BizSpark @SXSW

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By Midori Lawler

Several members of the BizSpark team have descended upon Austin because its, yes, SXSW time!  Microsoft BizSpark is sponsoring several events and several of the BizSpark Team will be participating in other startup-related activities.

Here’s a summary of a few of the places we’ll be.  Please stop by! We look forward to chatting with you! Follow us @bizspark.

Startup America Live! @SXSW
Saturday – Tuesday
Startup Village Hilton Austin Downtown - Salon E

BizSpark Network Partner, Startup America Partnership, will host an exclusive area for all Startup America Members at SXSW, including general access for all startups with a SXSW badge. BizSpark Champs will be participating in Startup America Live Office hours at various times between Saturday and Tuesday, offering their expertise during one-on-one time. Check out the schedule and sign up here.

Microsoft BizSpark sponsors the Stanford Startup Bus
Sunday – Grand Finale
Hilton Austin Downtown (500 East 4th Street) – Salon A

Microsoft is a proud sponsor of the Stanford StartupBus. Imagine getting on a bus with a group of strangers in California and three days later, end up in Texas launching a startup. Stop by Sunday to see who will be the 2012 winner…but only after being grilled by a high profile panel of investors and entrepreneurs.

HATCH

Sunday – 9:30-1:30pm
Startup Village Hilton Austin Downtown - Salon B

BizSpark Network Partner, The Houston Technology Center, is hosting HATCH, a pitch competition for earlier, “incubator stage” companies. 15 Finalists will be pitching to an audience and judging panel of corporate, angel, and venture investor judges. Several BizSpark Team members will be in attendance and BizSpark Champ, Chris Bernard, will be a judge at the inaugural competition

SXSW Accelerator
Monday & Tuesday – all day
Tuesday, 3:30-6:30 – Microsoft BizSpark Sponsors Happy Hour at the Accelerator

Hilton Austin Downtown (500 East 4th Street) – 4th Floor

Microsoft BizSpark is proud to be the title sponsor the SXSW Startup Accelerator for the 4th Year. Discover the most innovative ideas in social media, news related technologies, mobile applications, web entertainment, and health technologies. On Monday, forty-eight companies will each have 2 minutes to pitch their ideas. On Tuesday, the top eighteen companies will be invited back, and at the end of the day, winners of SXSW Accelerator will be announced.

BizSpark Microsoft will have a table at the Accelerator event and BizSpark Champ, Mark Hindsbo, will be participating as an expert judge. Don’t miss Happy Hour on Tuesday afternoon!