🔬Health Innovator’s Guide to #SXSW24

Are you ready for the biggest week in Austin?

South by Southwest (SXSW descends upon the city this year from March 8th-16th. Many of this year’s topics will focus on health and biotech innovation — I’ve included some of the sessions I’m eyeing below.

Did I miss something? Leave it in the comments!

All Week

Capital Factory House at SXSW

March 8–12

Capital Factory House features five days of jam-packed action and opportunity — including a few sessions focused on healthcare innovation. What better way to soak up all SXSW has to offer than to plant yourself in the center of gravity for entrepreneurs in downtown Austin, within walking distance of the Convention Center and the hotels where all SXSW programming takes place.

You can filter the #CFHouse agenda for health events. With partners like VSP Global Innovation and more, Capital Factory House is a must-stop for healthcare innovators at SXSW 2024.

Friday, March 8

Startup Crawl

Startup Crawl has been the biggest technology and entrepreneurship party at SXSW since 2011. This year’s exhibitors include several health-related startups, including BodySpec, ChopFit, Magsorbeo Biomedical, and more.

Grab a group of friends and find out what happens when the hottest startups come together at the same time, in the same place. You’ll explore Capital Factory’s Austin innovation space through the eyes of an entrepreneur, grab a drink, and meet more than 100 startups.

This event is open to the public, though SXSW badge holders are given priority access. Tickets are only $10 and limited quantities are available!

Time: 6pm to 9pm
Location: Capital Factory
Register: Sign up here (no SXSW badge required)

The Healthcare Innovation Lounge

Ready to explore the future of healthcare? Join Johnson & Johnson on an interactive journey through the latest innovations transforming the health and medtech landscape. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the intersection of cutting-edge technology and human empathy — and hear from the passionate individuals behind these groundbreaking advancements.

Time: 12pm to 4pm
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 1–2

Saturday, March 9

Trust In The Age Of Medical Misinformation

FEATURING
La Guardia Cross (Influencer, La Guardia Cross)
Lauren Felix (NA Director, Brand Building & Marketing Excellence, Bayer)
Meg Murray (Consulting Partner, AnalogFolk Group)

In the American Health and Wellness landscape, trust is undergoing a seismic shift. Data reveals an unprecedented decline in trust towards traditional figures like doctors and institutions, contrasting with a notable rise in trust towards brands and relatable influencers. Acknowledging that health often means life or death, this panel goes beyond the statistics to discuss the profound impact of this cultural recalibration. In an age dominated by misinformation, this session explores how influencers balance being a source of perspective for people without overpromising their qualifications, unraveling the intricate interplay between trust, cultural shifts, and the future trajectory of health and well-being brands.

Time: 10am to 11am
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 4–6

Why Is Healthcare Doing Less With More (Data)?

FEATURING
Jan Berger (CEO, Health Intelligence Partners)
Carrie Kozlowski (COO And Co-Founder, Upfront Healthcare)

Targeted ads. Suggested content. Search history recommendations. Digital experiences are driven by personalization. On top of the pyramid lie consumer giants like Amazon, which have revolutionized the use of data to target consumers. In healthcare, patients trust providers with richer data and an even deeper opportunity to know them and deliver personalized experiences — yet we’re behind. Why? Jan and Carrie will explore a reimagined healthcare landscape with personalization as the backbone of patient experience, where data drives customization and patient trust is the measure of success.

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 3

Sunday, March 10

Trailblazing Healthcare’s Future Through Female Founders

FEATURING
Kaitlin Christine (Founder and CEO, Gabbi Co)
Jaimie Clark (Head of Innovation, Catalyst By Wellstar)
Ann Holder (Co-founder & CEO, Marani Health)
Jennifer Newell (Founder & CEO, Betty’s Co)

This groundbreaking panel interview will bring together the trailblazing founders of three remarkable startups — Betty’s Co, Gabbi, and Marani Health — who are reshaping the face of women’s healthcare. Interviewed by the head of innovation of the largest health system in Georgia, this discussion will delve into the innovative approaches and transformative visions that these female entrepreneurs have brought to the forefront of the healthcare industry. From re-envisioning care delivery for Gen Z women to leveraging AI powered maternal healthcare platforms, this panel will inform and inspire.

Time: 10am to 11am
Location: The Thompson Hotel, Red River Ballroom

This is Your Brain on AI: Neurotech’s New Horizons

FEATURING
Andreas Forsland (CEO and Founder, Cognixion)
Afshin Mehin (Chief Creative Officer, Card79)
Adam Molnar (CoFounder and Head of Partnerships, Neurable)
Tara Tan (Managing Partner, Strange Ventures)

What will the next generation of AI-powered neurotechnology devices enable? How will these new AI advancements redefine the User Experience of Brain Computer Interfaces (BCI’s). Dive into the intersection of neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and design to explore the unfolding realm of BCI’s. Featuring a lineup of pioneering thought leaders, founders, and creative technologists, this panel will cover AI’s existing relationship with BCI’s and highlight how a new generation of AI will unlock powerful use cases for BCI’s in the future.

