The South by Southwest Conference and Festivals officially starts Friday, and although all the happenings are in Austin, there’ll be plenty of North Texas presence.

This year’s conference has 25 tracks covering areas such as the music and film industries as well as the latest in the social, tech, and startup sectors. Then there’s the festivals — interactive, film, music, comedy, and gaming.

From the future of ridesharing and smart transportation to the evolving retail industry and the ingredients of a productive venture capital ecosystem, North Texans will lend their expertise to a number of discussions.

Innovation in the city of Fort Worth will be on full display with Fort Worth Now in the Fair Market March 13-14. Expect to hear about all the unique things happening in the city from business and technology to art, music, and film. We’ve highlighted a few events below. You can check out a complete list of happenings here.

Startups and corporations will showcase their newest developments. For the third year, Antone’s Nightclub will transform into the Capital One House, where experts from the financial services company will tackle talks on issues and changes affecting the industry.

There undoubtedly will be a number of debuts and launches of disruptive technologies, some with a playful tone. Plano-based Frito-Lay is inviting its customers to see the world through a different lens — a cheesy one that is — through its AI-powered camera that transforms what you see into Cheetos.

And of course, don’t forget about all the musicians who will be filling numerous stages.

Whether you’re planning to be down in Austin or just have a fear of missing out and want to live vicariously, we’ve culled together a list of some SXSW events with North Texas ties. To see a full schedule of events, check out the SXSW website here. If you really are going, we suggest downloading the SXSW GO app to organize your schedule. You can study up on the individuals that will be featured here. (We noticed our very own Amber Venz Box is featured front and center!)

If you know of one we missed, please send an email to us at [email protected].

DON’T MISS THESE DFW FINALISTS AT CONTESTS, PITCHES

SXSW Accelerator Pitch Event

FastVisa US

SXSW Release It

Zero Waste Asset Management

Global Trade Specialist (alternate)

Neuro Rehab VR (alternate)

Emcee: Trey Bowles of The Dallas Entrepreneur Center

Coach: Clarisa Lindenmeyer of Dallas-based Proximity to Power

SXSW Interactive Innovation Awards

The Cognitive Story by Darwin Ecosystem (Dallas); Category: AI & Machine Learning

Harman Connected PA by Harman, a Samsung entity (Plano); Category: Music & Audio Innovation

Directional AR & more. A minimalist way by Wagoo (Irving); Category: VR/AR Innovation

Red Bull Launch Institute

The North Texas student entrepreneurs Neha Husein of Southern Methodist University and Elaine Wang of the University of Texas at Dallas will participate in the Red Bull Launch Institute March 10. The institute, which says it “give wings to collegiate entrepreneurs and their ideas,” will host six teams of college students whose innovative business concepts will be turned into reality while being mentored by other entrepreneurs and business leaders.

EVENTS WITH NORTH TEXAS TIES 

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

BEYOND PROFESSIONALISM: CHANNELING VULNERABILITY
Antone’s Capital One House, 305 5th St., in Austin
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

Kristen Przano serves as the Senior Manager of Capital One Garage Innovation Center in Plano as well as leading the engagement committee for the DFW Area Women’s Business Resource Group.  In this event she will focus on utilizing one’s authenticity and vulnerability in the workplace.

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

LAUNCHX CLUBS AUSTIN DEMO DAY: BRENNEN BLISS   
University of Texas Thompson Conference Center, 2405 Robert Dedman Dr., in Austin
10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

This event highlights high school start up founders, and provides young entrepreneurs with tools and support to continue to grow or start their business. One of the speakers at the event will be Brennen Bliss, an 18-year-old entrepreneur who works as the founder and CEO of nationally known marketing agency PixelCutLabs.

Free

For more information click here. 

TEN REALITIES OF BOOK PUBLISHING
Austin Convention Center Room 9C, 500 E. Cesar Chavez St., in Austin 
5 – 6 p.m.

