There is something for everyone at SXSW. From sports to music and movies to education, attendees can learn a lot by listening to the panel discussions at the Austin Convention Center.
For ten years, the SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event has been showcasing technology startups that are innovating across several sectors, giving attendees a close look at some of the world's most interesting startups. This year's accelerator features companies from all over the world, including the Congo, France, China, Kenya, Norway, Finland, Australia and other countries, as well as startups from across the U.S.
SXSW Interactive Director Hugh Forrest and his team brought in more big names to help guide startups this year, as well as mentors from major tech companies and venture capital firms from all over the United States, India, Singapore, Canada and The Netherlands.
As we've noted, there are several Austin area startups in the accelerator this year, including Apptronik, GrubTubs, M.io, Icon 3D and Ion Motor Company. But, in this case, we're highlighting a few startups that are traveling to Austin for this year's festival.
With that in mind, here are a few of the most interesting startups to populate the SXSW accelerator this year from outside Austin. Catch their pitches during the festival on March 10-12.
Nix (Boston)
Plenty of runners who ran the Austin Marathon recently could’ve used this -- Nix is a wearable single-use hydration sensor that allows athletes, soldiers, and those in labor-intensive jobs to measure their hydration levels in real time. Working with some of the world’s experts in dehydration physiology and nanotechnology, this biosensor, developed at Harvard, tells athletes what to drink and how to drink it, maximizing performance in competition. Some high-profile athletes are backers of the company -- NFL Hall of Famer Orlando Pace and 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist and 2017 New York City Women’s Marathon champion Shalane Flanagan serve on the advisory board.
FanFoodApp (Chicago)
Hate standing in line at the concession stand because you’re afraid to miss the game action? With FanFood, game or concert attendees can receive concessions at any live event via delivery or express line pick-up. Not only that, but vendors can use the data to test certain menu items on how they move through a concession line versus a mobile ordering system.
GoTech (AKA Lumkani) (Democratic Republic of the Congo)
GoTech literally puts out fires and saves lives. The company offers an early-warning system called Lumkani that aims to reduce the destruction caused by the rapid spread of slum fires. Lumkani senses how the temperature changes, and if it senses a fire, it transmits a signal to alert nearby devices to prevent the threat. The technology has already been implemented in South Africa, and the founders are hoping three years of persistence pays off in the competition.
70MillionJobs (San Francisco)
The job hunt can be tough, but it’s even tougher for those people with criminal records. 70MillionJobs is the internet’s first job board for convicted felons. Started by Richard Bronson, himself a convicted felon, the job site partners with a variety of companies to help felons land on their feet. In addition, 70MillionJobs provides those felons without a resume the opportunity to create a video resume for a more personal connection. The company just completed a three-month pilot with the City of Los Angeles, allowing city employers to put a limitless amount of jobs on the site.
ARwall (Los Angeles)
Some startup co-founders have little idea of each other before they get a random intro from a friend or mentor. ARWall’s founding team has known each other for the better part of 20 years, allowing them to create two distinct products to disrupt the augmented reality world. The AR3D display for enterprise, business and marketing clients requires no smart devices, headset or goggles that usually come with an AR device. The other product draws from the founders’ experience in the film world and functions as an in camera composite which can reduce work on a film set and lessen the need for a green screen.
Gridwise (Pittsburgh)
Do you as an Uber driver struggle to find the perfect time to drive? Gridwise helps rideshare drivers earn 39 percent more while driving thanks to the unique insights that the app provides. With airport demand forecasts, a 7-day Citywide calendar, real-time alerts, and a task bar that allows you to navigate your most driven to locations, you won’t need to sit on 6th street for hours on end on Friday night. Better yet, the app has road conditions to let you know the safest places to drive in the city you’re driving in. Gridwise first launched in DC, and is slowly expanding to other cities.
