sxsw

Dell Announces pre-SXSW Unconference: Social Media and Technology Trends in Small Business

#DellSTU11 - Dell's Social Media & Community Unconference by Dell Inc.

Heading out to Austin for this year's SXSW extravaganza? Or you'll be in the neighbourhood? Interested in meeting startups from around the globe and spending time at Dell's HQ, then take a gander at this event our friends at Dell are putting together the day before SXSW kicks off.

Centered on their HQ campus at Round Rock a few miles from Austin, Dell are  hosting a full day Unconference March 8th, 2012 (the day before SXSW), on social and technology trends in small businesses- a fast-paced, intense and fun event environment that allows participants to control the agenda.

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Great British Breakfast at SXSW 2012

The Great British Breakfast is the premier international networking event at South By Southwest Interactive organized by UK Trade & Investment and Chinwag. Over 250 digital practitioners, press and investors working in the interactive space will descend on 4th Street for a traditional British fry-up.

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Date: 13 March 2012
Location: Cedar Street Courtyard, US

Dell Unconference on Social Media and Technology Trends in Small Business, March 8th in Texas

Dell is hosting a full day Unconference March 8th, 2012, on social and technology trends in small businesses- a fast-paced, intense and fun event environment that allows participants to control the agenda...Supported by Chinwag

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Date: 8 March 2012
Location: Dell Inc, US

UKTI Mission to SXSW 2012: The Companies Announced

SXSW 2011

Congratulations to the 40 leading UK digital companies selected for this year's UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) Mission to South by South West 2012.

The exciting mission will see the companies travel out to Austin, Texas for an action-packed 5 days at SXSW Interactive, one of the largest and most well known conferences focused on digital media and technology.

Each of the companies joining the mission are listed below, don't hesitate to drop them a line directly to arrange a time to meet up in Austin, or follow their progress via their Twitter accounts. You can follow the UKTI team's coverage of the mission on Twitter @uktiatsxswi.

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UKTI Mission to SXSW 2012: Application Process and Next Steps

Are you thinking of applying for the UKTI Trade Mission to SXSW, but not really sure where to start? Wondering how long the application process takes and how it's assessed?

When and how should you book hotels? Do you need to buy a SXSW badge? So many questions, so to make things a little easier we have outlined some simple steps that we hope will answer all of your questions.

We have already had a strong group of application for the UKTI Trade Mission to SXSW, but you do still have time to apply. Applications close Friday 25th November, so start applying today

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SXSW 2012

An incubator of cutting-edge technologies, the event features 5 days of compelling presentations from the brightest minds in emerging technology, scores of exciting networking events hosted by industry leaders & an unbeatable line up of special programs showcasing the best new websites, video games & startup ideas the community has to offer.

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Date: 9 October 2011
Location: Austin Convention Center, US

Vote Now: 80+ British Sessions Proposed in SXSW Panel Picker

I voted!

I'm pretty sure it happens earlier each year, but maybe it's age. Policemen are all looking younger, too. The annual 'vote for me' fest that is the SXSW Panelpicker has opened its doors.

SXSW 2012This year sees over 80 panels submitted from this side of the Atlantic from organisations big and small including the BBC, Iris Worldwide, FutureGov, TechHub, BBC, PeerIndex, mydeco, Somethin' Else, Madgex, Clearleft, The Economist and heaps more.

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SXSW PanelPicker Opens for 2012

sxsw panel

The PanelPicker entry process for the 2012 SXSW Festivals and Conferences has officially opened, proposals will be accepted until the end of the day on Friday 15th July (11:59pm CST // 5:55am UK time).

The SXSW PanelPicker was developed to offer the community a chance to get involved in SXSW - not only by submitting panel, workshop and presentation ideas but also by reviewing, commenting and voting for the ideas they'd like to see become part of the SXSW festival.

Entering a solo presentation, workshop or panel to the PanelPicker is the best way to share your ideas, make sure your expertise are included and help shape SXSW 2012.

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Thank You: Global Grill Donations for Japan

American Red Cross Donation for Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief Fund

A big thank you to everyone who attended Chinwag's Global Grill during the mission to South by South West last month and contributed to the Japan Tsunami appeal.

The event, designed to bring together all of the international delegates flying in to Austin for the event, saw the generous patrons of the event donating over $500 towards the American Red Cross' appeal to support victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

A big thank you to UK Trade & Investment for supporting the event, and the lovely Christopher Dunn from UKTI's Houston office for making sure the cash got to its proper destination, top chap!

