OHUB.SXSW and its HBCU@SXSW programming, as captured in USA Today, Harvard Business Review and this hiring partner experience video by Facebook, is OHUB’s signature annual capstone university relations, young professionals, seasoned executives and startup entrepreneurs immersive exposure, innovative professional development, go to market and investment experience. Each year, major corporations, tech companies, startups, ecosystem builders, foundations and influencers sponsor top Black and Latinx American technical and non-technical talent from our nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s), Minority Serving Institutions (MSI’s) and Predominantly White Institutions (PWI’s) with intentional diversity and inclusion initiatives to gain the necessary immersive exposure, interactive learning opportunities and direct access to paid summer internships and early career roles that are afforded by attending SXSW. Each year, more than 500,000 attendees experience amazing keynotes, thousands of panels and exclusive networking opportunities that provide buzz-generating exposure and opportunities to engage with decision makers in the innovation economy. In 2016, OHUB sponsored 50 students. In 2017, 100 students from 41 colleges and universities attended. In 2018, 150 students from 60 colleges and universities attended. In 2019, 252 students from 100 colleges and universities attended. Ninety (90%) of the students were placed in paid summer internships or permanent jobs. The total economic output to date is over $10,000,000.

In 2020, we want to bring 500 students to SXSW and connect them with at least 100 hiring partners. At a cost of $5,000 per student, our 2020 budget is $2,500,000. Our partnership model was created to build partnerships with hiring partners, colleges & universities, foundations and influencers starting at $5,000. This covers each student’s round trip travel, housing for 5 days x 4 nights, 3 meals per day, SXSW Interactive badge, programming, hiring experience & year round mentorship to increase exposure, skills and placement. As companies sponsor more students, they receive additional perks and benefits to maximize their participation in the experience.

meet our 2020 co-chairs

past cohort testimonials

venues