of Antler, a venture firm with offices in Austin
Why we like it: Norwood has an interesting story, and this conversation focuses on the future and how to build up an infrastructure to help support more startup founders.
Title: Inclusive AI: Empowering Sustainable Businesses
Speaker: Kierstin Gray, program director at Argodesign
Why we like it: One of the biggest problems with AI is the bias that is often baked into the historical data it draws upon. This discussion focuses on how business leaders can reframe business goals through the lens of inclusion.
Title: Super Connectors Meet Up
Organizer: Marc Nathan, founder of Texas Squared
Why we like it: SXSW has a heavy networking component, and Marc Nathan has proven to be one of the city's best at getting people together, particularly in the startup and CPG arenas. And, between all the deep conversations, it's always nice to just have some fun chit chat with people you might not otherwise hang out with.
Title: Uncommon Connections: Networking in a Hybrid World
Speaker: Thom Singer, CEO of the Austin Technology Council
Why we like it: Singer is a well-practiced and engaging speaker who knows a ton about Austin's tech and startup ecosystem. After a few years of off and on distance due to the pandemic, this session aims to help you get back to the basics of connecting with people to create meaningful relationships.
Title: Quantum Computing: Real, Revolutionary, Right Now!
Speakers: Jay Boisseau, CEO of Vizias; Bob Sorensen, chief analyst for quantum computing at Hyperion Research; Heather Higgins, partner at IBM Quantum; Rima Alameddine, chief revenue officer at IonQ
Why we like it: Boisseau is well-known to much of the Austin tech community through his role as executive director of The Austin Forum on Technology & Society. And he's diving into a topic that most of us could use an update on: quantum computing. The speakers plan to share the latest in quantum computing results and what's next on the emerging frontier of next generation computing.
Title: Powered by Texas: The Evolution of American Made Chips
Speaker: Andres Uzcategui, executive vice president and chief risk officer at Samsung Electronics America
Why we like it: There are few hotter topics than semiconductors these days. Global competition. The future (and biggest risks) for AI development. And, of course, Austin is playing an even bigger role in this with the addition of Samsung's new chip plant.
Title: How to Train a Humanoid Robot
Speaker: Luis Sentis, professor at University of Texas at Austin
Why we like it: Sentis, director of UT's Human Centered Robotics Lab, will give the audience a look into how to train a real humanoid robot using VR for daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning and delivering items through a live, hands-on demonstration. Given the advances in robotics, both here in Austin and globally, now seems like a good time to learn the basics of how they learn tasks.
There are, of course, many more options, including dozens featuring Austin-based speakers. Check them all out on the Panel Picker.
