This March, NBSO Texas attended South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, one of the world’s leading conferences at the intersection of innovation, technology, and creativity.
SXSW once again brought together a diverse international audience of entrepreneurs, corporates, creatives, and policymakers. For NBSO Texas, the week provided an excellent opportunity to engage with Dutch companies, strengthen existing relationships, and explore new partnerships within the Texas innovation ecosystem.
During the week, NBSO Texas attended a reception hosted by Governor Greg Abbott, organized by the Texas Economic Development Corporation. In addition, we joined the International Welcome Breakfast organized by the City of Austin, where Kirk Watson shared his perspective on Austin’s global positioning and international collaboration.
A strong Dutch presence was visible throughout SXSW. We connected with Dutch entrepreneurs and partners during the Dutch drinks at Whisler’s and attended an event hosted by Preacher in collaboration with New Dutch Wave. Preacher, with offices in both Amsterdam and Austin, serves as a strong example of the strong ties between the Netherlands and Texas.
NBSO Texas also participated in the SXSW Sports & Executive Lunch, an invite-only event co-organized with the Consulate-General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Sports Innovation Texas, and PMY Group. The event brought together international leaders from the sports and entertainment industry and highlighted opportunities for collaboration in this rapidly evolving sector.
Throughout the conference, we attended sessions covering a wide range of topics relevant to Dutch companies in Texas, including sports innovation, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, legal frameworks for startups, and flood infrastructure resilience.
Together with the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, we also visited Plug and Play Tech Center in Austin. This visit further strengthened our engagement with key players in the Texas innovation ecosystem and supported ongoing collaboration between Dutch and U.S. partners.
In addition, we attended the Narrative Short Program, which showcased the work of Dutch filmmakers and underlined the Netherlands’ strong presence in the international creative sector.
Overall, SXSW 2026 proved to be a valuable platform for NBSO Texas to support Dutch entrepreneurs, deepen transatlantic relationships, and stay closely connected to the latest developments in innovation and technology.
NBSO Texas is looking forward to building on these connections and continuing to support Dutch companies in exploring and expanding their activities in Texas.
