_SOUTHSTART, Australia’s largest festival dedicated to innovation, big-thinkers and game-changers, has unveiled this year’s program that will largely focus on the defining challenges shaping the Australian start-up ecosystem, from power structures and their impact on marginalised groups to the impact of AI and navigating the intersection of technology and culture.
This year’s event, supported by the Department for Industry, Innovation and Science, spans three days from 5-7 March, incorporating 50+ voices across 10+ venues and multiple streams.
_SOUTHSTART provides a blend of networking experiences, masterclasses, panel discussions, and activities for start-up sector leaders, field experts, and investors. This year’s event partners include Tech Council of Australia, CSIRO, Stripe, Venture capitalist firm AirTree and start-up accelerator Startmate.
“We’re not a traditional, transactional event where a small number of ‘speakers’ impart their wisdom on the majority,” Craig Swann Director at _SOUTHSTART said. “We want to encourage real human connection, so there won’t be a single ‘speaker’. Instead, we’ll have over 500 voices – those on stage, and those participating – where everyone has an equal role to play.
“People actually enjoy connecting in authentic, human ways,” Swann added. “We want to nurture an environment that unites people early in their careers with investors and start-up veterans, encouraging more meaningful work and insightful conversations. After all, our most valuable connections occur when we’re breaking bread rather than exchanging business cards.”
Danielle Seymour, Director at _SOUTHSTART said that the organisation always seeks to push the boundaries with the calibre of voices they bring to the event, and that this year’s event promises to dive deeper than ever before into the challenges affecting our world.
“We’ll not only discuss the opportunities for Australia’s tech sector on the global stage, but will seek to explore how we can balance innovation with the very urgent environmental challenges we all face and discuss how we can lead the way in facilitating social change,” Seymour explained.
The Hon. Dr Susan Close MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science stated, “The latest national Startup Muster survey found that _SOUTHSTART was the most recommended start-up event in Australia, and for good reason. With an emphasis on showcasing diverse voices, _SOUTHSTART blends business development with genuine relationship-building opportunities, and allows local and interstate visitors to experience all that Adelaide and regional South Australia has to offer during the Mad March festival season. The Government of South Australia is the proud foundation partner of _SOUTHSTART 2024, part of our well-rounded program of support for the state’s start-up and innovation community.”
