Startups in the Age of the Big Four Tech Giants – 2018 SXSW Programming Trends

Each year, different trends emerge from SXSW programming and act as identifiers for where we’re at and where we’re headed. Within the 12 trends identified by the SXSW Programming team, Startups in the Age of the Big Four Tech Giants explores the influence of the big four tech companies (Facebook, Google, Amazon, and Apple) on the startup economy as a whole. Get to know this trend and related-SXSW sessions below that we think will dominate discussions this March.

Startups in the Age of the Big Four Tech Giants Trend

With the number of new businesses at a 30-year low, the Big Four is thought to be responsible for a decline in growth and entrepreneurship. As it becomes increasingly difficult for startups to compete with big tech, and the dynamic between founder and funder continues to evolve, learn how SXSW remains a hub for innovation and startup growth.

In the session, Startups and Big Companies Working Together hear from CEO of Cintrifuse Wendy Lea, CEO of NTT i3 - The Global Innovation Center for NTT Nina Simosko, and others on how disrupters have changed the business landscape. Learn what happens when a large company with seemingly endless resources decides to work with a startup and gain insight into a world where startups and big companies are working together in previously unthinkable ways.

Dive deeper into the startup industry and learn why Fortune 100 companies have invested in a third of all U.S. venture deals in the past 5 years. Join Editor in Chief at Crunchbase/Techcrunch Alex Wilhelm, Director of Verizon Ventures Merav Rotem Naaman, Partner and Managing Director at Iris Capital Dr. Bernhard Gold, and others to learn about the venture capital space. The session, Corporate VC: The Firms, The Myths, The Legends will discuss the rise of Corporate Venture Capital, the benefits it can offer startups, and how it differs from traditional VC. Discover how the marketplace continues to evolve despite the Big Four through new funding ventures and startup partnerships.

We're less than two weeks from SXSW 2018! If you're a startup owner, employee, investor, or simply an enthusiast, be sure to add the following sessions to your 2018 SXSW Schedule and stay tuned for more programming announcements through March.

Startups in the Age of the Big Four Tech Giants Session Highlights

• Startups and Big Companies Working Together
• Beyond SpaceX: The New Space Ecosystem
• Building an Ecosystem for Science Startups
• Corporate VC: The Firms, The Myths, The Legends
• The Elder Boom: Aging Tech’s Explosive Growth

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Teaser Photo by Luis Bustos