Glen Yeffeth, Founder and CEO of BenBella Books, will speak on how authors can be successful in the world of publishing.

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge 

For more information click here. 

COMPASSION IN ACTION: YOGA AND MINDFULNESS FOR VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES  
Palmer Events Center Wellness Expo Stage, 900 Barton Springs Road, in Austin
5:20 – 5:50 p.m.

This event focuses on yoga in unexpected places including foster care and runaway shelters, rehab facilities, prison diversion programs, domestic violence, refugee and human trafficking safe houses. Dallasites Stefanie Tovar and Tiffany Kieran will speak at the panel.

Primary entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Music Festival Wristband, Artist Wristband, Film Badge, Interactive Badge, Guest Pass, Film Festival Wristband

For more information click here. 

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

CYBORG GOV: HUMANS & HIGH-TECH IN PUBLIC SERVICE 
Hilton, 500 E. 4th St., in Austin 
2 – 3 p.m.

The Dallas Morning News Technology and Entrepreneurship Reporter Melissa Repko will participate in a panel about the influence of data and technology on government services. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge 

For more information click here. 

IPO TO IPO-INTEGRATING IP INTO YOUR STRATEGY
Hilton Salon K, 500 E. 4th St., in Austin
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This event focuses on integrating protective IP strategy into overall business plans. Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions to a panel of speakers. Hope Shimabuku, the director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, will be one of the speakers. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

RETAIL TRANSFORMATION: APOCALYPSE OR RENAISSANCE?
Four Seasons Ballroom CD, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., in Austin 
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This panel of retail-focused investors and innovators will discuss the changing and evolving retail industry. One of the speakers, Jonathan Fine, is the Vice President of Business Development at Dallas-based REVTECH- Retail Technology Ventures. Matt Alexander, CEO of Dallas’s Neighborhood Goods, will also speak on the panel. 

Primary Entry: Platinum Badge, Interactive Badge

Secondary Entry: Music Badge, Film Badge

For more information click here.  

MONDAY, MARCH 12

GAZE COIN: GET PAID TO GAZE 
Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St., in Austin
1 – 3 p.m.

The Dallas chapter of the VR/AR Association will host an event featuring Sydney, Australia-based Gaze Coin, which works to solve the monetization challenges of AR/VR. Gaze Coin CEO Jonny Peters will speak. There also will be a live demo of the startup’s application on HTC Vive. 

Free

For more information go here.

Gaze Coin: Get Paid to Gaze, organized/hosted by the VR/AR Association, Dallas Chapter

TUESDAY, MARCH 13

MENTOR SESSION: PRESTON MCCAULEY
Salon 8, 110 E. 2nd St., in Austin
9:30 – 10:45 a.m.

Preston McCauely is an expert in AR/VR strategies, methods, and design. He is the co-founder of SMU Cape in Dallas where he teaches Practical UX Strategies and Immersive UX Principles. He is also the co-founder of Dallas’ Immersive Design and Development Group. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

REGISTER RIGHT!: THE ABCS OF PROTECTING YOUR IP
Fairmont Iris Room, 101 Red River, in Austin
9:30 – 11:30 a.m.

This workshop teaches creatives the process of securing their IP rights through trademarks, copyrights, and patents. W. Keith Robinson, a professor at SMU Dedman School of Law, will speak at the event. 

Event requires RSVP, and is only open to those with badges listed as Primary Access 

For more information click here. 

URBAN AIR TAXI AND THE FUTURE OF RIDESHARING
Fair Market, 1100 E. 5th St., in Austin
11 a.m. – Noon

This panel will discuss the urban air travel, and the infrastructure and regulations needed to make the idea a reality. Mike Berry, president of Hillwood, A Perot Company, will speak at the event. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

SMART CITIES EXPERIENCES, SOLUTIONS & PLANS
Four Seasons, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., in Austin 
11 a.m. – noon

Dallas Innovation Alliance executive director Jennifer Sanders will participate in this session. The meet-up will focus on the ways “smart cities” use data and analytics to improve protection and mobility. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

MENTOR SESSION: MARC RAMOS
Salon 8, 110 E. 2nd St., in Austin
11 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

Dallas-based Marc Ramos is the Chief Marketing Officer for SplashBI, a company that offers clients real-time business intelligence data. He has more than two decades of experience in marketing. He has served in various positions in the technology and software industry and earned his MBA from UNT.

