Hackney House

Hackney House Austin from Protein® TV on Vimeo.

HACKNEY HOUSE Austin 8-11 March 2013

The next chapter of the Business Friendship Agreement, established in 2012 between Austin, Texas and the London Borough of Hackney, saw a delegation of some of the most exciting and innovative companies travelling from London’s East End to showcase their wares in Austin this March 8-11, during the city’s SXSW Interactive 2013 festival.

This trip reciprocated last year’s visit by Austin’s Mayor Lee Leffingwell and his digital media trade mission, organised to foster exchange in the areas of high-tech and digital media, the creative industries, economic development, and sustainability.

The Hackney team set up Hackney House Austin – an international travelling ‘capsule’ edition of 2012’s stunning and successful urban pop-up space, set up in Hackney's Shoreditch district during last year’s Olympic Games. Created by Hackney Council to act as a hub for new investment to Hackney, it succeeded in showcasing this cluster of culturally relevant creative businesses currently making their global mark.

Hackney House Austin transformed a 3,000+ sq ft space at 119 West 6th Street into the ultimate Hackney-inspired workshop space. Through a carefully curated programme of Art, Design, Music, Film, Product and Events, 25 local businesses spotlighted their work, network with Austin friends, entertain and enlighten, all within an exceptional space.

By day, Hackney House Austin was a welcoming hangout, complete with free WIFI and coffee, meeting spaces, and power chargers. Between 10am – 2pm the space was filled with a curated programme of short films by Protein, onedotzero and ITV. The Sugru repair shop was open for business, and folks dropped by and pick up their pre-ordered business cards by Moo.

The afternoons saw us amp up the pace with panels and workshops by MakieLab and onedotzero, as well as a screening of Choose Your Own Documentary presented by ITV. Protein (re)launched its premium video content platform Protein TV at the ‘Future of TV’ forum, featuring experts in the field of television and hosted by Protein’s Founder and CEO William Rowe.

The supporting, 4-day programme of events confirmed Hackney House Austin as the key destination for showcasing Hackney’s best new ideas and business networking. Styled with beautiful products straight out of Hackney including a 2m² Plumen chandelier and the Goodnight Lamp, Hackney House Austin was an open opportunity for guests to meet Hackney’s top creative and digital companies, including: Bare Conductive, BERG, Choose Your Own Documentary, The Church of London, Decoded, Dezeen, Digital Shoreditch, Goodnight Lamp, Hulger, iCITY, Kahoot! Makielab, Mixcloud, MOO, Mother, Not Tom, onedotzero, POKE, Protein,Sugru, Technology Will Save Us and Trampery.

We would like to extend a special thanks to The Trampery for their design input - helping us to create the look and feel of Hackney House Austin and celebrate that unique Hackney vibe.

“Our friendship with the City of Austin is leading us into exciting territory, the SXSW festival is the perfect destination for Hackney House bringing with it the best of Hackney’s creative, design and tech sectors to showcase their world leading ideas, develop new relationships and form new ventures” said Guy Nicholson, lead Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration at the London Borough of Hackney.”

Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell, launching Hackney House Austin said: "The City of Austin and South by Southwest offers a stage for the most
talented and innovative businesses worldwide to meet, share ideas and learn from each other, I had the opportunity to visit Hackney last year on a digital media trade mission and it's no surprise to me that our two cities have formed such a strong relationship so quickly and the festival is an opportunity to celebrate
this unique friendship agreement. I'm pleased to be helping to open Hackney House Austin on Friday March 8th."

Hackney Council co-ordinated the production of Hackney House Austin and the entire cost is being paid for through sponsorship from private sector partners. The purpose from an economic development point of view is to generate business links, new contracts and open up new markets for Hackney businesses. It’s also a way of showcasing Hackney’s business and creative digital talent at one of the world’s largest tech and media fairs.

Hackney House Austin

119 W 6th St

Austin, TX 78701

If you would like to make your company part of the experience then contact us at: investment@hackney.gov.uk or call 0208 356 7746

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