Initial Playground Displays, Startup Village Companies, Networking, & More Announced for SXSW EDU Expo

The Expo is a nexus for discovery and innovation during SXSW EDU. It is a physical manifestation of the programming that takes place during the week with similar themes reflected throughout. The dynamic show floor has become a hallmark with a discovery-based learning Playground, short-form programming, stand-out exhibitors, and networking.

The Expo will be open Monday, March 9 - Wednesday, March 11 from 9:00am - 4:00pm. With early hours, the Expo is a starting point for attendees since a majority of programming begins later in the morning. New for 2020, the keynotes will be simulcasted on the Playground and Next stages in the Expo.

With that, we are excited to announce an initial look at the 2020 SXSW EDU Expo including selected Playground displays, startups, networking events, and more!

Playground

The Playground is a unique area within the larger Expo that features talks, hands on sessions, and displays. This space is a pivotal area that brings to life bold and creative approaches to learning. The 2020 Playground will feature thirty-two displays, as well as daily talks and hands on sessions.

• 3DuxDesign (Bridgeport, CT) - Leave the rules behind as you enter 3Dux's Urban Design Lab. You'll work as a team to imagine, design and build a model City of the Future. We'll address topics like culture, diversity, environment and modern technology as we redefine community.
• CodeScty (New York, NY) - Learn how CodeScty uses culturally relevant connections to boost confidence and awaken a sense of ownership over the learning experience. Through original hip hop music, videos and engaging activities, attendees will experience how to comprehend computer science concepts (CS).
• Digital Promise (Washington, DC) - The Digital Promise team will share playful, interactive activities from several of their research and development partnerships with schools designed to support maker learning, VR, computational thinking, and learner variability.
• Eidos Global (Bristol, United Kingdom) - Combining the power of storytelling, alternate reality games and live debates, Eidos Global brings together different future scenarios for participants to experience and reflect about the future they want to live in.
• KMD Global Education Project (Tokyo, Japan) - Learn how to design innovative education experiences to nurture visionary global citizens. Through stop-motion animation for global competence, 360° video career development programs, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) games, attendees will be a part of the future of global society.
• Los Angeles Education Partnership (Los Angeles, CA) - Take part in Los Angeles Education Partnership's (LAEP) wellness lounge to learn how to use the science of the brain and resilience to take action in order to build a sustainable culture of well-being.
• Maker Ed (Berkeley, CA) - Harness the potential of making to transform teaching and learning with Maker Ed. Attendees will learn how to create light and shadow objects that integrate with the Maker Ed Values Mapping Grid in 3D.
• NuVu Studio (Cambridge, MA) - Discover NuVu Studio's “Physical Toolbox” teaching tool for students and teachers. This interactive library demonstrates mechanisms and construction techniques and integrating laser cut and 3D printed parts from a notched cylinder to a gear box.
• Out Teach (Washington, DC) - Learn how to engage with experiential outdoor science lessons at Out Teach's pop-up Outdoor Learning Lab, with raised vegetable beds, weather and earth science stations, and a host of other features.
• Peeka (Seattle, WA) - At Peeka, families will be able to jump into the pages of beloved picture books and let the stories happen to them. Using just a mobile phone and a simple VR headset, picture books come to life all around you and let you affect what happens!
• Revolution Robotics Foundation (San Francisco, CA) - Come by and build your own custom robot, code a remote controller on your mobile phone, and compete with friends! Participants will learn how robotics kits and mobile app-based learning can be paired together to inspire degrees and careers in STEM.
• Rhythmo (Austin, TX) - Discover accessible and affordable ways to leverage technology to engage students in powerful learning experiences through music. Have fun with Rhytmo's DIY cardboard drum machines by being a part of the live building process and producing your very own beats.
• The Austin History Center, African American Community Archives (Austin, TX) - The Austin History Center, African American Community Archives presents the Great Migration Interactive Playground Experience. Visually take a moment to learn about the Great Migration and discuss and create an activity about this era in U.S. history.
• Tomato Art School (Shanghai, China) - Find out how Tomato Art School is "making creativity visible" through an interactive art installation designed by children, and interactive experimental art activities.
• Ubongo International (Dar es Salaam, Tanzania) - Take part in Africa's leading edutainment company, Ubongo International's media lab with learning apps, resource kits for schools, teachers, and caregivers with printables and play materials.
• UChicago Financial Education (Chicago, IL) - Journey the pathway to financial-wellbeing as you explore financial decision-making through an interactive experience. Attendees will learn how improving financial decisions can have a positive impact on financial behaviors and outcomes over time.
• Unlocking Silent Histories (Austin, TX) - Experience how Indigenous youth voice guides transformative learning. Through hands-on, interactive stations, you will be immersed in how filmmaking facilitates this process, making visible the wisdom we gain when valuing local knowledge.
• Upper Ninety (Austin, TX) - Exercise your mind and body with Upper Ninety! Sit in a Restorative Circle, try SEL-based Soccer, and reduce stress with the Mindful Close. Learn how to incorporate SEL into a non-traditional learning space!

