SXSW Pitch returns for its 17th year to showcase some of the global startup ecosystem's most exciting, innovative, and cutting-edge technology from March 8-9, 2025 in Austin, TX during SXSW 2025.

According to Pitchbook, finalists involved in the SXSW Pitch competition have raised more than $23.2 billion in funding since 2009. This competition provides an outlet for early stage startup companies to present their emerging innovative technology across nine categories to a panel of industry technology experts, high-profile media personnel, and venture capitalists/angel investors.

Explore 2025 Categories and criteria for eligibility before submitting your application.

Applications for SXSW 2025 are now closed. The finalists will be announced later in the season.

For SXSW Pitch inquiries, please contact michelle@sxsw.com and send press inquiries to conferencepress@sxsw.com.

AgTech & Food

Technologies within agriculture, horticulture and aquaculture that improve yield, increase efficiency and/or reduce environmental impact. Examples include food sustainability, farm data, soil microbe data, crop protection, biofertilizers, supply chain transparency, agri-food testing, alternative proteins, animal health, aquaculture, farm management software, hydroponics, vertical farming, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), and precision agriculture.

Enterprise, Smart Data, FinTech & Future of Work

Technologies that increase productivity for businesses and/or individuals by simplifying informational data through automation and/or new workflows and analytics. These startups may have applications in the future of work, data collection, management, organization, big data simulation, analysis, data visualization and presentation, interpretation, privacy and security, predictive analytics, payments, cryptocurrencies, money sharing platforms, fraud protection, open banking, Machine Learning Operations, cognitive computing, APIs, personalization, supply chain, business communications, project management, payments, human resources, cloud computing, and augmentation across industries such as business, finance, advertising, and more.

Entertainment, Media, Sports & Content

Technologies and applications that are re-inventing the experience of leisure, information, sports, and entertainment. Industries these technologies service may include gaming, music, film, television, video, arts, news and publishing, e-sports, sports analytics, streaming, podcasting and audio content, social media, user-generated content platforms, digital storytelling, and more.

Extended Reality, Web3, Voice & Robotics

Technologies that enhance the way people connect, communicate, and share unique life experiences with those around them in a digital ecosystem. These technologies may be related to machine-simulated intelligence, consciousness, ease, speech, the Internet of Things and smart devices, or a machine's ability to perform, anticipate, and streamline tasks without human assistance. These startups seek to address a wide variety of issues and may include Web 3.0 applications, wearables, blockchain technology, multi-sensory incorporation, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), Super Apps, generative AI, AI chips, autonomous systems, human-robot interaction, Robotic Process Automation, Natural Language Processing, and more.

HealthTech, MedTech, BioTech & Accessibility

Technologies focused on human-centric applications that advance medicine and wellness and connect individuals with health systems and facilities, medical technologies and devices, care teams, providers, insurance, corporate and personal wellness services, and public health and social services. These startups may include applications in aging and geriatrics, vaccines, mRNA technology, general wellness, assistive technology, diagnosis, treatment, fertility, genetics, sports and exercise, home fitness, cannabis, sleep, and medical wearable technologies.

Innovative World Tech

This category is for any creative and innovative application, product, or service that does not fit in another SXSW Pitch category, as well as technologies that act as the infrastructure that new technologies are built on. Examples that might fit into this category include (but are not limited to) societal good, social networking, supply chain, payment and fintech, biotechnology and nanotechnology, pet tech, drones, home refinancing, quantum computing and computer chip technology, and others.

Security, GovTech & Space

Technology in this category improves the ability of first responders & other public safety personnel to serve their communities. This category leverages technology from six major areas: artificial intelligence/machine learning, autonomy, cyber, energy, human systems, and space. Autonomous systems can be further subcategorized into awareness & security, unmanned aerial systems, and maritime autonomy. Space can be further subcategorized into launch services, domain & situational awareness, transport & navigation, satellites & connectivity, manufacturing and hypersonic.

Smart Cities, Transportation & Sustainability

Technologies that create and advance smart cities and/or enhance sustainable practices by providing services and products for local environments, which includes buildings, neighborhoods, communities, and public spaces. These innovations may find applications in sustainability, climate change, renewable power sources, real estate development, transportation, tourism, logistics, product delivery, autonomous vehicles, ridesharing, infrastructure, utilities, public works, security, population data, government and civic services, urban planning and design, waste management and recycling, water management and conservation, green building, air quality monitoring and pollution control, disaster resilience and emergency management, and more.

Student Startups

Student startups that are showcasing innovative technology with a focus on Agtech & Food; Security, GovTech & Space; Enterprise, Smart Data, FinTech, & Future of Work; Entertainment, Media, Sports, & Content; Extended Reality, Web3, Voice & Robotics; Healthcare, MedTech, AssistiveTech & BioTech; Innovative World Tech; Smart Cities, Transportation, & Sustainability. A student from the startup management team will need to present at SXSW Pitch if selected as a Finalist or Alternate, as well as must be enrolled during the SXSW Pitch event and will need to be a student who is seeking an Associate Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Graduate Degree, Doctorate or Professional Degree.

SXSW Pitch is a featured startup showcase event with an “open call” for startups applying. By applying to SXSW Pitch, you are agreeing to pay the application fee for us to process your entry as a potential finalist. Please be aware that we do not refund application fees, including if you have not been selected as a finalist.

• The company’s product and/or service must have been launched no earlier than January 1, 2022.
• Each company may only enter one product or service into SXSW Pitch. A company that enters multiple products or services is not eligible to participate in SXSW Pitch.
• Startups are encouraged to apply to multiple SXSW competitions — SXSW Pitch, SXSW Innovative Awards, and SXSW EDU Launch (if you are an education-related startup). But because we want to showcase as many different compelling startups as possible at SXSW, know that your startup will only be selected as a finalist in one of these three competitions.
• Founders of the company applying must retain some portion of ownership.
• The Company must not have raised over ten (10) Million Dollars in funding from combined funding sources.
• Startups should be legally registered and compliant with all relevant regulations and laws in their respective jurisdictions.
• The product or service must fall into one of the SXSW Pitch categories.

The individuals listed below were instrumental to the success of the 2025 SXSW Pitch. Their hard work, diligence, and support in bringing together the technology industry’s future to our event is greatly appreciated.

2025 Advisory Board

The SXSW Pitch Qualifying and Coaches Committee has contributed significantly to its success. The Qualifying Committee focuses on the intake of all plans submitted and is responsible for validating the applications for accuracy, completeness, veracity, and proper categorization. With their vast experience, SXSW Pitch Coaches work closely with the finalists in the months leading up to the event to assist them in their onstage presentations.

2025 Coaches and Qualifiers

Each year, PitchBook, a financial data and software company, compiles over a decade’s worth of data into a report for the SXSW Pitch event.

Download the 2024 PitchBook Report

SXSW Pitch proudly applauds our alumni and the millions of funding along the way. Over the years, we launched our startup platform for finalists with great ideas with the goal of matching them with top investors both nationally and internationally.

Of the 647 companies that participated in SXSW Pitch between 2009 and 2024, over 93% received funding, with a combined funding of over $23.2 billion. Of these 647 companies, 17% have been acquired by companies including Google, British Telecom, Huffington Post, Apple, Live Nation, OpenTable, Meta, Michelin, Constant Contact, and Harmon. Some of our prestigious alumni include Klout, ICON, Hipmunk, Wildfire, Tubemogul, Siri, Foodspotting, and Tango.

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