Austin's Innovation Journey with Hugh Forrest (SXSW)
Thursday, August 27, 2026, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Sky Lounge at Hanover Republic Square Luxury Residences, 303 W 5th St, Austin, TX 78701
Join the Harvard Club of Austin and our fellow Ivy+ clubs for an intimate evening with Hugh Forrest, who spent more than three decades helping grow South by Southwest into one of the world's most influential gatherings for technology, innovation, and culture.
Hugh will share stories from his years at SXSW and reflect on how Austin became the vibrant innovation hub it is today, what sets the city apart, and where it may head next as a center for entrepreneurship, creativity, and technology. The evening is also a wonderful opportunity to connect with investors, entrepreneurs, and members of the broader Austin startup community.
Schedule for the Evening
- 6:30 pm Networking with Austin entrepreneurs, investors, and innovators
- 7:00 pm Remarks from Hugh Forrest on Austin's role as a differentiated innovation hub
- 7:20 pm Audience Q&A
- 7:40 pm Continued networking until 9:00 pm
This event is free to attend, but registration is required.
This event is hosted by the MIT Club of Austin and San Antonio, the MIT Austin and San Antonio Angels and Entrepreneurs, and the Harvard Angels of Austin, together with the Harvard Club of Austin and Austin-area clubs from Penn, Wharton, Stanford, Berkeley, Yale, NYU, and the University of Chicago. Sponsored by Digital Executive.