SXSW: dates, who attends, and how founders get in
“South By Southwest dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals.”
- Next edition
- Mar 15–21, 2027 · SXSW 2027 source
- Where
- Multiple Austin venues; SXSW Pitch was held at the JW Marriott and the Innovation Clubhouse was at Brazos Hall (2026)., Austin, United States source
- Format
- in-person · 7 days (2026 and 2027 editions).
- Tickets
- $625.00–$6,095.00 (2027; Music Badge to CxO Badge). Standard badges range from $625.00 to $1,495.00 (2027). source
- Startup pass
- Innovation Badge: $995.00; Platinum Badge: $1,495.00 (2027). SXSW Pitch application: $225 regular entry (2027 competition); the $105 early-entry period has passed. source
- Cadence
- Annual, in March; the 2026 edition ran March 12–18, and the announced 2027 edition runs March 15–21.
AIClimateHealth & biotechFintechGamingAgtech & foodRoboticsFoundersInvestorsCorporatesPress
Next edition
| Dates | Mar 15–21, 2027 source |
|---|---|
| Edition | SXSW 2027 |
| Venue | Downtown Austin; the official 2027 information describes a pop-up Creative Village while the Austin Convention Center remains under transformation (2027)., Austin, Texas, United States source |
| Timezone | America/Chicago |
| Tickets | cart.sxsw.com source |
Deadlines that matter to founders
Ticket tiers as published
| Tier | Price | Includes | Edition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Platinum Badge source | $1,495.00 (2027) | All Innovation Conference, Film & TV Festival & Conference, Music Festival & Conference, Clubhouses, and official parties; 3 daily reservations. | SXSW 2027 |
| Innovation Badge source | $995.00 (2027) | Innovation sessions, mentor sessions, workshops, meetups, Innovation opening party and clubhouse, SXSW Pitch live sessions, Startup Showcase, and Pitch Awards; 2 daily reservations. | SXSW 2027 |
| Film & TV Badge source | $850.00 (2027) | Film & TV festival screenings and awards, Film & TV Conference sessions, mentor sessions, workshops, meetups, and Film & TV Clubhouse; 2 daily reservations. | SXSW 2027 |
| Music Badge source | $625.00 (2027) | Music Festival showcases, demo listening, Music Conference sessions, mentor sessions, workshops, meetups, and Music Clubhouse; 2 daily reservations. | SXSW 2027 |
| CxO Badge source | $6,095.00 (2027) | Everything in Platinum plus select-session priority access, CxO Lounge, direct-to-hotel badge delivery, private CxO conversations, behind-the-scenes brand-activation tours, and premium evening guest-list access. Application and SXSW approval/verification required. | SXSW 2027 |
How founders get in
SXSW describes Innovation as a place where founders, investors, executives, and creative communities converge. Its Startup track focuses on early-stage innovation, fundraising, scaling, markets, and investment strategies. Founders can combine sessions with mentor meetings, meetups, the Innovation Clubhouse, and SXSW Pitch; Film & TV and Music run alongside the Innovation programming.
- For the next announced edition, SXSW 2027, buy an Innovation Badge ($995.00) for the Startup track and SXSW Pitch sessions, or a Platinum Badge ($1,495.00) for access across conferences and festivals. General attendance is by badge purchase, not a general-admission application. Prices are the published rates as of 2026-10-07.
- To present as a startup, submit an SXSW Pitch 2027 application through the official application page. The regular application fee is $225, and the published final deadline is 2026-11-13. The early-entry fee was $105 for applications submitted 2026-06-23 through 2026-09-13; that period has passed. The application fee is non-refundable.
- Check eligibility before applying: the product or service must not have launched before 2024-01-01; the company must be legally registered and compliant, fit a Pitch category, retain founder ownership, and have raised no more than $10 million in combined funding. Submit only one product or service. A founder applying for the Student Startups category must meet its enrollment and presentation requirements.
