Davide Di Cillo

SoFla at SXSW

Monday, August 17th, 2009

Last year, I attended SXSW Interactive for the first time, and it was a great experience. Not only did I have the opportunity to meet great people from all over the country, but I also felt I had the chance to bond with friends and people I already knew from South Florida.

Of course, besides the social aspect of SXSW, I also attended awesome presentations and panels, and I promised myself I would try to give a presentation or participate on a panel at SXSW 2010. And here I am. This year I submitted one presentation, “From the Idea to the App Store: Getting Apps Done” and one panel, “The Truth About Launching a Web Service.” The first one is a presentation about how to get into the iPhone applications market without being an iPhone developer, with real expectations and a clear idea of what’s going on. The second one is a panel where we are going to share our experience in launching web services and about successes and failures.

I should also be a part of another panel submitted by Brian Breslin, “Coconut Valley – Building a Tech Community on the Beach“, a panel about building a tech community in a non-tech friendly place like South Florida.

But, we are not the only two people from South Florida submitting a panel for SXSW.
Please vote for these panels to support our growing tech scene.

• Coconut Valley – Building a Tech Community on the Beach – Brian Breslin (Panel)
  Starting from a mere handful of people and growing into the thousands, come learn how we grew our tech community out of the sand in South Florida. Learn tips and tricks for growing your own tech community even in the most unfriendly/untechy areas of the world.
• From the Idea to the App Store: Getting Apps Done – Davide Di Cillo (Solo)
  How individuals, even non-developers, can enter into the mobile application marketplace. Also highlights realistic visions one should have about the market and probability of success. Tips and tricks on how even small businesses can be profitable on the overcrowded iTunes Store.
• The Truth About Launching a Web Service – Davide Di Cillo (Panel)
  Many people want to start a web app/service, but few understand what it really takes to make it successful. We’ll go beyond the code and the design and explore what’s really involved in launching a successful service.
• What To Do If Your Design Is Stolen – Chris Jennings (Solo)
  Getting your site ripped off is a pain. Find out what you can do to protect your work and to avenge your stolen design!
• How to Be an Emergency Response Technician (ERT) – Chris Fullman (Solo)
  For many small businesses, the need for an IT person (aka “Emergency Response Technician” or “ERT”) often falls on one employee who primarily has non-IT responsibilities. This humorous presentation will offer valuable tips and philosophies to improve the productivity, prioritization and sanity of that often-overwhelmed individual.
• How to Get Rocked at SXSW! – Denise Jacobs (Panel)
  Interactive professionals and newbies alike come to the mecca of SXSW to deepen knowledge and network with other professionals. But it isn’t called “geek spring break” for nothing! For 6 days, there is the opportunity to make connections that go beyond business. Why not rock SXSW *and* get rocked too?
• The Best.Problem.Ever: More Clients, Better Clients. – Denise Jacobs (Panel)
  You’ve decided to take the big leap and venture out to launch your own business. But the clients you want aren’t beating down your door. How can you not only stay afloat, but also end up having the best problem ever: more great clients than you know what to do with?
• Domestication of Outsourcing – Craig Agranoff (Panel)
  The word outsource brings such a negative connotation when in fact you can outsource to the guy down the block. All outsourcing means is doing things out of your office in hopes of saving money. There are many ways to outsource domestically and support our own economy.
• My Three-Year Old Is My Usability Expert – Dave Stanton (Panel)
  Children are perfect testers for the innate usability of visual structures. Learn how neuroscience and cognitive psychology research can make your designs and interfaces more intuitive.

If are part of the South Florida tech community and you would like to share your SXSW panel, please let me know and I’ll add it to this page.

Tags: Conference, Presentation, SXSW
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