Startups
innovation conference
Building the companies of tomorrow
Step into the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship where ideas become impact. This track explores the strategies, stories, and systems driving early-stage innovation. From fundraising and scaling tactics to market trends and investment strategies, discover how today’s boldest thinkers are building the companies of tomorrow.
Ashley Neville
director of insights, carts
“You’re evaluating investors as much as they are evaluating you. These are going to be partners for the next ten years of your life. If there’s not a good fit, if they rub you the wrong way, just move on. There’s a lot of VC’s out there.”
programming themes
- Hot Startups & New Verticals
- Legacy Founders
- Scaling with AI
- VC & Alternative Funding
- Market Strategies
Past Speakers
The people shaping how stories get made.
Mark Cuban, Mark Cuban Companies
“Robin Arzon Live with Mark Cuban”
Kendra Scott, Founder
“How to Differentiate Yourself as an Entrepreneur”
Arlon Hamilton, Backstage Capital
“Your First Million-Why You Don’t Have to be Born into a Legacy of Wealth to Leave”
Garry Tan, Y Combinator
“A Conversation with Garry Tan”
Conference Rewind
Take a look back at the sessions you don’t want to miss.
The Science of Scaling: Using Data to Decide When—and How Fast—to Scale Revenue
Are You Ready to Scale Sales? How Fast?<br>These two questions are mission-critical to the success of any startup, product launch, or market expansion. Yet, too often we rely on gut feel—or let irrelevant signals like a recent fundraise or comparisons to past unicorns— to drive our decisions. Whether you're a founder starting to scale, an investor guiding your portfolio, or a GM launching a new product, The Science of Scaling framework is your operating manual. Don’t guess. Don’t gamble. Scale scientifically.
Founder-Led Growth: Turning Audience Signal into AI-Powered Commerce with Phia Founders
Founder-led growth is no longer just direct-to-camera content. It is a strategic layer that connects real-world engagement to product development and scalable distribution. Phoebe Gates and Sophia Kianni, cofounders of AI-powered shopping agent Phia, share how they translate high-intent audience interaction into sharper roadmap decisions and faster iteration cycles. Rather than optimizing for reach or vanity metrics, they prioritize meaningful community engagement that strengthens feedback loops and informs deep product personalization.
How Crypto is Building New Capital Markets for Everyone, not just Wall Street
For years, crypto was criticized as a solution searching for a problem. The on-chain creator economy failed to gain momentum, and the concept of ownership reflected less on community governance and more on self-custody. But something shifted. As crypto activity became increasingly financialized, the infrastructure built to support it quietly unlocked something bigger—new pathways for creators and everyday users to participate in capital markets once reserved for institutions. Join Pedro Miranda, Head of Consumer at the Solana Foundation, and Rodolfo Gonzalez from Foundation Capital as we examine what's changed in the on-chain economy and explore the emerging consumer crypto landscape that's democratizing access to financial opportunity.
Additional Information
Each year, SXSW brings the best speakers in the world to Austin, TX< to present sessions on what’s next in the worlds of film, culture, music, and technology.
The convergence of first-class talent from so many different disciplines and backgrounds creates a unique environment for attendees to explore.
SXSW Conferences include the Innovation Conference, Music Conference, and Film & TV Conference.
Accompanying the SXSW Conference are events including expos, a pitch competition, parties, and more.
Explore Keynotes, Featured Speakers, Session Formats, and programming tracks, of visit the Conference Formats page.
SXSW Conference sessions will be divided into multiple tracks across three overarching verticals:
- Innovation Conference Tracks explore technology, marketing, health, the creator economy and more.
- Film & TV Conference covers both the creative and business elements of film and TV production.
- Music Conference features content on the making, marketing, impact and future of music.
Visit the Tracks pages for detailed information on each of the tracks.
Conference session formats range from presentations and fireside chats to panels, workshops, mentoring, networking and more.