- After buying a badge, link it to an SXSW account and use the attendee directory and event schedule to plan. For 2026, SXSW GO supported attendee search and direct messaging; SXSW says the old app is no longer maintained and a replacement app is forthcoming for 2027. Reserve Mentor Sessions and workshops where required. The 2027 PanelPicker speaking-proposal window (2026-06-23 through 2026-07-26) has passed.
| Startup programme | There is no separately named startup attendee pass. Purchase an Innovation Badge for Startup-track sessions and Pitch events, or a Platinum Badge for broader access. Applying to SXSW Pitch is a separate, optional startup competition application—not an attendance pass. source |
|---|---|
| Startup price | Innovation Badge: $995.00; Platinum Badge: $1,495.00 (2027). SXSW Pitch application: $225 regular entry (2027 competition); the $105 early-entry period has passed. source |
| Includes | The Innovation Badge includes Innovation Conference sessions, mentors, workshops, meetups, the Innovation Clubhouse, SXSW Pitch live sessions, Startup Showcase, and Pitch Awards. Platinum includes all conferences, festivals, clubhouses, and official parties. |
| Exhibiting | SXSW invites prospective exhibitors to submit its exhibitor contact form; the official 2027 exhibition page publishes no booth or stand price. |
| Sponsoring | SXSW's published 2027 premium sponsorship offerings include Headlining Sponsorship and Major Innovation, Major Film & TV, Major Music, and Major Comedy sponsorships. The organizer describes customized packages and add-ons but publishes no tier prices. |
| Investor pass | Investors attend with a standard SXSW badge, such as Innovation or Platinum. The CxO Badge is a separate premium, application-only option for qualifying executives. source |
| Press | For SXSW 2027, editorial journalists should use the Press Application; creators whose primary platform is TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn should use the Content Creator Application. Accreditation is application-based. The organizer says complimentary creator badges are limited and reviewed against its published standards; no general press-pass price is stated. |
| Application required | No, tickets are purchased |
SXSW Pitch
| Format | SXSW Pitch 2027 is a two-day startup showcase scheduled for 2027-03-16 through 2027-03-17. The current Pitch page lists 64 startups, 40 investor judges, and 8 sector tracks (2027). The completed 2026 competition featured 45 companies in nine categories, with pitches over two days, category awards, and a separate “Meet the Startups” demo session. |
|---|---|
| Eligibility | For SXSW Pitch 2027, the product/service must not have launched before 2024-01-01; the company must retain founder ownership, have raised no more than $10 million in combined funding, be legally registered and compliant, and fit a Pitch category. Each company may enter only one product/service. For Student Startups, a presenting founding or executive-team member must be actively enrolled in high school, college, or university at the event. |
| Application deadline | Nov 13, 2026 source |
Winners
- Yuzi Care (2026) — Enterprise and Future of Work category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- OneCourt (2026) — Entertainment, Media, Sports & Creator Content category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Surgicure Technologies, Inc. (2026) — Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Mayimflow (2026) — Innovative World Tech category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- AlterEcho (2026) — Intelligent Systems, Robotics & Multisensory Technology category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- GigU (2026) — Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Smart Bricks (2026) — Smart Data, Security, and FinTech category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Pittsburgh Coastal Energy (2026) — Student Startups category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Sotira (2026) — Sustainability, AgTech & Food category winner; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- PLNTmatter (2026) — Best Bootstrap Company; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Ecosphere Organics (2026) — Best Speed Pitch; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Rea Diagnostics SA (2026) — Best Inclusivity; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Principle (2026) — KPMG Award; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
- Sotira (2026) — Best in Show; cash prize, two badges for the 2027 SXSW conference, and the SXSW Arrow Trophy. source
Judges
- Alexis Alston at Lightship Capital source
- Kamran Ansari at Infinity Ventures source
