SPARK at SXSW

Innovation Beyond the Coasts

Ann Arbor SPARK + University of Michigan at SXSW 2026
Wednesday, March 18 | Topaz Ballroom, LINE Hotel

Join Ann Arbor SPARK and the University of Michigan for an afternoon at SXSW exploring why fast-growing companies and global innovators are increasingly choosing mid-sized tech hubs like Ann Arbor to build, scale, and invest.

Through two back-to-back sessions — followed by a hosted reception — you’ll hear directly from founders, corporate R&D leaders, and ecosystem builders on how talent density, university-industry collaboration, and capital efficiency create a real competitive advantage outside traditional coastal markets.

Heading to Austin for SXSW? Join us for an afternoon of conversations and connections—two sessions and a hosted reception—focused on how place drives performance in today’s innovation economy.

Why the Midwest Wins: Where Innovation Takes Off

1:00–2:00 PM | presented by Ann Arbor SPARK

The next generation of high-growth companies isn’t clustering on the coasts—they’re choosing mid-sized tech hubs known for talent density, R&D strength, collaboration, and capital efficiency. This panel explores the national rise of “opportunity-driven ecosystems,” using Ann Arbor as a case study in how a city can punch far above its weight in sectors like mobility, life sciences, AI, and advanced manufacturing.

Hear from founders, corporate innovation leaders, and ecosystem builders on what actually drives them to choose places like Ann Arbor; how partnerships with global R&D giants (KLA, Sartorius, Torc, Wacker) accelerate local innovation; and why mid-sized hubs are becoming magnets for both startups and established companies. If you’re building, scaling, or investing, this session will reveal what high-performing ecosystems outside traditional coastal markets get right—and how companies leverage them for faster, more sustainable growth.

Moderator

Paul Krutko
Ann Arbor SPARK

Panelist

Harriet Chen-Pyle
LiveRoad Analytics

Panelist

Rebecca Delgado
Torc

Panelist

Pete Mertens
Sartorius

Panelist

Mark Smith
Michigan Innovation Headquarters (MI-HQ)

Spinning Out: What It Takes to Build a University Startup

2:30–3:30 PM | presented by University of Michigan

Behind many of the world’s most transformative technologies is a research university. But turning discovery into a scalable company is still one of the hardest journeys in entrepreneurship. In this fireside chat, two founders who launched their companies out of the University of Michigan share the real founder-level story of navigating intellectual property, raising early capital, building teams, validating markets, and crossing the infamous “valley of death.”

Moderated by a U-M innovation leader, the conversation explores what support structures matter most for first-time founders, how universities can accelerate (or unintentionally slow) a company’s trajectory, and the lessons learned for entrepreneurs, investors, and research institutions nationwide. Whether you’re commercializing research, scouting university deal flow, or building a startup rooted in deep tech or science, this session offers a rare look inside what it truly takes to go from lab bench to market.