Acknowledging and recognizing Startup PHL Presents: Amplify Philly SXSW Edition, a partnership of 30 public and private organizations, that have joined together to highlight Philadelphia's startup and tech community and promote Philadelphia as a hub for startups at the South by Southwest Conference & Festival taking place March 11th through March 20th in Austin, Texas.

WHEREAS, South by South by Southwest (“SXSW”) is a conference and festival held in Austin, Texas that offers the unique convergence of independent films, original music and emerging technologies while fostering creative and personal growth; and

WHEREAS, SXSW is a launching pad for new creative content, media presentations, music showcases and film screenings, and also provides conference panel discussions which present a forum for learning, business activity and global networking opportunities; and

WHEREAS, SXSW also provides intellectual and creative intermingling among industry leaders which helps spark new ideas and carves the path for the future of each ever-evolving field, even after the festival is over; and

WHEREAS, Until now, Philadelphia has not had a unified presence at SXSW, forcing companies, bands and individuals from Philadelphia to make their own way to and through the nine day conference and festival; and

WHEREAS, The Startup PHL Presents: Amplify Philly SXSW Edition initiative is the result of a grassroots community-driven effort to organize exhibitors and attendees for a larger Philadelphia impact at what is considered one of the most influential technology conferences in the world; and

WHEREAS, Sponsors of Amplify Philly SXSW Edition include: Comcast NBCUniversal, Independence Blue Cross, Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Startup PHL, Pennovation Works, Wharton Entrepreneurship, Philadelphia startups: Guru, Zivtech and Chariot Solutions along with in-kind sponsors that include: Zeo Brothers Productions, M3 Printing and REC Philly; and

WHEREAS, Attending SXSW in a coordinated effort is an exciting development in Philadelphia’s startup community and reflects the growing tech scene in Philadelphia and showcases our City’s dynamic environment for entrepreneurialism, innovation and collaboration; and

WHEREAS, In conjunction with Amplify Philly SXSW Edition, the City of Philadelphia has relaunched

www.startupphl.com

, a site designed to serve as the online gateway to tech in Philadelphia which will not only include resources and incentives for companies starting or moving to Philadelphia, students, job seekers and media, but will include a platform for corporations and governmental departments to post project opportunities in order to solicit solutions from growing startups; and

WHEREAS, We look forward to hearing about SXSW and are very proud of this collaboration of innovators who formed so organically to bring Greater Philadelphia’s story to SXSW which speaks to what a unique, vibrant, living and breathing technology community we have; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby acknowledges and recognizes Startup PHL Presents: Amplify Philly SXSW Edition, a partnership of 30 public and private organizations, that have joined together to highlight Philadelphia’s startup and tech community and promote Philadelphia as a hub for startups at the South by Southwest Conference & Festival taking place March 11th through March 20th in Austin, Texas.

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