By Nathalia Degaki in Portal Radar
Created in 1987, South by Southwest (SXSW), had its initial kick-off focused on the music industry with approximately 700 subscribers. Over the years, it has become a platform of great importance and visibility for the creative economy and, in the technology sector, it has already been the stage for the launch of great successes such as Twitter (2007) and Foursquare (2009).
In this scenario, WISH International Events Management, a company specialized in the event segment inside and outside Brazil, was chosen by APEX-Brasil, the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency, to organize everything for the delegation of Creative Economy companies (sector that brings together games, advertising, music, films, technology and innovation) that show innovative products and services created in the national territory at SXSW.
Brazilian businessmen are producing everything from technologies for civil construction calculations to products capable of promoting networking, bringing together brands and customers, collective financing for musicians and bands, logistical control of cargo and trucks, including games as a platform for education, film producers and advertising, design and music. The expectation is to generate US$18 million in business. Along with Natasha, Bertrand Restivo, the partners maintain offices in Brazil, Europe and the United States, including in Silicon Valley with a unit that operates on two main fronts: directly serving clients interested in national and international events and the development of content programs with visits to companies focused on innovation.
Apex-Brasil has been present at the South by Southwest festival (SXSW) since 2014. In the first year, the Agency coordinated the participation of 57 companies in this action, which yielded US$5 million. Brazilian startups ended their participation in the event with the expectation of raising US$6.8 million to structure their businesses over the next 12 months. In 2015, the Brazilian presence coordinated by Apex-Brasil generated US$18.9 million in business carried out during the festival and in the 12 months following the event, a value that far exceeded the initial estimate of US$7 million.
