💸 Investor’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 focused on venture capital — 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 curated for investors and venture capitalists (🤫 email me for an invite to our exclusive VC-only brunch). 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 Investor Office Hours to sessions on investing in dual-use technologies, #CFHouse is the place to be for investors 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)

Rethinking the Math: Right Sizing the Venture Capital Model

FEATURING
Batul Joffrey (Investor, Kapor Capital)
Bryce Roberts (Founding and Managing Partner, indie)

Over the last several years, the VC investment climate has been in conflict with the entrepreneurs that it supports. With increasing fund sizes, sky-high valuations, and impossible-to-achieve returns, the tension between achieving outlier outcomes and sustainable growth could not be greater. This session will cover a reformed version of the VC model that better aligns incentives across all venture stakeholders, creating a path for a more vibrant economy. In this session, industry veterans Batol Joffrey and Bryce Roberts will delve into the innovation required for an ecosystem-wide change.

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

Saturday, March 9

Changing the Game: Investing in the Future of Sports Tech

FEATURING
Reed Albergotti (Tech Editor, Samafor)
Meredith McPherron (CEO And Managing Partner, Drive by DraftKings)
Kara Nortman (Founder, Angel City Football Club & Monarch Collective)
Michael Proman (Managing Director & Partner, Scrum Sports & Entertainment, Scrum Ventures)

As new technologies continue to revolutionize sports, we’re witnessing a surge in innovative solutions, making the sector increasingly attractive to venture capital investors. This panel will examine the seismic shifts occurring in sports and what it takes to succeed in this dynamic game. During this discussion, three sports tech-focused VCs will explore how technology can transform fan experiences into hybrid physical-digital engagements, the emergence of sports betting technologies, and the growth of women’s sports, revealing the opportunities for startups in this space.

Time: 10am to 11am
Location: Four Seasons, Ballroom CD

Moneyball Venture: Revolutionizing VC Investment with Data and Analytics

FEATURING
Brian Jones (College Football Analyst, CBS Sports)
Charlie Lieu (Operating Venture Partner, WISER Collaborative)

The way things have been done in venture capital is far from optimal. Historically, investors and fund managers relied on “gut instinct” because early-stage ventures often do not have sufficient data to reliably predict winners.

Moneyball Venture draws from baseball and challenges the status quo of how we “pick” venture investments. Moderated by Sportscaster Brian Jones of CBS Sports, Charlie Lieu will enlighten investors (and potential investors) on the spread created by opacity and bias, as well as how to use data and analytics to find arbitrage opportunities.

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

Sunday, March 10

Unlimited Upside: Why Investing in Women’s Sports is a Win

FEATURING
Jenny Nguyen (Owner/Founder, The Sports Bra)
Kara Nortman (Founder, Angel City Football Club & Monarch Collective)
Cassondra Spring (Global Brand Manager, Liv Cycling)
Kate Veronneau (Director of Women’s Strategy, Zwift)

The panelists will discuss what it takes to keep the momentum of growth going in women’s sports worldwide, under the umbrella of equity, inclusion and investment. Moderated and hosted by women who have led sports investment in brave and distinctive ways, we will explore the factors that must be in place for broadcasting, viewership and sponsorship to increase, their respective impact on athlete salary, treatment and opportunities, and the relationship of these factors to the continued success of women’s sports on a global scale.

Time: 11:30am to 12:30pm
Location: Four Seasons, Ballroom CD

Raising Venture Capital During a Market Downturn

FEATURING
Katherine Allen (CEO, Flo Recruit)
Dave Copps (CEO, Worlds)
Aasim Hasan (General Partner, Moneta Ventures)
Raymond Weisberg (CEO & Co Founder, Edge)

In the last 18 months, VC deal volume has declined significantly and down rounds make up 18% of all transactions, up from 9% in Q1 of 2023. Learn how to raise in this challenging market from founders who have done it and investors who are allocating. This panel will share insights on navigating the challenging fundraising market and uncovering successful strategies to raise venture capital. You’ll learn which metrics investors care about, how to choose what investors to approach, and what alternatives founders have to raising in the current market.

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

Monday, March 11

Breaking Barriers: Female Founders and Investors

FEATURING
Ruffin Mitchener (CEO, Brydge Club)
Katie Vander Ark (CEO, LendTech)

“Breaking Barriers: Female Founders and Investors” is a meet up brought together by the Brydge Club and 2 to 20. The two organizations have a shared mission to democratize access to the startup and VC ecosystem. This meet up aims to create a supportive community where female founders and investors can come together, share their experiences, and partner to create funding pathways for female founders. Their meet up provides a safe and encouraging space for women to connect, learn, and grow, inspiring one another to reach new heights in their entrepreneurial ventures and investment journeys.

Time: 2:30pm to 3:30pm
Location: Hilton Austin Downtown, Room 406

Wednesday, March 13

Investing in Our Oceans: Navigating Uncharted Waters

FEATURING
Lucy Barrett (Senior Manager, Innovation And Entrepreneurship, Gulf Of Maine Ventures / Gulf Of Maine Research Institute)
Beth Hartman (Strategic Innovation And Outreach Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy, Water Power Technologies Office)
Mark Huang (Co-Founder & Managing Director, SeaAhead)
James Lindsay (Principal — Investments, Builders Vision)

Deploying technology in the ocean is hard and risky. In fact, we know more about the surface of the moon than we do about the ocean floor on a planet that is 70% water. So why are these investors so invested in ocean technology? Join this session to explore why blue tech is a critical investment area for climate mitigation and resilience, clean energy, food security, and economic prosperity. Yo’ll navigate how to work together to build an infrastructure of funding and support to bridge the gap between public funding and private capital, accelerating commercial solutions on an unprecedented timeline.

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

Venture Bridges: Safe Passage Into International Innovation

FEATURING
Ulises Fernandez (Secretary Of Innovation And Economic Development, Government Of The State Of Chihuahua)
Sean Herrity (Ministry Of Economic Affairs, Transport, Agriculture & Viniculture Of Rhineland-Palatinate)
Mayu Kasukawa (Director of Business Development, JETRO Houston, JETRO — Japan External Trade Organization)
Kevin Koym (CEO & Founder, Tech Ranch Austin)

A new model driving foreign direct investment is emerging with capital tracking innovations across international markets. The demand for innovation, business growth and networking is fueling the cultivation of economic ecosystems and collaboration at an international level. In an effort to ensure safe passage into markets, panelists from Japan, Germany, Mexico and Texas will reveal “Venture Bridges” to accelerate market entry, trade and the scaling of emerging technology companies.

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