I wonder if the NSW Government thinks it is getting value for money for the $12.5 million it paid to “secure the rights” to host a Sydney version of the famed Austin Texas SXSW event.
Probably not I’d say, given the massive online bucketing that SXSW Sydney was given this week.
When a leader in one of the communities that the event purports to bring together calls it “loathsome and rancid” in a LinkedIn post this week, the outpouring of ferocious agreement was instant.
Jessy Wu is the founder and CEO of communications agency Encour and her post to LinkedIn attracted hundreds of like-button responses within hours (currently more than 850) and more than 130 comments in support.
Ms Wu, a former partner at AfterWork Ventures, is not a fan. The reasons are many, including (but not restricted to) the damage caused to homegrown events in the sector, the price gouging, and the exploitation of the community it is supposed to serve.
In fact, Ms Wu was so moved that she has declared Rentseeking Leech Week from 13 – 19 October as separate, unconnected and definitely unaffiliated event.
For authenticity, organically grown events that spring from grassroots communities cannot be outclassed. For evidence of this, look no further than the legendary SXSW in Austin, Texas.
Dragging the brand to Sydney and filling it with corporate sponsors and over-priced tickets was always a terrible decision, one of the last acts of the previous Perrottet government that had run out of ideas.
It is a shame that the Minns government has not been able to walk away from it. The level of funding handed to this overseas outfit has sucked the oxygen out of local events in the tech and innovation space. And that’s a real shame.
There is no love lost in sections the media about SXSW Sydney, which was brain-dead on arrival in 2023.
Media outlets are asked to submit an “expression of interest” to get access to a pass to cover SXSW Sydney.
A part of that process included a requirement that the reporter agree to write two articles about the event, prior to the event. Which made me LOL and then ROFL.
Is this really what value for money looks like?
What we’ve been looking at this week:
SERD review revives ‘govt as an exemplar’ innovation strategy – InnnovationAus [SUBSCRIBER]
Senators hammer PC’s copyright attack on creative industries – InnovationAus [SUBSCRIBER]
Hollywood union condemns AI-generated ‘actress’ Tilly Norwood – InnovationAus
Few things make my blood boil as much as SXSW Sydney – LinkedIn
GenAI may end up being worthless, which might be a good thing – The Conversation
SERD review revives ‘govt as an exemplar’ innovation strategy – InnovationAus
Billions in medical research funding is left on the table – InnovationAus [SUBSCRIBER]
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.