Primary Entry: Platinum Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

CREATING A VENTURE CAPITAL ECOSYSTEM
Fair Market, 1100 E. 5th St., in Austin
12:30 – 1:30 p.m. 

This panel features speakers who will analyze how to create a productive and collaborative ecosystem for innovation and start-ups, particularly in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. The speakers include Joe Beard, a partner at Perot Jain LP; Frank Mycroft, CEO of Booster Fuels; Brenda Stoner, founder of PICKUP; and Robert Sturns, the economic development director of the city of Fort Worth. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

HOW CAN CITIES SUPPORT HYPERSCALE DATA STORAGE?
Fair Market, 1100 E. 5th St., in Austin
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This panel will discuss the data and infrastructure needed to support the growth of technology. Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, and Reid Goetz, vice president of Hillwood, A Perot Company, will speak at the event. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

OVERHEAD TRANSIT: CABLE, HYPERLOOP, PRT & DRONES
Four Seasons Ballroom AB, 98 San Jacinto Blvd., in Austin
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This session will examine the possible overhead transit methods that are leading to the development of Smart Transportation Cities. Steven Duong, associate vice president of design, planning, and economics at AECOM and Hyperloop Texas team lead, will speak at the event. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

AR/VR INDUSTRY INCLUSION: WOMEN & ALLIES BUILDING TOGETHER PRESENTED BY THE WOMEN-IN-VR-DALLAS (SPONSORED BY NEURO REHAB VR)
Capital Factory, 701 Brazos St., in Austin
6 – 8:30 p.m.

The Dallas chapter of Women in VR will host an event featuring WXR Fund, an organization that invests in XR companies committed to balanced gender representation. WXR founders Martina Welkhoff, Abby Albright, and Malia Probst will speak. 

Free

For more information click here. 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 14

SPOTLIGHT ON TEXAS FILMMAKERS 
Fair Market, 1100 E. 5th St., in Austin
11 a.m. – noon

This panel will feature DFW filmmakers as they discuss tips for getting started and developing concepts in the evolving film industry. Speakers include James Johnston, Toby Halbrooks, Augustine Frizzle, and Red Sanders.

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

MENTOR SESSION: ROND DAGDAG 
JW Marriott Salon 8, 110 E. 2nd St., in Austin 
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Ron Dagdag is the organizer of Dallas Hackster Ambassador and Dallas Immersive Design and Development Group. During this session, he will provide insights on the business and technology industries. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

MENTOR SESSION: VEENA SOMAREDDY
JW Salon 8, 110 E. 2nd St., in Austin 
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.

Veena Somareddy is the co-organizer of the Women in VR Dallas chapter. During this session, she will provide insights on the developments of VR design and research. 

Event requires RSVP, and is only open to those with badges listed as Primary Access 

For more information click here. 

HOW APPS ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL
Fair Market, 1100 E. 5th St., in Austin
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.

This panel will feature a discussion about the ways technology influences the modern travel experience, and how destinations are evolving to keep up with these increasing trends. Mitch Whitten, vice president of Marketing and Tourism for Visit Fort Worth, will speak at the event. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

FRIDAY, MARCH 16

STREET HYMNS
University Avenue Church of Christ, 1903 University Ave., in Austin 
7:25 – 7:40 p.m. 

Dallas-based creative Street Hymns will perform Gospel songs and rap. 

Primary Entry: Music Badge, Platinum Badge

Secondary Entry: Music Festival Wristband, Artist Wristband, Film Badge, Interactive Badge

For more information click here. 

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