Sponstar Returns as Official Map Platform of SXSW 2026

Pitch competition winner from 2025 now powers the official engagement map for the major tech conference

Feb. 1, 2026 at 11:47pm

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Sponstar, the winner of the International House pitch competition at SXSW 2025, will return to the event in 2026 as the Official Online Engagement Map platform. This marks a full-circle milestone for the company, which was founded in February 2025 to address challenges around verified physical engagement data and return on investment. After successfully deploying at SXSW and other major events in its first year, Sponstar has now been selected to power the official engagement map for SXSW 2026, supporting city-scale activations, brand-funded rewards, and a unified marketplace for physical engagement.

Why it matters

Sponstar's selection as the official SXSW 2026 engagement platform demonstrates the company's rapid growth and validation in its first year. As a startup founded to solve a persistent challenge around measuring real-world engagement, Sponstar's transition from pitch competition winner to official infrastructure partner for one of the world's largest tech conferences highlights its ability to execute and scale its model across multiple industries and channels.

The details

Sponstar was founded in February 2025 by CEO Manuela Seve to address the lack of verified proof of human presence, first-party behavioral data, and measurable return on investment tied to real-world engagement. The company received early backing and guidance from the International Accelerator, which helped position Sponstar for applications beyond individual events. Sponstar publicly launched at SXSW 2025, deploying geofenced activations and treasure hunts across Austin and supporting over 50 live activations with more than 20 brands. Following the successful SXSW deployment, Sponstar expanded to other major events like New York Fashion Week and Texas Venture Fest, while also piloting private brand activations. As of early 2026, Sponstar reports over 30,000 monthly active users and tens of thousands of verified physical engagements across deployments.

  • Sponstar was founded in February 2025.
  • Sponstar publicly launched at SXSW 2025.
  • Sponstar expanded to other major events in 2025, including New York Fashion Week and Texas Venture Fest.
  • Sponstar deployed a white-label activation at ETHCC in Cannes in summer 2025.
  • Sponstar concluded 2025 with a major brand activation for Rivian at Art Basel Miami.

The players

Sponstar

A startup founded in February 2025 to address the lack of verified proof of human presence, first-party behavioral data, and measurable return on investment tied to real-world engagement. Sponstar provides infrastructure to enable brands, organizers, and municipalities to coordinate, measure, and reward physical participation at scale.

Manuela Seve

The CEO and founder of Sponstar.

International Accelerator

An organization that provided strategic backing and operational guidance to Sponstar in its early formation.

AngelouEconomics

A company that introduced Sponstar to municipalities, tourism organizations, and public-private partnership opportunities.

James Smith

The chief commercial officer of the International Accelerator.

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What they’re saying

“What stood out to us early was how broadly applicable the Sponstar model is. We saw it work across events, brands, cities and tourism ecosystems almost immediately. Manu built infrastructure, not a single-use product, and our role has been to support both the founder and a model that can scale across multiple industries and channels.”

— James Smith, Chief Commercial Officer, International Accelerator (EINPresswire.com)

“This is what happens when a strong founder recognizes an opportunity and executes with discipline. Sponstar proved its model in a high-stakes environment, adapted quickly and scaled into new markets. That combination of founder strength and real-world validation is what creates durable companies.”

— Angelos Angelou, Founder, International Accelerator and CEO, AngelouEconomics (EINPresswire.com)

What’s next

SXSW 2026 will be held in March 2026 in Austin, where Sponstar will power the official engagement map for the event.

The takeaway

Sponstar's selection as the official engagement platform for SXSW 2026 demonstrates the company's ability to rapidly validate and scale its model for measuring real-world engagement. By transitioning from a pitch competition winner to a key infrastructure partner for one of the world's largest tech conferences in just one year, Sponstar has proven its value proposition across multiple industries and its potential to become a durable, scalable company.