- Shalanda Armstrong at 100KM Ventures source
- Lisa Burton at HearstLab source
- Heath Butler at Mercury Fund source
- Gustavo Caetano at Samba Ventures source
- Paul Campbell at Brown Venture Group source
- Tipatat Chennavasin at Venture Reality Fund source
- Vincent Diallo at Progression Fund source
- Brian Dixon at Kapor Capital source
- David Dundua at Glacier Link source
- Gail Christine Gannon at Ensante source
- Mohanjit Jolly at Iron Pillar Fund source
- Anil Joshi at Unicorn India Ventures source
- Justine Juillard at Critical Venture Partners source
- Andrew Kahn at Yamaha Music Innovations source
- Kay Koplovitz at Springboard Enterprises source
- Amy LaMeyer at WXR Venture Fund source
- Bryan Liu at Alumni Ventures source
- Angelica Maestas at Builders VC source
- Akif Malik at Podium VC source
- Supreet Manchanda at Raiven Capital source
- Jesse Martinez at LSA Global source
- Kleida Martiro at Glasswing Ventures source
- Mary McKenna at Awaken Angels source
- Shelby McKeown at Edison Partners source
- Keyona Meeks at ReRev Labs & BlackTech Capital source
- Sal Melilli at KPMG source
- Elisa Miller-Out at Chloe Capital source
- Dr. Richard Munasssi at Tampa Bay Wave source
- Eric Osiakwan at Chanzo Capital source
- Brittany Palmer at Adaptation Ventures source
- Billy Parks at Slow Ventures source
- Michael Psarouthakis at Innovation Partnership-University of Michigan source
- Jessica Robinson at Assembly Ventures source
- David S. Rose at Gust source
- Mike Sherbakov at Veteran Fund source
- Rachel Stinebaugh at Supply Change Capital source
- Bryan Stubbs at Cleveland Water Alliance source
- Monique Villa at Daytrip source
- Ryan Wang at Outpost Capital source
- Melissa Withers at RevUp Capital source
- Pamela York at Capita3 source
- Emily Zhen at Zeal Capital Partners source
Meeting investors there
SXSW describes the Innovation Conference as bringing founders, investors, brand leaders, and executives together for face-to-face conversations and partnerships. Founders can meet investors through the Pitch showcase and its investor judges, book mentoring for funding advice, attend meetups and clubhouse networking, and use the attendee directory when the current 2027 app becomes available. No dedicated investor-founder 1:1 matching program or investor-only badge is listed for the main SXSW event. source
| Investors attending | Venture-capital and angel-community representatives judged SXSW Pitch (2026). source |
|---|---|
| Matchmaking | For 2026, SXSW GO offered an attendee directory, direct messaging, and personalized recommendations. For 2027, SXSW says SXSW GO is no longer maintained and a replacement app is forthcoming; no current 2027 matching-app name is published. source |
| Formats | SXSW Pitch: selected startups present to expert judges, including venture-capital and angel-investor representatives; the 2026 competition also had a separate “Meet the Startups” demo session. · Mentor Sessions: one-on-one career and startup-funding advice; the 2026 Innovation guide describes five 15-minute one-on-one meetings within a 75-minute session, with reservations required. · Topic-focused Meet Ups, lounges, mixers, parties, and the Innovation Clubhouse provide less formal opportunities to connect. The organizer specifically describes Mentor Sessions as a way to seek startup-funding advice. · The SXSW attendee directory and direct messages supported networking through SXSW GO for 2026. SXSW's current 2027 cart says SXSW GO is no longer maintained and a new app is not yet available. |
Investor firms the organiser lists (Most recent completed edition: 2026 SXSW in Austin, March 12–18, 2026. Next announced edition: SXSW 2027 in Austin, March 15–21, 2027; the Innovation Conference runs March 15–20, 2027. SXSW Pitch advertises 64 startups showcased and 40 investor judges (2027). SXSW Film & TV will use ACL Live at The Moody Theater temporarily during the 2027 Paramount Theatre restoration and return to the Paramount in 2028.)
Lightship CapitalInfinity Ventures100KM VenturesHearstLabMercury FundSamba VenturesBrown Venture GroupVenture Reality FundProgression FundKapor CapitalIron Pillar FundUnicorn India VenturesCritical Venture PartnersSpringboard EnterprisesWXR Venture FundAlumni VenturesBuilders VCPodium VCRaiven CapitalGlasswing VenturesAwaken AngelsEdison PartnersBlackTech CapitalChloe CapitalChanzo CapitalAdaptation VenturesSlow VenturesAssembly VenturesGustVeteran FundSupply Change CapitalOutpost CapitalRevUp CapitalCapita3Zeal Capital Partners
Before you go: the hub's cold email to VCs playbook covers the pre-event outreach that fills a meeting calendar, and Causo matches your stage and thesis to the funds in its database so you know who to ask for a meeting.
