Innovation Awards Application

By entering this application to SXSW, LLC (“SXSW”) for the Innovation Awards (the “Awards” or “Event”), I (referred to as “I”, “you”, “me”, “my” or “Applicant”) acknowledge and agree to the following Terms and Conditions:

1. I have read and agree to the SXSW Terms of Use, SXSW Privacy Policy and SXSW Code of Conduct.
2. I reviewed the terms of this application, which application terms, including, without limitation, the eligibility criteria and entry deadlines, are incorporated into these Terms and Conditions, and I agree to those application terms.
3. If I am selected to participate in SXSW 2026, then I agree that on my behalf, and on behalf of the other participants, to be bound by the Participation and Credentials Terms and Conditions. Applicant shall be referred to interchangeably as Participant throughout.
4. Entering this application does not guarantee my selection to participate in SXSW 2026. SXSW will only review and consider completed applications for inclusion in SXSW 2026. SXSW's selection decisions are based on the criteria set forth in the application and these Terms and Conditions, and its decisions are made in SXSW's sole discretion. SXSW is under no obligation to provide feedback to applicants.
5. A project or product entered into the Awards must have launched or have been completely redesigned in calendar year 2025 (between January 1, 2025 and December 31, 2025.)
6. For Awards eligibility, “launched” may mean any of the following things:
   • When a discovery is made, when a scientific paper is published, or when a patent is approved;
   • When a physical device is made tangible, (i.e., a prototype);
   • When the applicable regulatory body (FDA, FCC, etc.) approves a product or procedure for use;
   • When the product is made commercially available; or
   • When a project is publicly released.
7. A project or product may be entered in multiple Awards categories. There will be an additional application fee for each category in which the project or product is entered.
8. All information must be entered via this application and only this application. URL links to additional information and resources are permitted and encouraged on this application. No additional information or edits to the application will be accepted after the application is entered. No exceptions will be made.
9. The application fee is for SXSW receiving, handling, reviewing, and processing my application, and is not refundable for any reason, including, without limitation, if my application is not accepted or if I am no longer able to participate in SXSW 2026 for any reason. If I am accepted to participate in the Event, and the activity I am accepted for does not take place as part of SXSW 2026 for any reason, I may request an application fee waiver to apply to the next scheduled SXSW event. SXSW can be contacted with questions about fees at innovation@sxsw.com prior to entering this application.
10. SXSW reserves the right to place Applicant's entries in the most relevant category at SXSW's sole discretion. This includes changing an Applicant entry's category based on feedback from judges reviewing the application, and/or the Applicant choosing a non-relevant category.
11. Five finalists in each of the categories will be announced no later than January 23, 2026.
12. Finalists in the Awards are provided with two (2) complimentary SXSW 2026 Platinum badges necessary to attend and participate in the Awards. SXSW will not provide a refund if you secure a SXSW registration before the Awards application process/selection is completed and you are notified.
13. Finalists in each of the 10 categories will be given demo space during the Innovation Awards Finalist Showcase (“Finalist Showcase”) tentatively scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2026. The Finalist Showcase is an opportunity for Awards finalists to exhibit their work to the community of SXSW registrants and is open to all badgeholders who determine the winner of the People's Choice Award. A finalist's participation in the Finalist Showcase is required to be eligible to win the award in their respective category, as the final round of official judging to determine winners will take place at the Finalist Showcase.
14. All category and special awards will be presented at the Innovation Awards Ceremony tentatively scheduled for Monday evening, March 16, 2026. Winners will be presented with their trophies onstage at the ceremony.
15. Finalists are required to supply a high-resolution photo representative of their project, and a 30-second video introducing their entry for the Innovation Awards Awards ceremony. These materials must be supplied to SXSW no later than Friday, February 13, 2026.
16. As the Applicant, I am solely responsible for protecting any intellectual property rights (including, without limitation, patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, etc.) in my application, participation, product, service and/or idea, and consulting legal counsel about securities regulations, including, without limitation, the JOBS Act, before participating in the Event. I understand that sharing proprietary information on the internet carries inherent risks, including piracy, and I assume those risks.
