Do excuse the slightly cheesy Rolling Stones reference in the title of this post, but their song “Start Me Up” keeps playing in the background of my mind as I assemble for you here all the great activity we have coming for entrepreneurs!
SXSW Interactive has a new addition to the 2012 schedule – Startup Village – that creates one location for current and future entrepreneurs to find panels of interest and network with other entrepreneurs, investors and technology trailblazers. Or, as we’re referring to them, thinkers, dreamers, founders and doers.
Since SXSW has grown and spread out from downtown Austin, they’ll all probably be wishing they had an environmentally friendly electric super scooter like this one when they venture outside of the Startup Village. It’s not only got Dell on the outside, there’s Dell technology built into its digital dashboard and a Dell infrastructure supporting its maker Current Motor. SXSW Interactive attendees can stop by the Startup America Live space at Startup Village to check it out and register to win one of their own design.
But even before they get to SXSW, about 60 entrepreneurs from around the globe will be coming to the Dell campus for an unconference with Dell executives and subject matter experts, as well as several thought-leaders on small business, technology and social media. It’s just one of many ways Dell supports the entrepreneurial community in collaboration with teams like Endeavor Global, Startup America, Springboard and Chinwag/UKTI Trade Mission to SXSW.
There’s so much activity planned over six days in Austin, I’m just going to do my best to outline it all day-by-day here:
March 8 – Entrepreneurs’ Unconference
Leaders of young, high-growth businesses from Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, South Africa, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, the UK and across the US, will spend the day with Dell teams in unstructured conversations on technology and social media. You can keep up with the action by watching #DellSXSW on Twitter.
We’ll be keeping in touch with this group throughout the SXSW Interactive conference and providing them visual notes of key panels of interest to them, as well as snacks to help them power through the packed schedule of events.
March 9 – A Celebration of American Startups at SXSW
The Startup America Partnership, SXSW and the Technology Partnership of the Austin Chamber are co-sponsoring an evening event to kick-off SXSW Interactive. It will include technology leaders like our own Steve Felice, as well as Dell’s Entrepreneur in Residence Ingrid Vanderveldt, Reid Hoffman, Steve Case, Steve Blank, and many others. If you have a SXSW badge, join us! Just RSVP on the Facebook event page.
That same evening we are also sponsoring the {Welcome to ATX Reception}, presented by Capital City African American Chamber of Commerce. Because there can never be too many parties at SXSW, right?
March 10 – “The Tech is Right,” Speed Dating and XPrize
Startup America has carved out a space at the Hilton Downtown called “Startup America Live” for the Interactive conference. This exclusive area will provide a home-base for Dell and all Startup America Members at SXSW. Not a member? Join on the spot and sign up for free consulting with a Dell IT Technology Advisor!
We’ll also be having fun (and giving away cool prizes) from 3:30pm – 4:30pm when Dell brings “The Tech is Right” game show to Startup America Live! Our Entrepreneur in Residence Ingrid Vanderveldt will be doing her best to channel both Bob Barker and Drew Carey.
March 11 – The Dolphin Tank
Rieva Lesonsky (@Rieva) recently asked “Would You Rather Swim With Dolphins or Sharks?” If you vote for dolphins, you’re in luck. At 3:30pm – 4:30pm this panel that was so popular at our Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network event last June will make an appearance in the Startup America Live space.
Ingrid Vanderveldt and Dell’s Global Executive Director, Strategy & Corporate Development, Lauren Kramer-Dover will be part of the expert panel giving feedback on entrepreneurs’ pitches. RSVP to give them your best shot.
Also our free consulting with a Dell IT Technology Advisor will still be available. Stop by Startup America Live to sign up for your turn.
And later that evening, we’ll be bringing Startup America members together with members of the Angel Capital Association at an exclusive “speed dating” cocktail reception. Stop by Startup America Live for more details about how you could potentially make a love connection.
March 12-13 – Dell IT Technology Advisor Office Hours
As Interactive continues, our experts will continue to make themselves available through the Startup America Live office hours. This is not a big sales pitch, but genuine IT expertise on loan to your business striving to turn ideas into realities. You’ve probably read that Dell is not just about PCs – this is your chance to put that to the test!
For live updates from all these events and more during SXSW Interactive, follow #DellSXSW, @DellSMBnews and me, @LPT.
