#0106 - SXSW 2023 Startup of the Year VC Panel and the Silicon Valley Bank Collapse

<p dir="ltr">On this episode of the Startup of the Year Podcast, we hear a VC panel discussion from the Established Lounge at SXSW 2023 in Austin, which took place just after the announcement of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse. </p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">The panelists included Erica Duignan Minnihan, who is the Founder and General Partner at Reign Ventures, Maria Pope, who is the Head of Venture Growth and Partnerships at Republic, and Aziz Gilani, who is the Managing Director at Mercury Fund.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">Please keep in mind that the conversation took place immediately after the announcement of the end of SVB and since then things have changed significantly as the FDIC stepped in and insured the deposits to help ensure all the startup customers would make payroll, amongst other things.</p> <p><strong> </strong></p> <p dir="ltr">We also here about our pitch contest that was during SXSW, where ten startups pitched in front of a really amazing group of judges that included:</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr">Anita Roberts, who is the Founding Partner at mvmt ventures & Managing Partner @ Silicon Hills Capital</li> <li dir="ltr">Brian Brackeen, who is the General Partner at Lightship Capital </li> <li dir="ltr">Bryson Hearne, who is the Manager in the Economic Opportunity Practice at Village Capital</li> <li dir="ltr">Candice Matthews Brackeen, who is the CEO at Lightship Foundation</li> <li dir="ltr">Conrad Hollomon, who is the Director of Government Programs at The Engine</li> <li dir="ltr">Darrell Etherington, who is the Managing Editor at TechCrunch</li> <li dir="ltr">Kathleen Hale, who is the Partner at Builders + Backers Capital</li> <li dir="ltr">Khrys Hatch, who is the Senior Associate at Launch Tennessee</li> <li dir="ltr">Martin Ringlein, who is the General Partner at Adventure Fund</li> <li dir="ltr">Michele (Kopp) Konetski, who is the Business Growth Consulting at Konetski Group and The Nour Group</li> <li dir="ltr">Monique Idlett-Mosley, who is the Managing Partner at