Hundreds of exhibitors showed off their ideas and businesses at this year’s SXSW’s Trade Show, which ranged from promising startups to established larger businesses and ideas ranging from new technologies and social innovation. I caught up with four different companies at the Trade Show: one aiming to bring smaller, more affordable homes to Austin; another seeking to become the “YouTube” of augmented reality content; an industry leader in industrial robots and factory automation; and a fourth company that created an automated personal assistant app that made everyone’s lives easier. These businesses were good representations of the diverse range of ideas and innovation on display at the Trade Show.
1. Seek
Seek is a content sharing community, essentially, the “Youtube of Augmented Reality.” The company hopes to be a hub for creators to post their AR projects for anyone to see. Learn more about Seek from Jon Cheney, the founder of Seek.
2. Emigo
The Emigo app’s mascots are these adorable tiny robots with big, blue eyes. If that alone isn’t enough to draw you in, perhaps the purpose of the app might make you want to give it a try. Emigo is a personal assistant app that will help with event scheduling and planning. The app adapts and learns the user’s preferences over time and then fine tunes suggestions to coordinate and plan a variety of events for the user, and communicates with other Emigo users’ schedules for coordination. Learn more about the app from co-founders, Rym Wenktern and Noor Mill.
3. KUKA
KUKA is a supplier of intelligent automation solutions. They offer individual components and fully automated systems, and specialize in industrial robots and solutions for factory automation. The company has locations all over the world and are headquartered in Augsurg, Germany. At their Trade Show display, a giant, cheerful robot drew a crowd as attendees watched it dance to music. Learn more about KUKA from Andy Chang, director of product marketing at KUKA North America.
4. Village Farm
Village Farm is a tiny home community in East Austin. The homes feature 6 different one-bedroom, one-bath models that are 399 square feet and range in price from $72,250 to $120,450. The homes aim to give alternatives to increased housing prices in the city, as well be a solution for spacing issues. The community currently has 42 home sites available, and hopes to add 112 more soon. Learn more from Cynthia Edwards, general manager at Village Farm.
Trade Show Image Gallery
