You have less than seven days to enter the interactive SXSW Accelerator Presented by Microsoft BizSpark. That isn't much time at all! Participants have until 11:59 pm (CT) on Friday, November 18, 2011 to enter the 2012 SXSW Accelerator.

This event provides an unparalleled opportunity for companies around the globe to showcase their new media technologies and services. The quality of competition will be stronger than ever this year - and, yes, that is a good thing.

On Monday, March 12, forty-eight companies battle for taste-making, trend-setting attention, leading to a fireworks display of innovation. On Tuesday, March 13, the top eighteen companies are invited back, and then the winners of the 2012 SXSW Accelerator will be announced that evening.

There's still a whole week, but don't wait too long, or you'll miss your last chance to enter and benefit from all that SXSW Accelerator Presented by Microsoft BizSpark has to offer!

Good luck!

Contributed by Alan Ferguson, images by Catherine McMahon