Who speaks (Most recent completed edition: 2026 SXSW in Austin, March 12–18, 2026. Next announced edition: SXSW 2027 in Austin, March 15–21, 2027; the Innovation Conference runs March 15–20, 2027. SXSW Pitch advertises 64 startups showcased and 40 investor judges (2027). SXSW Film & TV will use ACL Live at The Moody Theater temporarily during the 2027 Paramount Theatre restoration and return to the Paramount in 2028.)
- Timnit Gebru, Founder & Executive Director · Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR)
- Allison Ellsworth, Founder · poppi
- Mike Hofman, Editor-in-Chief · Inc.
- Timm Chiusano, Principal · Chiusano & Daughter
- Jon Youshaei, YouTuber · Youshaei Studios
- Amy Webb, CEO · Future Today Strategy Group
- Joanna Lepore, Global Foresight Strategist · Dig Insights
- Mike Bechtel, Futurist · University of Notre Dame
- Joost van Dreunen, Video games professor · SuperJoost
- Rebecca Torrence, Startups & VC Reporter · Bloomberg
- Rahul Vohra, Founder and Head · Superhuman Mail
- Amy Cuddy, Social Psychologist
Full lineup: official speakers page.
Notable past speakers
- Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman, Astronauts · NASA (2025)
- Jay Graber, CEO · Bluesky (2025)
- Alexis Ohanian · Reddit (2013)
- Johanna Faries · Blizzard Entertainment (2025)
- Arvind Krishna · IBM (2025)
- Kara Swisher · Pivot (2025)
- Keith Lee, Creator & Food Critic (2025)
- Meredith Whittaker, President · Signal (2025)
- Amy Webb · Future Today Strategy Group (2022)
Sponsors and partners
Driven By 1
Major 7
SXSW Pitch presented by 1
Media partners: Vox Media
Government partners: Launch Tennessee, Honorary Consulate of Slovakia in Texas
Full list: official partners page.
Startups there
Not separately reported as an SXSW Expo startup-exhibitor count. SXSW lists 45 companies pitching (2026) and 64 startups showcased at SXSW Pitch (2027); these are Pitch competition/showcase counts, not a general Expo exhibitor tally. · official startup directory
Alumni the organiser highlights
- Klout source
- ICON source
- Hipmunk source
- Wildfire source
- Tubemogul source
- Siri source
- Foodspotting source
- Tango source
Programme
| Tracks | SXSW Innovation 2026 tracks: Brand & Marketing; Cities & Climate; Creator Economy; Culture; Startups; Sports & Gaming; Tech & AI; Workplace; Design; Health. · SXSW Innovation 2027 tracks: Brand & Marketing; Cities & Climate; Creator Economy; Design; Gaming; Health; Lifestyle; Sports; Startups; Tech & AI; Workplace. SXSW identifies Startups as its early-stage innovation track, focused on fundraising, scaling, markets, and investment strategies. source |
|---|---|
| Side events | For the 2027 edition, SXSW announces the return of the Innovation, Film & TV, and Music Clubhouses; the Innovation Clubhouse is at Brazos Hall. The organizer also lists mentor sessions, meetups and mixers, workshops, and official parties as networking/community formats. SXSW's 2027 Podcast Festival is announced for 2027-03-17 through 2027-03-20, as broader event context. The 2026 Innovation Clubhouse hosted meetups and networking events, and the Innovation Badge guide listed an Innovation opening party and a Crossover Day Mixer. |
| Awards | SXSW Pitch is the startup competition and awards program. At the completed 2026 edition, nine category awards went to Yuzi Care (Enterprise and Future of Work), OneCourt (Entertainment, Media, Sports & Creator Content), Surgicure Technologies, Inc. (Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech), Mayimflow (Innovative World Tech), AlterEcho (Intelligent Systems, Robotics & Multisensory Technology), GigU (Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics), Smart Bricks (Smart Data, Security, and FinTech), Pittsburgh Coastal Energy (Student Startups), and Sotira (Sustainability, AgTech & Food). Other announced 2026 awards: Best Bootstrap Company—PLNTmatter; Best Speed Pitch—Ecosphere Organics; Best Inclusivity—Rea Diagnostics SA; KPMG Award—Principle; Best in Show—Sotira. 2027 winners have not been announced. |
