SXSW

Event Details

The annual SXSW event features sessions, exhibitions, professional development, a variety of networking opportunities and more! We're excited to be participating in three panels and hosting a networking interactive panel discussion (not part of the SXSW agenda).

Merkle will co-host, together with PSFK, a panel and networking event called Metaverse Meet-up on Friday, March 11 at 5:30 p.m. (CT). Merkle’s Val Vacante will be joined by Dan Morris of Niantic, Nanea Reeves of TRIPP, Gerald Youngblood at Lenovo | Founder Tankee, Michel Attar of NBCUniversal, Liz Bacelar from Estee Lauder, and Piers Fawkes of PSFK, for an interactive expert conversation on the metaverse and mixed worlds along with spotlight guests and demonstrations by PatchXR and HeadOffice.Space.

Interested in meeting with our team? We would love to connect. Request a meeting.

Our Sessions

Empowering Creators: Building with the Real World Metaverse

Location: Fairmont, Manchester E

Date/Time: 3:30pm, March 12

Technology, gaming, play and entertainment have been an influential part of our culture, creativity, and connection. We are living in mixed merged worlds, the way we play, learn and explore the physical and digital world is evolving, so what does that mean for the next generation of creators?

Today’s leading innovators are empowering creators to design immersive AR experiences that inspire movement, exploration, and shared experiences; changing the way we golf, experience manga, music, art, museums, mindfulness and more.

Join industry leading entrepreneurs, global innovators and technology executives in a discussion on how they are empowering the next generation of creatives to gamify the world around us.

Hear perspective on the ever-evolving immersive gaming, entertainment and play landscape.

See real-world examples of how cutting-edge platforms, AR technologies, mapping, and multiplayer experiences are powering the next generation of creators, players, artists, teams and pure fandom.

Find out how to gain access to technologies that are empowering creators to build with the real world metaverse.

Panelists:

Val Vacante | Merkle
Dan Morris | Niantic
Inder Phull | Pixelynx
Jason Yim | Trigger

Speaker:

Valerie Vacante

VP, Solutions Innovation

The Future of Workspaces and the Metaverse

Location: Austin Convention Center, Room 18CD

Date/Time: 3:30pm, March 14

How we work, play, learn, entertain, gather together and experience the world isn’t just changing - it’s a whirlwind of disruption. Today, metaverses like Fortnite, Roblox, Minecraft and more are shared virtual play spaces designed to meet up, build worlds, battle on, buy virtual goods, dance off and jam out. So what does that mean for the future of work? Join industry leading entrepreneurs, connected play designers, global innovators and technology executives in a discussion on how they are planning for the next generation workforce, the evolving dynamics of spatial computing along with perspective on collaboration, culture and what it means for the future of work.

Panelists:

Val Vacante | Merkle
Marco Carvalho | HeadOffice.space
Pedro Chiamulera | ClearSale and Tgroup
Phil Sage | Pepsico

Speaker:

Valerie Vacante

VP, Solutions Innovation

Featured Session: Creative Catalysts: Pioneering the Future

Location: Austin Convention Center, Ballroom EF

Date/Time: 3:30pm, March 15

Imagine if you could push the boundaries of what’s possible, where you’re inside a world making meaningful choices that push creativity and innovation beyond undiscovered boundaries. Join Vicki Dobbs Beck, VP, Immersive Content Innovation at ILMxLAB, Lucasfilm’s award-winning immersive entertainment studio and connected experiences innovator Val Vacante in a discussion on intrapreneurship, resilience, the importance of creativity and lessons learned when pioneering the future. Hear real-world examples behind some of their most beloved experiments, innovations and award-winning work with fresh perspectives on what it takes to innovate, the impact of the ever-evolving emerging technology landscape and how next generation connected experiences will be powered through choice and participation.

Panelists: