This year at SXSW in Austin, Handshake kicked off the week by presenting the official SXSW Social & Global Impact Opening Party on Friday, March 8 in collaboration with The Rockefeller Foundation. The event gathered hundreds of influencers, storytellers, and philanthropists for an evening of cocktails, conversation, and fun. The night was an opportunity to come together to celebrate the spirit of SXSW at a local Austin venue, The Alibi.
The night began when the doors opened to reveal a stream of guests who arrived on crazed electric scooters eager to drive conversation on the future of social impact. Attendees then made their way to the bar which was stocked with signature cocktails created especially for the event—the S.I.P. (Social Impact Punch) and the #MakeAnImpact Mule—along with a pizza truck that served up slices and pies, and a DJ who kept the crowd going throughout the night. As the party continued, the guests gathered for speeches as well as games of jumbo Connect Four and jumbo Jenga on a patio covered by hanging lights and scenes of the Austin skyline.
Since its beginning, SXSW has served as a celebration of the convergence of industries that foster creativity and professional growth. Businesses and organizations gather throughout a number of venues across downtown Austin, including the Convention Center where creative and interactive booths are setup to engage with attendees and ignite innovative thoughts for the future. Hundreds of companies participated in this official SXSW Trade Show to promote awareness for their work, demonstrate how they are driving social innovation and encourage participants’ involvement in changing the world. Handshake’s work with the Caterpillar Foundation in the SXSW Trade Show’s Social Impact Pavilion provided a platform to highlight the incredible work of the Foundation with its partners through its Together.Stronger. collaborative impact platform.
Handshake was proud to represent the power of building better influence at SXSW 2019, through both the Social & Global Impact Opening Party and the Trade Show. By working with some of the most interesting people and influential organizations, Handshake ensures that the reputation and influence of businesses, organizations, and individuals make the world a better place.
Check out photos from the official SXSW Social & Global Impact Opening Party on Facebook and Instagram.