(Article first published as Livefyre.com Tracks 2013 SXSW in Austin Using Social Media on Steroids on Technorati.)
Twenty-seven thousand of our closest friends are converging on Austin, Texas for SXSW this weekend and Livefyre, the commenting/blogging/social media platform that has raised $21 million in two recent rounds of financing, is launching a site to help attendees keep track of everything from their Facebook posts, to YouTube videos, Flickr images, Tweets, parties and scheduled events.
You don’t have to be at SXSW in person to participate in the parties or get all the backstage scoop, Jordan Kretchmer’s fiesty and well-funded startup, is hosting a social-media-on-steroids site where interested revelers and commenters can hang-out and be seen, either live or in netperson.
The SXSW NewsHub launched officially on March 6th and is poised to be one of the central go-to places for voyeurs or active participants wanting to share real-time news and gossip.
If you are up for a human party, Livefyre is hosting a Firebash on Sunday, March 10th, at Ten Oak on 409 Colorado Street featuring performances by Vacationer, Body Language and The Hood Internet. We love virtual, but there’s something fun about real dancing, imbibing and networking. Speaking of booze, Livefyre has partnered with SideCar and is offering free rides to and from the party, so feel free to revel. The SideCar app is available from the iTunes app store and you can use it to call for your ride. Kind of like a virtual “designated driver,” right?
While you are at SWXW on March 9th and 10th, the bright red Livefyre Fyretruck will be cruising Austin giving away cool stuff including VIP tickets to the Fyrebash on Sunday evening and providing photo-opps. Social media rules, so if you want to know where the Fyretruck is, stay tuned on Twitter @Livefyre for more information.
Livefyre’s clients include TechCrunch, The New York Times, The Daily Beast, NBC Universal, CBS, Fox News, Dow Jones and AOL. Two companies, Bravo TV and Showtime, have added the commenting system to their second screen experience. The functionality is also available in mobile SDK’s and native apps.
Livefyre provides real-time social software for publishers, brands, events and media companies. Founded in 2009 in San Francisco, California, the company provides content creators with tools and platforms to engage their communities.
Founder and CEO, Jordan Kretchmer began his web career at 17 designing web applications for brands ranging from Subaru to Match.com to Pepsi and MINI Cooper. He spent nine years in the ad industry as VP and Creative Director with Mullen Advertising in Boston and Butler Shine Stern Partners in San Francisco where he managed the digital development teams. Before founding Livefyre, Jordan was the VP of Brand at Current TV in San Francisco.
For SXSW information: 2013 SXSW NewsHub at Livefyre