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: JW Marriott, Salon ABC

AI and the Aging Brain: Decoding the Mind

FEATURING
Dhruve Jeevan (Adult & Pediatric Neurosurgeon, Central Texas Brain & Spine, St. David’s Ortho, Neuro, & Rehab, PLLC)
William Rice (Senior VP of Clinical Innovation, St. David’s HealthCare)
Analiz Rodriguez (Neurosurgeon, Director Of Neurosurgical Oncology And Vice Chair Of Research, University Of Arkansas Medical School)
Stephen Scheeler (CEO, Omniscient Neurotechnology)

Open AI and machine learning are transforming our understanding of brain aging, mental health, and consciousness. AI-driven brain maps give us personalized insights into everything from an individual’s emotions and intellect to medical conditions. Neurosurgeons are already utilizing these personalized brain maps to visualize and avoid key parts of the brain in order to improve patient outcomes. Moving forward, this technology will revolutionize the way we diagnose and treat conditions such as stroke, Alzheimer’s Disease, and traumatic brain injuries.

Time: 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 4–6

Monday, March 11

AI, Health Care, and the Strange Future of Medicine

FEATURING
Jesse Ehrenfeld (President, American Medical Association)
Claire Novorol (Co-Founder And Chief Medical Officer, Ada Health)
Mark Sendak (Population Health & Data Science Lead, Duke Institute For Health Innovation)
Alex Stinard (Regional Medical Director, Envision Healthcare)

The AI revolution in health care will change the practice of medicine forever. Or will it? How we move from high potential to high impact is an essential — and often overlooked — part of the AI conversation in health care. Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld, president of the American Medical Association and one of the nation’s leading experts on AI applications in health care, talks about the high stakes of AI development, mitigating risks for patients and doctors, and what really matters in this new era of AI-enabled health care.

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 3

Wide Awake Surgery — The Next Medtech Frontier

FEATURING
James Clarkson (Chief Medical Officer, Wide Awake VR)
Mariya Filipova (Healthtech Exec | Investor | Board Member, Filipova.Health)
Joe Gough (Chairman, Wide Awake VR)
Alok Sharan (Spine Surgeon, Spine and Performance Institute)

So many of us say “just put me out Doc, I don’t wanna know anything about it ‘’ But what if there was a better way? Join our panel of Awake Surgery pioneers as we delve into the fascinating realm where risk and benefit meet in the surgical landscape. With the rising elderly and frail population, the need for surgery is more prevalent than ever before. Anesthesia, although safer thanks to re-engineering, can still pose challenges for some individuals. But what if we could eliminate its use entirely? Discover how innovative technology is rapidly advancing alternative approaches to anesthesia.

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 4–6

Tuesday, March 12

The Home Is the New Brick & Mortar for Healthcare

FEATURING
Deborah Di Sanzo (President, Best Buy Health)
Vin Gupta (Pulmonologist and Medical Analyst, MSNBC and NBC News)
Christina Farr (Principal Investor, Health-Tech Lead, OMERS Ventures)
Rasu Shrestha (EVP, Chief Innovation & Commercialization Officer, Advocate Health)

New technologies are making it possible for more people to access health care from the comfort of their own home. This panel brings together health care executives to discuss the dynamic changes that have made home-based care a preferred solution for patients. The conversation will explore how home health technology is playing a pivotal role in the future of personalized and accessible technology. Discover how smart home devices, telemedicine, assistive technologies and a digital-first approach to pharmacy can improve patient outcomes and pave the way for high-touch, high-tech care.

Time: 4pm to 5pm
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 3

From Adversary To Ally: Reimagining Viruses As Medicines

FEATURING
Vincent Racaniello, Ph.D. (Higgins Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University)
Andrew Scharenberg, M.D. (Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Umoja Biopharma)
Steffanie Strathdee, Ph.D. (Associate Dean of Global Health Sciences & Harold Simon Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine, University Of California San Diego, School Of Medicine)

In 2020, the world quickly became aware of the impact viruses can have on human health. But what if we used them to help instead? Fueled by billions in funding and a wave of groundbreaking innovations, scientists are turning the tables, harnessing the power of these potential adversaries and transforming them into life-saving medicines. Experts at the forefront of deploying this new technology will discuss the potential of viruses as medicines, challenge the audience’s understanding of viruses and explore the considerations of working with these “living” medicines.

Time: 10am to 11am
Location: Austin Marriott Downtown, Waterloo Ballroom 4–6

Thursday, March 14

Beyond Mint.com: Unleashing AI for Patient Health

FEATURING
Daniel Barchi (Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Information Officer, CommonSpirit Health)
Aaron Patzer (CEO & Founder, Vital)

Daniel Barchi and Aaron Patzer will explore the power of AI and its ability to revolutionize the consumer experience. Drawing on Barchi’s deep expertise in health care and Patzer’s entrepreneurial journey building algorithms to improve consumer’s experience in two highly regulated industries: finance and health care, they will explore the state of AI, what’s working today, what’s to come, and why we must embrace AI or perish.

Time: 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon DE