SXSW 2019 is just days away. Beginning this Friday, digital pioneers, business leaders, and artists from around the world will head to Austin for the annual festival. For ten days, the capital city will be bustling with the best of music, technology, and film.

WP Engine is proud to take part in SXSW 2019, and this year, WP Engine CEO Heather Brunner will take part in two different panel discussions. WP Engine will also host two networking events alongside tech partners AWS and Google Cloud. Additionally, we will host a party for our WP Engine affiliates. Finally, in partnership with our digital marketing magazine Velocitize, thought leaders from the digital marketing world will participate in our Velocitize Talks series.

Panels

PitchTexas: Graduate Startup Pitch Competition

In this panel, Brunner will serve as a judge as best-in-class student-led startups from across the U.S. compete live on stage. Additional panelists will include other entrepreneurs and venture capitalists. Winners will enjoy cash prizes, bragging rights, and a chance to impress and inspire the SXSW crowd.

This event will take place in Salon J at the Hilton Austin Downtown on Friday, March 8 at 5:00 pm.

Who and What Makes Austin Austin?

In this panel, Brunner will be joined by popular Austin figures as they discuss who and what has been the major change agent in Austin. Brunner will represent technology while other panelists will represent food and film. Joe Nick Patoski, author of Austin to ATX: The Hippies, Pickers, Slackers & Geeks Who Transformed the Capital of Texas, will moderate the discussion.

The event will take place in Salon K at the Hilton Austin Downtown on Sunday, March 10 at 12:30 pm.

Networking Events

This event is all about celebrating dynamic duos: peanut butter and chocolate, Batman and Robin, and Amazon Web Services and WP Engine. Come join us with the band Electric Circus! Taco Deli, cocktails & wine/beer provided. Register for the event here.


 Join WP Engine and Google Cloud for an invitation-only event. We’ll be mixing and mingling at Google’s offices on the 29th floor. This event will include a live DJ, drinks, and food. Register for the event here.

Affiliate Events

Join WP Engine, Wikibuy, UnsubCentral, and FMTC at TLC on South Lamar for drinks and tasty fare right before SXSW kicks off in Austin. All affiliate marketers are welcome to join.

Velocitize Talks

Last year, during SXSW, Velocitize Talks was born. Since then, more than 90 global business leaders and digital marketers have been interviewed for the series. During SXSW 2019, talks will include influencers from Publicis, Deloitte, GSD&M, Huge, Digitas, and many more.

For more information on the talks, check out our previously-recorded Velocitize Talks.