One of the highlights of South By Southwest is the SXSW Pitch event, which features the most exciting innovations from 45 different tech companies.
The 14th annual SXSW Pitch event will be held on March 12 and 13 at the Hilton Austin Downtown hotel. The 45 companies are divided into nine categories for a competition that will be judged by tech industry experts, including Austin’s own Jim Breyer of Breyer Capital and Lance Armstrong of Next Ventures.
The winners in each category will be announced during an award ceremony at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 13.
Four Austin tech companies have been chosen as finalists for this event, and one other Austin company was named as an alternate. Read a brief description of each of the hometown contestants below.
MOD Tech Labs (Finalist in the artificial intelligence, robotics and voice category.)
MOD Tech Labs has developed an AI-powered technology that gives creatives the tools to transform photos and videos into 3D digital content using a no-code software platform.
Nephrodite (Finalist in the health, wearables and wellbeing category.)
Nephrodite is the developer of an implantable dialysis device that reduces the need for time-intensive hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis for people with end-stage renal disease or end-stage kidney disease.
Kiro Action (Finalist in the smart cities, transportation and logistics category.)
Kiro Action produces a small glass home that can be built in four hours by four people with no special machinery. The flex space could be used as an office, yoga studio or housing for those without a home.
Pinwheel (Finalist in the social and culture category.)
Pinwheel has created a smartphone for kids. The company said its phone is designed to build healthy habits in children while managing screen time.
Alternate: WalkThru (Alternate in the extended reality and immersive category.)
WalkThru has developed an immersive virtual reality platform that is designed to mitigate social isolation for seniors living at long-term care facilities.
