1. What is SXSW Eco Startup Showcase?
The SXSW Eco Startup Showcase is a one-day investor pitch tournament exhibiting the best of Green Tech, Clean Web and Social Impact startups. On October 8, the selected companies will compete before a live audience and a panel of judges as they present the most innovative, and potentially disruptive, technologies from around the world. This competition will take place on the second day of the SXSW Eco conference.
2. Who can apply?
The Startup Showcase is open to all Green Tech, Clean Web and Social Impact startups, ranging from web-based apps and consumer-facing products to industrial technologies and B2B solutions. Founders of the applying startup must retain some portion of ownership in the company to be eligible to participate.
3. What qualifies as cleantech?
Green Tech - The Green Tech category highlights startups offering solutions in the areas of agriculture, air, energy, green building, recycling and waste, transportation and fuels, water, materials and more.
Clean Web - The Clean Web category includes startups offering web, mobile and software technology that directly or indirectly impacts sustainability, ranging from products and services that enable Green Tech application to software that analyzes and/or changes consumer behavior to information technology that solves resource constraints.
Social Impact - The Social Impact category encompasses both for- and not-for-profit startups that provide scalable solutions to society’s challenges in the areas of education, health, enterprise development and more.
4. When is the application deadline?
The application deadline is Friday, May 31 at 11:59PM CST
5. What is the format of the event and presentation guidelines?
Each of the selected semifinalists will have three minutes to pitch their company to the audience, followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the panel judges, made up of Investors from top firms across the country. The winners will be announced at the conference-wide SXSW Eco Awards Ceremony that evening.
6. How are the products/services screened and selected for the competition?
The Startup Showcase Advisory Board, which is made up of investment professionals, along with the SXSW Eco programming team will screen each application to make sure that they meet all requirements and review each entry to decide which companies are most likely to get funding and which companies offer the products and services are most likely to positively impact society and the environment.
7. What does it cost to apply to the Startup Showcase?
A non-refundable $95 entry fee is required from all applicants who would like to be considered for participation in the event. All SXSW Eco Startup Showcase entrants will be given the chance to register to attend SXSW Eco at the lowest early bird rate, if they are not chosen as a SXSW Eco Startup Showcase finalist.
8. What if I am not selected as a Finalist but would still like to attend SXSW Eco?
If your SXSW Eco Startup Showcase application is NOT accepted, you will receive a special coupon allowing you to register to attend SXSW Eco at the early-bird rate.
9. How many products/services can I submit?
Each company will be allowed to submit only one product/service in one category per application they submit. Companies wanting to be evaluated based on multiple products or services or be considered in multiple categories will need to submit multiple applications.
10. How will I know if I have been selected to participate? When will I receive this notification?
All applicants will receive an email notification from SXSW Eco upon the selection or rejection of your application by Friday, June 24, 2013.
11. If I am selected, what type of coaching will I receive and how will I submit my presentation?
All semifinalists will receive coaching via phone and Skype from an experienced cleantech investor. The coach will work with semifinalists on their oral presentation and deck. Presentations must be created in Powerpoint and submitted by Friday, September 20.
12. What are the presentation guidelines?
Each participating organization is permitted to have only one company representative on stage presenting to the judges with the same person handling the Q&A portion. Presenters will have a wireless microphone and may use a slide presentation (with no sound or additional A/V). This presenter will be given a wireless clicker to control their slide presentation and is allowed a second representative to assist with the slideshow from the tech station (not on the stage).
13. Who are the Startup Showcase judges?
Each judge is an experienced investor or an expert in the marketspace.
14. How much time will the judges take to evaluate my presentation during the event?
After the participating organization’s 3-minute pitch, the judges will ask the participant questions about the presentation for 5 minutes to help them better understand the product / service and address any additional thoughts they may have.
15. Who can attend?
The SXSW Eco Startup Showcase event is open to anyone with a SXSW Eco registration.
16. What about my intellectual property?
You, the applicant, are solely responsible for protecting your intellectual property rights (patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc.) in your idea. If you think you have intellectual property rights or you might want to patent your idea someday, it is strongly recommended that you consult an attorney before disclosing this information in your application.
Applicants are expected to submit a compelling presentation without disclosing critical intellectual property. By submitting an application, you acknowledge that applying for the SXSW Eco Startup Showcase could result in disclosure of your intellectual property if such information is included in your application.
SXSW wants you to know that there are always certain risks involved in competitions of this nature. Because SXSW is not in a position to protect or advise you on your intellectual property rights, SXSW cannot and does not take any responsibility for doing so. Please be aware that SXSW does not require non-disclosure agreements or other confidentiality obligations from anyone involved in the SXSW Eco Startup Showcase process.
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Have questions? Contact carolyn@sxsweco.com.
