🚀 Entrepreneur’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 are catered to startups and entrepreneurs — 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, with many sessions focused on startups and entrepreneurship. 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.

From kicking back in the Founders Lounge to curated office hours, #CFHouse is the place to be for founders at SXSW 2024 (view the full agenda here).

Friday, March 8

Startup Crawl

Startup Crawl has been the biggest technology and entrepreneurship party at SXSW since 2011. 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)

How To Sell Your Company For A Billion Dollars

FEATURING
Cindy Eckert (Founder & CEO, Sprout Pharmaceuticals / Founder & CEO, The Pink Ceiling / Founder, Slate Pharmaceuticals)
Ingrid Vanderveldt (CEO & Founder, EBW, Shield)

This session will outline the journey of a company that sold for a billion dollars. Cindy Eckert, serial entrepreneur, has founded and sold two companies totaling over $1.5 billion dollars. She will share the formula she has found to be the most successful in preparing your startup for a successful sale. As a female entrepreneur, Cindy has crashed through glass ceiling after glass ceiling to reach the level of success she has today and is always looking to share with others the best practices that she’s learned along the way.

Time: 4pm to 5pm
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon F

Saturday, March 9

How to Pitch Right the First Time and EVERY Time

FEATURING
George Damian (Principal, Press PLAY)
Patrick Lor (Managing Partner, Panache Ventures)

Most people hate to pitch. And they’re often pretty bad at it. But there is another way. Before launching Canada’s largest early-stage venture capital fund, Pat Lor mobilized a generation of creators by teaching them how to pitch for maximum impact. Alongside start-up coach George Damian, he’ll demonstrate how the simple act of introducing yourself can unlock trust and connection. In 90 minutes, participants will learn the art and science of pitch, engage in peer-to-peer learning, and then put it into practice to see if they can convert a room full of strangers from skeptics to champions.

Time: 2:30pm to 4pm
Location: Courtyard Marriott, Guadalupe

Fundraising in a Down Market: How to Keep Your Startup Alive

FEATURING
Deanna Brown (CEO, Dragonfly Sports)
Ayden Syal (CEO & Co-Founder, MOGL)

The challenges of raising capital for startups have been widely covered and analyzed over the past 12 months; however, there has been limited deep-cutting and real conversations from a founder who successfully raised despite the challenges.
In this fireside chat, we will peel back the curtain and give founders a glimpse into what goes into successfully raising capital in today’s market environment with a founder who has raised $6m for his startup.
By attending this session, you will gain the vital information that the speakers only learned the hard way when they were inexperienced, first-time entrepreneurs faced with the many hurdles of a daunting seed round.

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon F

Sunday, March 10

Scaling Up With Mark Cuban & Andrew McCollum

FEATURING
Mark Cuban (Owner, Mark Cuban Companies)
Christine Haughney Dare-Bryan (Editor At Large, Inc. Magazine)
Andrew McCollum (CEO, Philo)

Join us for an electrifying session as two entrepreneurial juggernauts, Mark Cuban, iconic entrepreneur and investor and Andrew McCollum, co-founder of Facebook, and current CEO of Philo as they take the stage to share their invaluable insights on scaling up. Moderated by Christine Haughney Dare-Bryan from Inc. magazine. This discussion promises to be a dynamic exploration of strategies, challenges, and triumphs in the world of entrepreneurship.
Attendees can expect to gain actionable insights on scaling their own ventures, navigating challenges, fostering innovation, and capitalizing on emerging opportunities in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape. Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, seasoned business leader, or simply eager to glean wisdom from two of the brightest minds in the industry, this session is not to be missed.

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon C

Building for Growth: From Startup to Market Dominator

FEATURING
Julia Martin (CFO, Advanced Technology International)
Nick Paine (CTO, Apptronik, Inc.)
Beth McKeon (Founder & CEO, Fluent)
Allison Rhines (Director, Johnson & Johnson)

You’d be hard-pressed to meet a founder who doesn’t have big aspirations. But most startups either stagnate or fizzle, often due to mistakes made during their early days. Join this discussion for insights from successful founders, business leaders, and investors on how to stack the deck in your favor with strategies from the start!

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: The LINE, Onyx Ballroom 1

Finding The Right Angel Investor For Your Startup

FEATURING
David S. Rose (Founder & Executive Chairman, Gust)

As a startup founder, is your venture the type that angels fund? How do you know if you should be looking for grants, VCs, or other funding sources instead? And if angels are the right type of investors, how do you find them, identify the best matches for your specific startup, craft your pitch, and close the deal? This session will introduce the startup funding landscape, cover trends in angel investing, and tips to help you find the right potential investors. It will offer actionable advice on how to build a strong outreach funnel, then close the deal with the right investors.

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

Monday, March 11

Fundraising Strategies for Foreign-Born Founders in the US

FEATURING
Angelos Angelou (CEO, International Accelerator)
Ruben Arias (CEO, BeeReaders)
Nicholas Iatropoulos (General Partner, IA Global Ventures)

Successful international entrepreneurs and investors will share their firsthand experiences navigating the process of fundraising, both on a national level and within Austin’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. Expect a discussion on a number of strategies, from building compelling pitch decks that resonate with US investors to navigating investment structuring and cultural nuances of the American business scene. This session will also delve into the challenges international founders may face, such as building networks from scratch, while also highlighting the advantages of their global perspectives.

Time: 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon G

Rise of the Repeat Founder

FEATURING
Patrick Murphy (Managing Partner, Tapestry VC)

Starting a company is a perilous path, yet more and more people pick it. In the last decade, the number of successful exits of VC-backed companies has doubled. But the number of those who have tried (and failed!) has increased tenfold. This session will focus on investing in founders who have tried and failed valiantly, and who bring this hard-won expertise into a new venture. These repeat founders grow their companies twice as fast —and raise 50% more capital — than first-time founders. A super cycle of repeat founders coming, and you’ll explore this paradigm alongside a SXSW® audience.

Time: 4pm to 5pm
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon F

SXDP Happy Hour

This South By Data Privacy happy hour will include a data privacy panel, bites and bevs, and networking. Explore what startups and venture-backed companies need to do about data privacy (& why they should care), the link between privacy, compliance & revenue, and a real life example of extortion by a data privacy troll.

Time: 5pm to 7pm
Location: Firmspace Austin, 500 W 2nd St

Thursday, March 14

How Short-Form Content Can 10X Your Startup

FEATURING
John Eringman (Content Creator, Johnefinance LLC)
Jenny Hoyos (CEO, J2 Media LLC)
Taylor Price (Founder / CXO, Dfinitiv Inc.)
JC Rodriguez (Owner / Creator, People Then Money LLC)

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 Convention Center, Room 6AB