Building on the success of Irish companies at last year’s world-famous tech fair South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas, Enterprise Ireland are back again this year, this time with over 20 Irish companies.
Often described as an “incubator for cutting-edge technologies and digital creativity”, visitors to the interactive conference and festival will get a flavour of the diversity, talent and creativity of the start-up scene in Ireland.
Having supported Irish entrepreneurs at the event over five years, Enterprise Ireland will once again drive an innovative programme for the 2016 Irish delegation, focused around the Expo floor. Several networking events will take place to showcase Irish capabilities, including products that enable fast-growing trends like the Internet of Things, the mobile revolution and the sharing economy.
Irish companies travelling to Austin this year will showcase products including wearable sensors to reduce stress, mobile marketing automation, new gaming platforms, solutions that enable developers to create social and community-based mobile apps, integrated digital marketing platforms, HR tools to accelerate employee performance and much more.
We asked some of those companies attending SXSW about why they're travelling to Austin, and their plans for the conference.
Firstage
One of those companies making the journey is Firstage, an Irish company bringing augmented music gigs to the world like never before. Started by two musicians including founder and director Neil Harrison, the idea was developed as a way of helping artists being their music to fans while still making money. Now music fans can see countless gigs no matter where they are by pointing mobile devices anywhere they see the Firstage ‘F’ logo.
Founder of Firstage Neil Harrison took a few minutes on his trip to Texas to tell us why he thinks it’s important for Irish companies to go to events like SXSW:
“SXSW is the ultimate showcase of technology and music, the top people and companies from both industries migrate to Austin, so for Firstage whose product is augmented gigs there really is no better place on earth to show off what we do.”
Hear the founders talk about it themselves...
The company plan to spend their time at SXSW meeting AR hardware innovators, investors and brands. “It's all about learning, learning how we can work with the latest technologies, learning who the best up and coming artists are and how we can work with brands who really understand the space we are in.”
Crowdsight
Another Irishman travelling to Austin with his company Crowdsight is John Fennessy. Crowdsight captures the top 1% of fan generated content live from the most exciting events and allows sponsors to respond directly to their fans. For John, SXSW is a way of connecting with their market.
"Our technology focuses on enabling sponsorship in the sports and live entertainment sectors and SxSW is especially significant in these industries. It’s the best location to meet with real decision makers and thought leaders – and reach out to them without requiring a “warm” intro. Already, our diary is full of digital managers working with US professional sports teams - it’s expected that startups will reach out and SxSW is the type of forum where they make the time to engage directly back. This is where they’re looking for ideas, creativity that can drive innovation for their teams."
Helping Irish businesses at SXSW
Both companies credit Enterprise Ireland as the reason for making the journey to SXSW this year.
Neil of Firstage said the support from Enterprise Ireland is priceless:
“Without Enterprise Ireland we wouldn't be here (in Austin), support on this level that creates opportunities for young companies is so important and priceless. It's great to be part of such a well organised and unified showcase containing so many brilliant thinkers in technology and music. There really is no better place to be for the next ten days.”
John believes Crowdsight would have missed out on a huge opportunity without Enterprise Ireland:
"Enterprise Ireland have been exceptional for us. Helping us with funding, making contacts – without their support, Crowdsight would not be here and even before the conference has started I can tell we would have missed out on a huge opportunity."
Follow the Irish at SXSW
Follow Firstage at SXSW on Twitter and check out their website here.
Follow Crowdsight at SXSW on Twitter and check out their website here.
Learn more about SXSW here.
Find out more about the Enterprise Ireland at SXSW here.