The world’s most innovative technology solutions were in the spotlight March 14-15 at the seventh annual SXSW Accelerator startup competition, presented by Oracle, which wrapped up tonight with an awards ceremony that recognized this year’s winners. Six leading startups earned top honors in the following categories: Enterprise and Smart Data Technologies, sponsored by Rackspace; Entertainment and Content Technologies, sponsored by Technology Industry Group; Digital Health and Life Sciences Technologies, sponsored by Shell Technology Ventures; Innovative World Technologies, sponsored by IBM; Social Technologies sponsored by Dyn; and Wearable Technologies.
From a mobile solution that uses music to treat tinnitus to a GPS-tracker wristphone designed for kids, there was a wide array of cutting-edge innovations introduced at this year’s competition. SXSW Accelerator is the marquee event of SXSW Interactive Festival’s Startup Village and features 48 startups from around the globe presenting innovative products in front of a live audience and panel of expert judges that includes successful entrepreneurs, investors and industry influencers. Prezi served as the official presentation platform for the competition.
Over the two-day competition, a few trends emerged including an increased awareness for creating products that keep personal and corporate data safe and technology solutions targeted to industries not typically known as being tech-savvy, such as farming and manufacturing. And as a testament to SXSW Accelerator’s growing worldwide appeal, six of the 18 finalists that advanced to day two of the competition were international startups, a trend that did not go unnoticed by SXSW Accelerator Event Producer Chris Valentine.
“The number of international startups that want to be a part of SXSW Accelerator continues to grow and proves how popular the competition is becoming around the world,” said Valentine. “This year’s startups were the strongest entries yet, and I’m excited to see how these companies will evolve and grow as a result of the exposure they received here.”
In addition to the six category winners, three startups were recognized with special awards including the Bootstrap Award, recognizing the finalist that has achieved the most with the fewest resources; the Most Innovative Award, recognizing the finalist that has created a product and/or service that is thought-provoking and changes the world for the better; and the Best One-Minute Speed Pitch Award for the alternate with the most successful pitch delivery.
The winners of the 2015 SXSW Accelerator competition are:
Enterprise and Smart Data Technologies:
Partpic
Atlanta, GA.
Digital Health and Life Sciences Technologies:
Tinnitracks
Hamburg, Germany
Innovative World Technologies:
SLANTRANGE
San Diego, CA.
Wearable Technologies:
Tinitell
Stockholm, Sweden
Entertainment and Content Technologies:
Zype
New York, NY.
Social Technologies:
RealSavvy
Austin, TX.
Bootstrap Award:
SIX
Tokyo, Japan
Most Innovative:
BioBots.io
Philadelphia, PA.
Best One-Minute Speed Pitch:
ShotTracker
Overland Park, KS.
The grand prize winners receive $4,000, two badges for the 2016 SXSW Interactive conference, various SXSW Accelerator sponsor gifts and, most importantly, exceptional exposure to SXSW attendees and potential investors who are looking for the latest in cutting-edge technology and innovation.
