The Frontier Collective is bringing Vancouver back to SXSW 

The Frontier Collective — an organization that represents B.C.’s innovation ecosystem at home and abroad — has a history of turning conferences into trade deals. 

Perhaps its most measurable success to date has been its presence at South by Southwest (SXSW) conference. A business summit-cum-festival known for its convergence of tech, creativity, and innovation, SXSW draws close to 250,000 people from across the globe to Austin, Texas, with the goal of discovering the biggest advances in technology — and exactly which places they’re being built in.

Last year — after notably bringing B.C. Minister for Jobs, Economic Development, and Innovation Brenda Bailey as well as City Mayor Ken Sim to the multi-day conference as members of the Vancouver delegation — the Frontier Collective says it secured more than $500 million in trade and investment for the region.

This year, it hopes to go even further.

Reviving its “Vancouver Takeover” series for 2024 — and bringing a fresh delegation of companies — the Frontier Collective has announced it will return to SXSW with a trio of events to spotlight and advance the region’s standing as a leading hub for emerging technologies.

On March 8, attendees can expect to enjoy the opening party at Canada House, where conference-goers from around the globe can mix and mingle to see the best of what the country has to offer. 

The Frontier Collective’s own events kick off on March 10, where the organization will curate a mini-conference, dubbed the Frontiers of Innovation Day. The event promises a packed agenda featuring provocative panel discussions; fireside chats; networking with global leaders, investors, and top brands; live music; West-Coast specific activations; and mindfulness moments. Demos will spotlight Vancouver's momentum in VR/AR, spatial computing, AI, mobility and electric vehicles, climatetech, and retail technologies. 

Later that evening, its Frontiers of Innovation VIP Party will invite guests to “immerse themselves in a world where creativity meets innovation.” With drinks, live music performances, and the chance to hobnob with global brand leaders and investors, the organization is billing the evening as the SXSW party conference attendees will not want to miss. Invitees include speakers from the Frontiers of Innovation Day, including executives from Google, Warner Bros, Amazon, JP Morgan, Amazon, LG, NTT, Newlab, and the Wall Street Journal.

“The Frontier Collective is excited to showcase a new era of technological innovation at SXSW 2024, building on the success of last year’s Takeover,” says Natasha Jaswal, VP of operations and events. “Beyond creating a captivating event, its intentional and curated programming provides a great opportunity for local companies to gain exposure on an international stage, positioning Vancouver as a global powerhouse in frontier tech innovation.”

As well as organizing the Frontiers of Innovation Day, the Frontier Collective will run a curated matchmaking service to connect startups from its Vancouver delegation with potential investors and mentors through speaking and demo opportunities, operating from March 8 to 12. The organization is offering financial support for exceptional startups looking to be part of the initiative, and companies can apply until February 15.

"At the Frontier Collective, we believe in the transformative power of technology and innovation to shape our future,” says Dan Burgar, CEO and co-founder of the organization. “As we showcase Vancouver's tech excellence while bringing global leaders, investors, corporations funding innovation together at SXSW 2024, we're not just presenting cutting-edge advancements, we're inviting the world to be part of a journey that transcends boundaries. This year's Vancouver Takeover is more than an event; it's a beacon for the brightest minds and a celebration of the limitless possibilities that emerge when we dare to innovate together."

The Frontier Collective is a self-dubbed “non-traditional organization” representing the region’s innovation ecosystem and pushing the growth of the fastest-growing local industries, including the metaverse, VR/AR, climatetech, AI, robotics, agritech, Web3, and others at the cusp of mainstream adoption. Through its work, the group aims to propel Vancouver onto the global stage, with the dual purpose of attracting top-tier talent and investments while solidifying the city's position as a leader in innovation and technology. 

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