90-Second Video Pitch Competition
Deadline Feb 6
Finalists announced Feb 8
Oklahoma’s best elevator pitches from interactive entrepreneurs are sought for a $10,000, one-night pitch competition March 11 at the South By Southwest Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas.
Finalists, selected by a panel of entrepreneurs and angel investors from among 90-second video pitches submitted by Feb. 6, will pitch their business opportunities for a $5,000 grand prize in the Buffalo Lounge Elevator Pitch Competition for Oklahoma interactive companies.
The pitch competition will be conducted at 9 p.m. Monday, March 11, before a live audience at The 512 Bar on 6th, 408 E. Sixth Street in Austin. It is sponsored by the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, a partnership between i2E and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber.
“We’re excited about showcasing Oklahoma talent before a SXSW audience that wants to see innovative, new concepts,” said Josh O’Brien, director of the Office of Entrepreneurial Development. “The Buffalo Lounge Elevator Pitch competition will put Oklahoma entrepreneurs in front of an audience that otherwise might never be exposed to the best that our state has to offer.”
The Buffalo Lounge is a collaborative effort to spotlight Oklahoma companies and innovators at the massive SXSW conference, which last year attracted more than 50,000 visitors in areas of film, music and interactive software. Several successful companies including Twitter, Foursquare, Phonebooth and Highlight were either introduced or spotlighted at SXSW.
Applicants submitting video pitches will be ranked against competing submissions based on angel investor interest level. Criteria may include the quality of the pitch, business viability, market opportunity, competitive advantage and management. Finalists will be announced Feb. 8.
The Buffalo Lounge began in 2010 when the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, the Idea Collective and the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber led an effort to create a collaborative effort to increase Oklahoma’s presence at the SXSW festival.
More than 30 Oklahoma companies, agencies and organizations have participated in numerous events held by The Buffalo Lounge at a local Austin venue. This year, The Buffalo Lounge will host four events at The 512, as well as a booth at the SXSW Exhibit Hall.
For more information or questions about The Buffalo Lounge Elevator Pitch competition, contact Josh O’Brien at [email protected] or (405) 813-2412. For more information about The Buffalo Lounge and other Oklahoma activities at the SXSW festival, please visit www.thebuffalolounge.com. For more information about SXSW, visit http://sxsw.com.
