I recently returned from Austin for SXSW. If you aren’t familiar with SXSWi (Interactive), it’s also known as the “Geek’s Spring Break”. Developers, designers, founders, & all types of creators cram into downtown Austin to launch startups, promote, learn, meet, tweet, and eat (BBQ and tacos). 

That said, this year’s SXSW Interactive has been incredibly inspiring.

Lessons Learned

• Go for it, this is the best time to take risks. 
• Hardware-oriented startups could be the next big space (leveraging sensors & real-time data)
• Startups are hiring rapidly (although Facebook & Google are picking up most of the talent in the Bay Area) - proof and more proof
• NFC and location-based push suggestions (from friends) are next steps for location services 
• Google wants to aggregate all data from search and your location (trips, traffic, weather, food, etc.) and present it in an easier way - view video also check out this awesome XML visualization
• As I approach graduation from college in May, I am more than excited to be leaving academia at a time like this. 

Interesting Startups/Apps I Discovered

• Foodspotting - Interesting new way to explore food options around you.
• Storenvy - Great service for anyone who wants to quickly sell anything.
• Convore - Useful when asking specific questions or starting a conversation based on a location/events. The real-time chat aspect is great.
• Hashable - Really useful, met a TechStars founder in hotel elevator and exchanged info immediately with it.
• Yobongo - Wasn’t very useful to me during SXSW, could use user-defined filters (location, radius, topics/tags), but definitely has potential.
• SocialCam - Video sharing doesn’t work well when 3G/WiFi is sub par, but can see this space growing soon. 
• Eightbitme - Well designed, game-based location app.
• View - A location app that shows and sends you push notifications about what’s going on around you. Unfortunately, it also shows items from the previous day, which was confusing.

Bands I Experienced (without a music pass)

• Strokes (free show @ Auditorium Shores)
• Innerpartysystem  
• Chromeo 
• Matt & Kim 
• Eclectic Method

SXSW Hacks

• Bring a backpack with chargers (laptop, mobile phone, etc.)
• Stay as close to downtown as possible (cabs are a mess during this time)
• If you have an iPhone, purchase a Mophie case for another full charge since you may be away all day - thanks for the recommendation @JonCrawford!
• RSVP to all parties and events you can
• Find parties w/ free food and drinks, there are plenty if you are looking to save $$
• Make a list of people you want to meet up with before you arrive
• Don’t just trade business cards, make connections, contact them the next day
• Don’t plan on making early panels