Startup Village

Startup energy is vibrant throughout SXSW EDU but it's particularly potent within the Expo. The 2020 Startup Village is in partnership with AWS and AT&T and will feature 50 early-stage companies from all over the world.

• Authess (Boston, MA)
• Arckit (Dublin, Ireland)
• BibliU (London, United Kingdom)
• Boddle Learning (Kansas City, MO)
• CapSource Education (Brooklyn, NY)
• ClassHook (Brooklyn, NY)
• Cogniss (Chippendale, Australia)
• Cognitive ToyBox (Brooklyn, NY)
• Couragion (Denver, CO)
• Create & Learn (Palo Alto, CA)
• Dynos.io (Oklahoma City, OK)
• Eduspire Solutions (Southeastern, PA)
• eLumin (McLean, VA)
• Ecree (Durham, NC)
• FamilyBookForm (North Bondi, Australia)
• Hive Digital Minds (Greenwood Village, CO)
• Hypocampus (Västra Götaland, Sweden)
• Immersed Games (Buffalo, NY)
• Inspired Futures AI (Enumclaw, WA)
• Knack Technologies (Tampa, FL)
• Paperpile (Cambridge, MA)
• Pitchboy (New York, NY)
• PlayPosit (Galesville, MD)
• Presentr (New York, NY)
• ROYBI (Mountain View, CA)
• SaltyCloud, (Austin, TX)
• Sense Education (New York, NY)
• Sibme (Houston, TX)
• Sidekick Education (Madison, WI)
• Sown to Grow (Oakland, CA)
• Spelling Shed (Worcestershire, United Kingdom)
• Substantial Classrooms, (Oakland, CA)
• Team WeThrive (New York, NY)
• Unruly Studios (Boston, MA)
• UPchieve (Brooklyn, NY)
• UR TURN (Minneapolis, MN)
• Van Robotics (Columbia, SC
• Via TRM (Boulder, CO)
• Weird Enough Productions (Lithonia, GA)
• Words Liive (Washington, DC)

Exhibitors

Established organizations including publishers, universities, non-profits, and advocacy groups cover the Expo show floor. These organizations embody what's next and new in education.

Browse Full Exhibitor List

Next stage

The Next Stage features a powerful lineup of focused, high-energy talks. On Community Day, Wednesday, March 11, the Expo will be free and open to the public including local schools. During this day of the event, the NEXT Stage programming will offer largely student-perspective programming.

Meet Up Pavilion and Networking

The Expo is the largest gathering place at SXSW EDU and as such, plays host to a range of networking events. Coffee breaks in the morning and snack breaks in the afternoon will offer attendees a break from the busy day with complimentary refreshments. The Meet Up Pavilion provides an informal atmosphere for topic-based networking events.

Mindfulnesss Pavilion

The Mindfulness Pavilion is a destination for a mindful moment during SXSW EDU. The space will feature a variety of activities for attendees to participate in such as meditation and no sweat yoga.

Join Us this March

Learn more about the SXSW EDU Expo and be sure to add the programming and events listed above to your schedule for March! Register to attend SXSW EDU through Friday, January 17 to save $110 on the walk-up rate.

SXSW EDU 2020 Playground Displays (l-r, t-b) Maker Ed, Revolution Robotics Foundation, Rhythmo, Tomato Art School, and NuVu Studio.