| Call for speakers | SXSW 2027 speaking proposals were submitted through PanelPicker. The entry period was 2026-06-23 through 2026-07-26, followed by community voting 2026-08-05 through 2026-08-23; both periods have passed as of 2026-10-07. SXSW says community input, PanelPicker evaluators, and staff help select proposals. source |
| Volunteering | SXSW 2027 volunteers must be at least 18 and complete 30+ hours of shifts during 2027-03-12 through 2027-03-22. The program advertises one Volunteer Platinum Badge for volunteers to use during their free time. Returning volunteers may register beginning 2027-01-19; registration for new volunteers opens 2027-02-01. SXSW directs interested people to its volunteer page/newsletter for updates. source |
| Official app | SXSW GO |
| Hashtag | #SXSW |
Past editions, as published
| Edition | Dates | Attendees | Investors | Startups | Recap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 · Austin, Texas · SXSW Interactive became SXSW Innovation (2026). Programming ran across downtown Austin neighborhoods as the Austin Convention Center underwent redevelopment (2026). source | Mar 12–18, 2026 | 498,952 total participation across SXSW 2026 Conferences & Festivals (2026); 1,732 media/press attendees from 1,087 outlets (2026). | SXSW Pitch included venture-capital and angel-investor judges (2026). The official schedule also listed Black Founders & Investors Meet Up and LATAM Tech Founders Meet Up (2026). | 45 SXSW Pitch startups competed across nine categories (2026). The winners named in SXSW's announcement were Yuzi Care (Enterprise and Future of Work); Surgicure Technologies, Inc. (Healthcare, AssistiveTech & BioTech); Mayimflow (Innovative World Tech); Smart Bricks (Smart Data, Security, and FinTech); Pittsburgh Coastal Energy (Student Startups); and Sotira (Sustainability, AgTech & Food). Special awards went to PLNTmatter (Best Bootstrap Company), Ecosphere Organics (Best Speed Pitch), Rea Diagnostics SA (Best Inclusivity), Principle (KPMG Award), and Sotira (Best in Show). | report · video · photos |
| 2025 · Austin, Texas source | Mar 7–15, 2025 | Approximately 309,327 combined participation across SXSW Conference & Festivals and SXSW EDU (2025); the report separately lists 203,313 SXSW Festivals attendance (2025). | — | The official event statistics list nine Pitch events (2025); they do not state a total count of participating startups. | report |
| 2024 · Austin, Texas source | Mar 8–16, 2024 | Approximately 512,722 combined participation across SXSW Conference & Festivals and SXSW EDU (2024); the report separately lists 208,904 SXSW Festivals attendance (2024). | — | — | report |
Cities: Austin, Texas (first event in 1987; 2027 edition announced in Austin)
Who attends
| Geography | Attendees represented 76 countries (2026). source |
|---|---|
| Roles | Founders, Investors, Corporates, Press |
Official links and socials
Travel & apps
In the press
- The Guardian announces 2026 SXSW lineup — The Guardian (2026)
- LIVE UPDATES: SXSW 2026 — Spectrum Local News (2026)
- Did SXSW 2026 Flourish or Flop? We Asked Our Experts. — Texas Monthly (2026)
Prepare for it
- How to cold email VCs — book the meetings before you land.
- The 12-slide seed deck — what to have ready when a partner says "send me the deck".
- Pitch Deck Roaster — a slide-by-slide pass before you submit to SXSW Pitch.
- Accelerator deadlines — the application windows that open around the event.