17. I hereby grant SXSW a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, license in any copyright, trademark, right of personality or publicity or other proprietary rights in and to the following for use in connection with the Event, its affiliated services, media, or press to: (i) photograph, film, and record my participation in the Event, if I'm selected to participate in SXSW 2026 (“Recordings”); (ii) use my name, image, likeness, headshot, bio and voice, all as provided by me, in connection with the advertisement and promotion of the Event (“My Likeness”); and (iii) display, distribute, reproduce, publicly perform, edit, translate, advertise, promote and exhibit the Recordings by any method or device now known or hereafter devised. I understand and agree that there will be no financial or other monetary compensation to me for such use of My Likeness in the Recordings and no material incorporating My Likeness need be submitted to me for any further approval and SXSW shall be without liability to me for any use of My Likeness.
18. SXSW is the owner of all right, title and interest in and to the trademarks SXSW, SOUTH BY SOUTHWEST, SOUTH BY, and SXSW EDU, along with other trademarks, and the corresponding logos, social media and promotional images, or other materials embodying the same provided by SXSW to Applicant (collectively, the “SXSW Marks”). SXSW hereby grants Applicant a non-transferable, non-sublicensable, limited, non-exclusive, royalty-free, revocable license (“License”) to use, reproduce, and display the SXSW Marks through March 18, 2026 (the “Term”) to promote Applicant's participation, solely as they are embodied and contained within the SXSW provided social media images and promotional materials. Any additional use of the SXSW Marks, including hashtags, requires SXSW's prior written approval. All use of the SXSW Marks by Applicant and all goodwill will inure to the exclusive benefit of SXSW. All rights not licensed herein are explicitly reserved by SXSW. Applicant further agrees to strictly comply with the terms of the Participant's Supplemental Trademark License Terms available here: (Supplemental Trademark License Terms). In the Supplemental Trademark License Terms, Applicant is referred to as Participant, which terms are intended by SXSW and Applicant to be synonymous.
19. I represent and warrant that the information I provided in this application is accurate, I have the necessary rights to enter this application, all aspects of the product, project, service and/or idea underlying this application are my own and do not infringe on the rights of any third-party or otherwise violate any law, my application and presentation of my product, project, service, and/or idea does not violate any agreement or understanding by which I'm bound nor would my participation in SXSW violate any such agreement(s) and I will not hereafter enter into any agreements or understandings with any person or entity that might conflict with my warranties and representations made in these Terms and Conditions.
20. I hereby indemnify, defend, and hold harmless SXSW, its parents, subsidiaries, shareholders, owners, and affiliates, and each of their respective shareholders, officers, directors, agents, and employees from any and all responsibility or liability arising out of or in connection with: (a) any breach of my representations or warranties contained herein; and (b) my violation of these Terms and Conditions and/or any guidelines, policies and terms provided by SXSW.
21. I consent to SXSW collecting, processing and using the personal data I supplied in this application in order to review my materials and communicate with me about the application.
22. If I am accepted as a finalist for the Awards, I agree to refrain from announcing my acceptance to the general public, whether on social media, company websites, or otherwise, until SXSW officially announces the Awards Finalists. SXSW reserves the right to disqualify your company from the Awards, and your invitation will be rescinded if SXSW becomes aware of any reference by you to your acceptance before SXSW approves of such an announcement.
23. I acknowledge and agree that in order to improve the SXSW experience or due to causes outside of the control of SXSW, SXSW reserves the right to: (a) modify the dates, locations or method of participating in SXSW 2026; and/or (b) cancel, modify or suspend applications for SXSW 2026, whether accepted or not. I agree that SXSW may notify me of any of these modifications by posting a notice on its website. I agree that I will have no remedy against SXSW, at law or in equity or otherwise, if (x) the dates, locations or methods of participating in SXSW 2026 change; or (y) my application is denied, cancelled, or suspended, regardless of the reason.
24. These Terms and Conditions will be interpreted by, and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Texas regardless of applicable choice of law rules. I agree that the exclusive venue for any dispute between me and SXSW related to my application will be in a court of competent jurisdiction in Travis County, Texas.

If you have any questions about the Innovation Awards, please email innovationawards@sxsw.com.

Applicant acknowledges and agrees that Applicant has read and understands the Terms and Conditions and intends to be legally bound by its terms. Applicant acknowledges that the information contained in this application is accurate, that they have the rights necessary to share the materials contained herein and that the application will not violate any third-party rights or laws of any kind. Applicant acknowledges and agrees that any linked terms or policies referenced in these Terms and Conditions are incorporated herein by reference. By clicking the box below or by using any other electronic mechanism presented to signify acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, Applicant agrees to and accepts these Terms and Conditions.