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Joseph Jaffe at SXSW

Joseph Jaffe launched his new book “Flip The Funnel” at SXSW (Austin, Texas) last month. The book is supposed to help digital agencies, marketing folk and brands reassess how they do business online (and offline). Jaffe is a marketing wizard and hailed as one of the most sought-after consultants, speakers and thought leaders on new marketing.  

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South By South West...Through the Eyes of Teamly

I’m writing this a few days after returning back to the UK after attending “South by South-West” (SXSW) Interactive, Austin, Texas. It’s an enormous conference or festival of all things digital and web related. In Silicon Valley it’s known as “spring break for geeks”, an apt description which describes the attendees and the atmosphere just a little too well.

It’s spread over 5 days, with talks, discussions, panels and keynotes running all through the day with parties running all through the night. There is simply no other conference like it. You won’t see people in suits, instead, flip flops, shorts and a T-shirt branded with your company logo is fairly typical.

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Digital Mission Research Survey 2011

SXSW 2010

Chinwag's Digital Missions, hosted with the help of UK Trade & Investment, have been running for over 3 years, and have included 7 trips to the USA, as well as helped promote and recruit for trade missions to Japan and China.

The missions have been a huge success with dozens of companies finding new business, setting up offices in the US and finding long-term business partners and friends amongst the mission companies.

We're continually looking to improve the missions and look at new destinations, and this is where you come in.

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50 Essential #SXSW Tips for the International (Digital) Rockstar

Travelling to sxsw by Benjamin Ellis

Here are fifty tips from the mind of SXSW veteran, and Chinwag mastermind, Sam Michel. They are good, and they work - I know because I've personally beta-tested every one of them!

1. Shoes - Wear comfortable shoes. There is lots of walking - the Austin Convention Center (ACC) is so large that it could declare itself a principality and have its own royal family. They'd be on Twitter of course.

2. Pace yourself - You know that think about the candle that burns brightly? You may want to be a bright star, but the days are long, and the nights longer still. Don't over do it too soon.

3. Flexibility - Plan to change your plan. The queues for one session or party might be huge, so look at what else is on. You didn't some here to queue, you can do that back home.

4. Contact - Stay in touch on Twitter, Facebook, FourSquare, but don't forget old skool SMS. It's all about the people. Contact and be contactable.

5. Roaming Data Charges - They can be eye-watering. Lots of venues in Austin have WiFi, and a new EU ruling means you shouldn't get ripped off, well, not too badly anyway. Coverage hasn't been great in previous years, it may be better this year. There again, they say that every year.

6. Eating & Drinking - plan your days well and it's unlikely you'll be buying any food or drinks, virtually for the whole week. Check our our BBQ, the Block Party, the Great British Breakfast and more...

7. Breakfast - This is the most important meal of the day, it will set you up right. For us the kings of breakfasts are Magnolia, & Downtown Jo's on 2nd Street.

8. 6th Street - Get to know it, its choca-block of party venues - very lively during Interactive, absolutely heaving during music. Walk the whole length, but perhaps not every day!

9. BBQ - You you might be in its ancestral home. Good dining options: Iron Works, Stubbs, and Salt Lick.

10. Texas - Austin State Rodeo - Get a cab there, and don't forget to get a number to get a cab back!

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SXSW Interactive: Networking with an International Twist

SXSW BBQ

Everyone knows that there is no such thing as a free lunch. Or breakfast. Or drinks...

That is, unless you're in Austin for South by South West (SXSW). The Chinwag team will be heading out to Austin along with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) and 31 of the UK's leading digital companies on the UKTI Mission to SXSW.

Alongside the 200+ conference sessions, the trade show (where the Brits have a stand so big, it's been dubbed the British aisle - geddit?) and dozens of evening events, there's more than a handful with an international flavour. 

For those heading in to Austin from abroad, it's a great chance to meet fellow travellers, and the Americans interested in making connections overseas. Here's a few we're involved with (and if you know of more, please feel free to add them in the comments):

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Great British Booze-up

The best party of SXSW returns! Expect much merriment courtesy of your British cousins, CitySocialising, Headscape, Pusher, The Team, Lanyrd Inc, Chinwag, and of course, Clearleft.

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Date: 14 March 2011
Location: Shakespeare's Pub, US