Annual startup and tech festival _SOUTHSTART, has revealed the first lineup for the annual event, this year with the theme Odyssey, in Adelaide, March 7-10.
_SOUTHSTART Directors Craig Swann and Danielle Seymour have curated their sixth program together, saying it’s their most diverse list of speakers, as well as the broadest and most in-depth event they’ve created.
“The calibre of speakers we have joining us this year is like no other and we are really excited to welcome their wisdom and knowledge across our program of events,” Seymour said.
Swann adds: “The program for 2023 has been more considered and curated to deliver an even greater experience for participants with a focus on strengthening real human connection to provide solutions for the future.”
The pair said the presenters range from social justice champions to leading investors, global industry experts and more as part of multi-day experience, supported by the South Australian Government.
Events across the four day range from in-person masterclasses to conversations, investment connections, activations, wellbeing activities and regional escapades.
_SOUTHSTART has partnered with The Garden of Unearthly Delights as the host venue for START(UP) Academy and CAMP(US), with access to WOMADelaide also included in the program.
A key program highlight, the Angel Summit in partnership with Southern Angels, will be held at Adelaide’s iconic National Wine Centre and will see 120 of Australia’s leading Angel Investors come together to help founders thrive.
Alongside the Angel Summit, _SOUTHSTART // ODYSSEY will deliver a Scaleup Summit. In partnership with consulting firm McKinsey & Company, it will bring together 80 leading scale-ups to unwind and dive deeper into their growth journey through sharing with those who are going through a similar journey.
“As our audience continues to grow and mature, we are strengthening our focus on curating targeted programmatic elements that cross over at critical touch points,” Danielle Seymour said.
“This will enable us to continue to mobilise the cross-sector connections that stand as a critical piece to Australia’s innovation race, while strengthening the pillars that will drive the longevity of success.”
You can read more about the initial speaker lineup here.and more on the program here.
They’re hoping to create paths for new business connections and will also offer a stage for the voices that are innovating and creating change today, for a better tomorrow.
Netflix cofounder and inaugural CEO Marc Randolph is travelling from the US to _SOUTHSTART // ODYSSEY as one of the keynote speakers. He will open the festival at CAMP(US); a full day experience hosted at the Garden of Unearthly Delights.
As well as creating a cultural phenomenon in Netflix, Randolph is the founder of more than half a dozen successful startups, a mentor to early stage entrepreneurs, and an investor in numerous successful tech ventures.
Swann and Seymour have also partnered with Cicada Innovations ahead of the organisation hosting of the annual Tech 23 deep technology festival, so _SOUTHSTART explores conversations on how technology can be leveraged for the betterment of our planet. Cicada CEO Sally-Ann Williams, who is also chairing the federal government’s Pathway to Diversity in STEM review, will lead the conversation on how attendees can “Co-Design with Nature” at the festival’s VILLAGE event.
The festival will also welcome back some previous favourites, such as globally-recognised project-based learning and youth entrepreneurship expert Nicole Dyson. She is teaming up with _SOUTHSTART for their START(UP) Academy Event, an interactive experience that will ignite minds, challenge perspectives and expose young people to the world of entrepreneurship.
_SOUTHSTART sold out last year, and tickets are now on sale here.
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