The word “startup” has been dominating the talk of the tech world in recent years past, and is sure to continue its dominance in years to come. The SXSW Interactive festival is the quintessential platform for startup companies looking to get the push that they need to blossom into full-blown tech giants. It was just a handful of years ago that social media giant Twitter‘s adaptation exploded right in the Austin Convention Center. This year, yet another fledgling company (or companies) will get its very own push. So, it’s only right that we give you the Top 5 panels that deal with the art of entrepreneurship and managing a startup. You just might get a hint or two about how to become the next big thing.
1. Will Crowdfunding for Businesses Succeed or Fail?
When: Tuesday, March 12, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon D
Hashtag: #crowdfund
In the age of increasing crowd-sourced projects that are being funded by avenues like Kickstarter, everybody wants a piece of the action. Chance Barnett, CEO and co-founder of business crowdfunding platform company Crowdfunder, aims to inform SXSW attendees about a new way for startup companies and social enterprises to be financially supported.
As a result of the JOBS (or, Jumpstart Our Business) Act, middle-class Americans will be able to pull from their savings to invest in startups and small businesses. The potential results that could come from investments such as this are remarkable. According to the panel description, “If people shift just 1% of the $30 trillion they hold in savings to small businesses, it will amount to more than 10 times the venture capital invested in all of 2011.”
Venture into this session to learn more about how you, as a startup, can be funded, or how you can help those companies in need of a push.
2. Sex & the Startup: Marketing to Women
When: Monday, March 11, 5 – 5:15 p.m.
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Room 616AB
Hashtag: #startupsex
“Warning: Appealing to women just might help you build a smarter product.”
This short, but sweet, panel will focus on how startups can ramp up their success rates by simply taking the female opinion into consideration. As decision-makers for 85% of household purchases, women tend to be the adapters of new apps and products that make all of our lives just a tad bit easier. Panelist Carley Knobloch, founder of Digitwirl, will inform listeners about the marketing tactics utilized by startups that reel women in, and the ones that tend to repel them.
3. DIY IP: Protect Yo Self, Don’t Wreck Yo Self
When: Tuesday, March 12, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Where: Four Seasons, San Jacinto Ballroom
Hashtag: #DIYIP
In the hassle and hullabaloo of trying to get a startup tech company off the ground, many entrepreneurs may find themselves forgetting the legalities. Intellectual property lawyers Andrew Liddell and Ruben Rodrigues will provide attendees with the ins and outs of what to expect and what to avoid in the sticky world of intellectual property. If you’re curious about the intriguing title of this panel, here’s a bit of context: Liddell and Rodrigues will discuss how startups can leverage each of the major types of intellectual property protection to develop a defensible IP strategy (Protect Yo Self); and detail some common, yet easily-avoided IP pitfalls (Don’t Wreck Yo Self).
When: Saturday, March 9, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Driskill Hotel, Maximilian
Hashtag: #founders13
Catherine Smith, general partner of True Blue Inclusion, will be using her panel to engage attendees in a discussion about the lack of diversity in startup companies. True Blue Inclusion specializes in national and global reach and focuses on diversity, inclusion, thought-leadership, workforce, workplace and change management.
Smith will look at diversity issues that begin while startup hopefuls are in business school, and how those issues transition to the mindsets that these individuals cultivate while in startup mode. The diversity and representation of a startup company essentially stem from its founder, so this session will look at who the founders are, how they interact with their company members and what it means for the success of their ventures.
5. Fighting for Funding as a Female Entrepreneur
When: Sunday, March 10, 12:30 – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon ABC
Hashtag: #DellEIR
Female entrepreneurs have long had a history of hitting a road block in the startup process. But why? Current Entrepreneur in Residence at Dell Ingrid Vanderveldt and seasoned venture capitalist Kay Koplovitz will be able to provide attendees with both an inside and outside look at the issues that women tend to face when seeking funding for new business ventures. The panelists will provide context for these issues through recent research, and determine if the funding landscape is changing for women.
Koplovitz and Vanderveldt will also provide advice to audience members about the specificities of seeking the right kind of equity at the right time, and how to develop a plan to raise capital.