Doors opened Monday morning for the second annual Microsoft BizSpark Accelerator competition at SXSW. Thirty companies vied for a spot in Tuesday's final round and a chance at the grand prize title. Overall, it was the perfect opportunity for young companies to increase their visibility, polish their elevator pitch, and get feedback from a a panel of judges consisting of VCs, start up founders, and more.

We'll be posting a write up of each company later (check back next week), but for now - here are finalists in each of the four categories, and highlights from the day:


Developers, artists, game enthusiasts, and industry leaders united Sunday afternoon for a battle of the minds at the ScreenBurn at SXSW Game Design Competition sponsored by USA Network. The competition for both categories was both heated and intense, creative and inspirational. While all of the finalists would make any game company proud with their imaginative and awe-inspiring creations, the judges and audience agreed upon two winners: Lance Myers in the Casual Game Design category for “Escape from Planet Zoo” and Patrick Cunningham in the AAA Game Design category for “Shadow Wars.”

This was simply amazing,” Myers said. “It’s surreal.”

I’m super stoked right now,” Cunningham said. “I’ve been trying to get into the video games industry and just having all these game companies come up to me with their cards is just a dream I’m living right.”

The winners for the 2010 SXSW Web Awards were announced last night at the Web Awards Ceremony Presented by Adobe in the Austin Grand Ballroom of the Austin Hilton Downtown. Winners were announced in 20 different categories including People's Choice and Best of Show. A special thanks is owed to Doug Benson for emceeing last night's festivities, keeping the jokes coming and entertaining the crowd of Web Awards finalists, emerging media professionals, and about 1000 other SXSW Interactive attendees

Want to meet 10 Austin-area leaders who are using the power of new media to improve out city? Then be sure to attend the ceremony for the Dewey Winburne Community Service Award, which occurs Monday evening, March 15 at 6:00 pm at Scholz Garden (1607 San Jacinto).