Tech roundup: SXSW speakers announced, a major incubator comes to Austin, and more

by Katie Fustich
October 18, 2018
SXSW
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SXSW announces star-studded 2019 lineup

You know that feeling when it’s September and stores are already starting to display Christmas lights and elf decorations? That’s sort of how we felt when we heard SXSW had already released the names of more than 600 speakers and sessions set to go down at 2019’s festival, presently slated for March 8-17. We totally forgot about our judgment though, when we saw that panel topics include “Journalism in the Age of Deepfakes,” “How AI Will Design the Human Future,” and that speakers will include CNN President Jeff Zucker, musicians Amanda Palmer, Wyclef Jean and many more yet to be announced. [SXSW]

 

Oracle
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Oracle launches first U.S. incubator location in Austin

Oracle has made a name for itself as a global leader in SaaS application suites. Now, it’s bringing its mentorship to Austin, Texas, with the launch of its first U.S-based tech hub, dubbed the “Oracle Global Startup Ecosystem.” Six hand-picked startups (data.world, Eventador, Pilosa, ROIKOI, Senseye and Transmute) will receive mentorship, research and development support, and assistance with cloud-based scaling. JD Weinstein, head of the Austin-based program, said in a press release that the company plans to “work closely with each startup to create a personalized journey that enables them to tap into Oracle’s rich enterprise ecosystem.” You’ll want to keep an eye on this one. [Press release]

 

CognitiveScale
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CognitiveScale partners with Bridgeweave to launch accessible fintech platform

Today, Austin-based AI firm CognitiveScale announced a partnership with U.K-based Bridgeweave, and the subsequent launch of their new “Investment Insights” product. The tool was built with the aim of democratizing investing by providing would-be investors with AI-generated insights into market trends. “Relevant, personalized, and comprehensible financial data has been expensive, if not inaccessible,” said CognitiveScale CEO, Shay Sabhikhi, in a statement to Built In Austin. “Bridgeweave’s product will make institutional-grade financial information available and affordable to everyone.”

 

ICON
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ICON closes $9M seed round to build 3D-printed homes

Just last month, we announced that home building (or should we say home printing?) startup ICON had raised $6.8 million in seed funding, according to SEC documentation. Now, the company appears to have raised an additional $9 million in seed funding, per Xcononomy. ICON, which broke ground on its first Austin home earlier this year, offers a line of 3D-printed homes that can be constructed in just 24 hours, for a price of $4,000.

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