By Edmond Ortiz
The debut of an event meant to showcase San Antonio’s video gaming talent will lead off an annual weeklong gathering of local entrepreneurs, startups and investors that will dominate downtown in mid-October.
The 10th San Antonio Startup Week offers dozens of workshops, panel discussions, activations, networking receptions, pitch competitions and other activities designed to celebrate and advance innovation and collaboration in the local entrepreneurial landscape, organizers say.
Startup Week will take place Oct. 12-17; nearly all events are free and open to the public, and registration is encouraged.
What you should know
The San Antonio Gaming Summit, which the Greater Gaming Society of San Antonio will present from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 12 at Geekdom, 110 E. Houston St., will serve as a pre-conference event.
According to a press release, the first gaming summit will invite students, independent game developers, educators, streamers, and gaming professionals to enjoy a full day of programming that is tailored to help build new professional pathways in gaming, video game development, and esports.
The summit will begin with a keynote speech from Jihan Johnston-McGlotten, tech industry professional, educational specialist, and founder of BeatBotics, an organization that aims to help disadvantaged youth to access esports and STEAM (Science Technology Engineering Arts and Mathematics) career opportunities.
Afterward, there will be presentations and panels covering various topics, such as starting esports clubs in school, making game development more inclusive, the power of animation, and the role of artificial intelligence in education and game development.
The gaming summit will also feature a game developer pitch competition, where prizes range $100-$500. Summit admission is $20 per person, and registration is required.
What they’re saying
Ansley Rose Partosa, GGSSA director and gaming summit organizer, said she looks forward to the premiere of this event, which she added will exhibit and amplify the strengths of San Antonio-area game developers, gamers, and educators, and the regional creative economy as a whole.
“By uplifting the creative community and encouraging more educational conferences like this, it builds the future for students, innovators, and esports in Texas,” Partosa said in a statement.
Also of note
Startup Week activities begin in earnest on Oct. 13, with an array of presentations, networking opportunities and pitch competitions, the release stated.
Most events will be held at Geekdom, the adjacent Geekdom Event Centre, the neighboring Embassy Suites by Hilton San Antonio Riverwalk Downtown, 125 E. Houston St., and Launch SA at Central Public Library, 600 Soledad St.
Highlighted events include:
*An Oct. 15 keynote speech from San Antonio native Daniel Lubetzky, a graduate of L.E.E. High School and Trinity University, founder of Kind Snacks, and presently a “shark” on the business pitch television series “Shark Tank.”
Lubetzky said he is excited about coming back to San Antonio, where he first moved after emigrating from Mexico as a teenager, and where he finished high school and college.
“San Antonio holds a special place in my heart as the place where my American dream began,” Lubetzky said in a statement. “I am honored to be part of this important celebration of entrepreneurship, and look forward to connecting with the many builders who are creating the next generation of businesses in this vibrant community.”
*A San Antonio Startup Culinary Lounge, where local food and beverage entrepreneurs will participate in panel discussions, pop-up demonstrations and samplings on the third floor of the Geekdom/Rand Building all week long.
*”Launch and Learn on the River,” a series of opportunities for entrepreneurs to engage experienced mentors while riding a barge and floating down the San Antonio River.
*Programs specifically aimed at aspiring entrepreneurs who are currently in high school or college. Activities here include Trinity University’s Stumberg Venture Competition, and the High School Startup Fair.
*Eight pitch competitions, including the aforementioned game developer pitch contest, the Trinity Stumberg contest, and MissionPitch, where five local nonprofits will deliver a five-minute pitch based on their experiences at a recently concluded multiweek accelerator.
*The Bexar County Clerk Office’s “Records on the Run” is a mobile satellite office that invites SASW attendees to visit Launch SA from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 14-16 and take advantage of basic regulatory services, such as registering a formal “doing business as” name.
*A closing night block party from 4-7 p.m. Oct. 17 at La Zona on San Pedro Creek.