Sources
Every fact above was read from one of these official pages on Oct 7, 2026:
- cart.sxsw.com
- cart.sxsw.com/products/acceleratorapp
- explore.sxsw.com/2026-insights-report
- explore.sxsw.com/activations
- explore.sxsw.com/cxo-badge
- explore.sxsw.com/hubfs/2025/PDFs/24_SXSW_Event-Stats_FINAL.pdf
- explore.sxsw.com/hubfs/2025/PDFs/25_SXSW_Event-Stats_050825%20(FINAL).pdf
- schedule.sxsw.com
- schedule.sxsw.com/2026/events/PP1162295
- schedule.sxsw.com/2026/exhibitors
- schedule.sxsw.com/?year=2025
- sxsw.com
- sxsw.com/about
- sxsw.com/apply
- sxsw.com/attendee-guide
- sxsw.com/badges/code-of-conduct
- sxsw.com/conference/startups
- sxsw.com/email-hub
- sxsw.com/hotels
- sxsw.com/innovation-conference
- sxsw.com/keynotes
- sxsw.com/marketing
- sxsw.com/mobile
- sxsw.com/news/2026/south-by-southwest-2027-dates-announced
- sxsw.com/news/2026/sxsw-pitch-winners-announced
- sxsw.com/news/2026/sxsw-pitch-winners-announced
- sxsw.com/pitch
- sxsw.com/pitch
- sxsw.com/press-accreditation
- sxsw.com/press-center
- sxsw.com/press-center/press-releases
- sxsw.com/press-images
- sxsw.com/sxsw-2025-info
- sxsw.com/trademark-guidelines
- sxsw.com/travel
- sxsw.com/volunteer
- sxsw.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/2026-SXSW-Pitch-Judges.pdf
- sxsw.com/news/2024/welcome-to-sxsw-2024-event-coverage-resources-guide
- sxsw.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Press-Release-SXSW-2026-Season-Launch-FINAL-PMC-Signed-off.pdf
- youtube.com/user/sxsw
SXSW: frequently asked
When is SXSW 2027?
SXSW 2027 runs Mar 15–21, 2027 at Multiple Austin venues; SXSW Pitch was held at the JW Marriott and the Innovation Clubhouse was at Brazos Hall (2026)., Austin, according to the organiser's published dates.
How much does SXSW cost?
Published ticket prices run $625.00–$6,095.00 (2027; Music Badge to CxO Badge). Standard badges range from $625.00 to $1,495.00 (2027).. Startups: There is no separately named startup attendee pass. Purchase an Innovation Badge for Startup-track sessions and Pitch events, or a Platinum Badge for broader access. Applying to SXSW Pitch is a separate, optional startup competition application—not an attendance pass. (Innovation Badge: $995.00; Platinum Badge: $1,495.00 (2027). SXSW Pitch application: $225 regular entry (2027 competition); the $105 early-entry period has passed.).
How do startups get into SXSW?
There is no separately named startup attendee pass. Purchase an Innovation Badge for Startup-track sessions and Pitch events, or a Platinum Badge for broader access. Applying to SXSW Pitch is a separate, optional startup competition application—not an attendance pass.
How many investors attend SXSW?
The organiser reports Venture-capital and angel-community representatives judged SXSW Pitch (2026). investors. SXSW describes the Innovation Conference as bringing founders, investors, brand leaders, and executives together for face-to-face conversations and partnerships. Founders can meet investors through the Pitch showcase and its investor judges, book mentoring for funding advice, attend meetups and clubhouse networking, and use the attendee directory when the current 2027 app becomes available. No dedicated investor-founder 1:1 matching program or investor-only badge is listed for the main SXSW event.
What is SXSW Pitch?
SXSW's pitch competition. Eligibility: For SXSW Pitch 2027, the product/service must not have launched before 2024-01-01; the company must retain founder ownership, have raised no more than $10 million in combined funding, be legally registered and compliant, and fit a Pitch category. Each company may enter only one product/service. For Student Startups, a presenting founding or executive-team member must be actively enrolled in high school, college, or university at the event.
How big is SXSW?
498,952 total participation across SXSW 2026 Conferences & Festivals (2026). attendees, 45 companies competed in SXSW Pitch across nine categories (2026). startups, from 76 countries represented by attendees (2026). countries, per the organiser.