Entire cities and countries promote themselves on Austin's turf during the South by Southwest festival. Take St. Louis, for example, which will work SXSW crowds through formal channels and some rogue events outside the festival's purview.
St. Louis aims to showcase its technology and innovation sectors next month, with panels planned at the annual event that will highlight Major League Soccer franchise St. Louis City SC and research from the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.
Economic development group Greater St. Louis Inc. said Feb. 1 it has led an effort to have two St. Louis-focused panel discussions selected for SXSW, taking place next month. Additionally, GSL said local nonprofit startup funder Arch Grants will send a group of St. Louis-based startups to attend SXSW festivities.
SXSW is an annual event held in Austin that includes a conference and festivals focused on technology, innovation, film, music and education.
“South by Southwest is one of the most sought-after annual conferences in the world, attended by leaders and innovators in business, entertainment, and culture. Getting our STLMade innovators in front of them to share the special work we are doing here in St. Louis is critical to our efforts to put our metro in the global innovation spotlight and drive entrepreneurial growth,” said Jason Hall, CEO of GSL.
The St. Louis-focused panels include a March 11 event titled “Plants, People and Planets: Microbes Rule Health” that will delve into how bacteria and fungi can be used to improve health and the environment. Panelists include Rebecca Bart, principal investigator at the Danforth Center Plant Science Center; Drew Schwartz, a researcher in pediatrics and infectious diseases at Washington University; and Nick Goeser, principal at climate consultancy Carbon A List.
The second panel, scheduled for March 13, will focus on MLS expansion franchise St. Louis City SC and its use of technology to engage with its fans. The panel, “Using Tech to Create an Immersive Fan Experience,” will be moderated by St. Louis serial entrepreneur and payments company Block (NYSE: SQ) co-founder Jim McKelvey. Panelists include Matt Sebek, City SC’s chief experience officer; David Bruce, senior vice president of brand and integrated marketing for MLS; and Loryn Nalic, co-founder and chef at restaurant Balkan Treat Box, which will be a featured food vendor inside Citypark, the team's home stadium.
GSL said the two panels planned for SXSW were among 3,500 panel submissions for this year’s conference, with only 10% of applicants being chosen to present.
The panels won’t be GSL’s only method to promote St. Louis at this year’s SXSW. It is also sponsoring the Midwest House, a venue at the conference that will feature Midwest innovation and include three St. Louis panels. GSL said it is also co-hosting the Midwest House Startup Program with Arch Grants, which will be funding three startups to attend the conference to “participate in collaborations, pitch competitions, mentor sessions, and programming focused on Black and women founders.” The startups chosen to attend are phone accessory company Flipstik, digital accessibility startup Nebula Media Group and market research firm Harmonee.
GSL didn't immediately disclose the cost of the sponsorships. A spokesman said budgets are still being worked out for the event.
