March 12-18, 2026

SXSW 2026

Innovation in Action:
Connect with Catalyst at SXSW 2026

Catalyst by Wellstar is the first-of-its-kind innovation company and venture firm created by one of the largest health systems in Georgia. We build better healthcare by harnessing problems, creating solutions, and partnering across industries to deploy a true ecosystem of care.

Most corporate-startup partnerships fail before they start. During our SXSW panel “From Pitch to Pilot,” Daniel Rodriguez Siller from Arca Continental, one of Coca-Cola’s largest bottlers in the world, shared why the best partnerships begin with internal alignment, much before any pitch takes place.
Selling into an enterprise isn’t a straight line and the startups that succeed are those that can understand and navigate the complexities of a large company. In this guest blog following his SXSW participation, Antoine Woods (Chick-fil-A) breaks down why only great tech isn’t enough to wow an enterprise.
Each startup begins with a why. Presenting that spark to stakeholders at large enterprises, early and often, can open doors. At SXSW, during our panel “From Pitch to Pilot: How Corporates Partner and Build,” our own Stephanie Diaz (Catalyst by Wellstar) shared what it really takes to turn meetings into pilots, and pilots into partnerships.
At SXSW, we hosted a candid conversation with leaders who are piloting and scaling startups within global brands. This lively panel offered insights to founders searching for a breakthrough partnership, and business leaders navigating corporate innovation.
On Friday night, we attended the venture crawl by Capital Factory in Austin. Promising startups are working on improving access to care, providing 24/7 service supported by AI, and helping companies get FDA approval. Check out a few of these solutions as we talked with their creators.
Startups are often pitched on “strategic partnerships” with large companies, but most never progress beyond a pilot. This panel features innovation leaders from a healthcare innovation and venture arm, a mobility and sustainability-focused enterprise, and a national restaurant brand redefining service through digital innovation. Together, they’ll unpack how corporates build new ventures, and what it takes for founders to gain traction and create lasting value with enterprise partners.
Connect with Catalyst by Wellstar venture analyst Nasir Wise at the Capital Factory House starting with the Startup Crawl on Thursday, March 12th. This is a great opportunity to connect with our team and share your vision for the future of healthcare. We are actively seeking breakthrough ideas and are investing in and piloting with innovative startups.
The Healthcare Innovation Roundtable is a private, invite-only discussion hosted by Capital Factory featuring Stephen Konya, Chief, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, alongside VCs and founders to explore how the venture ecosystem and HHS can better align to accelerate healthcare innovation in the U.S.

Connect
with Us

Be part of an immersive, multi-day experience where leading minds gather to share creative ideas and cutting-edge innovations across industries.

Thursday, March 12th
Startup Crawl
Capital Factory
6PM

Startup Crawl has been the biggest party at SXSW since 2011. Over one hundred startups and partners set up tables to demo their products and talk to thousands of potential customers, investors, and employees.

Register here: https://house.capitalfactory.com/page/4979257/crawl
Note: Public event; $10 admission

Capital Factory House
701 Brazos St Austin, TX 78701

Saturday, March 14th
Healthcare Innovation Roundtable
Capital Factory
TBD

A private, invite-only roundtable featuring Stephen Konya, Chief, Innovation & Strategic Partnerships, US Dept. of Health and Human Services, alongside VCs and founders to explore how the venture ecosystem and HHS can better align to accelerate healthcare innovation in the U.S.

Capital Factory House
701 Brazos St Austin, TX 78701

Sunday, March 15th
From Pitch to Pilot: How Corporates Partner and Build
JW Marriott – Salon E
11:30AM – 12:30PM

Startups are often pitched on “strategic partnerships” with large companies, but most never progress beyond a pilot. This panel features innovation leaders from a healthcare innovation and venture arm, a mobility and sustainability-focused enterprise, and a national restaurant brand redefining service through digital innovation. Together, they’ll unpack how corporates build new ventures, and what it takes for founders to gain traction and create lasting value with enterprise partners.

Moderator: Tiffany Johnson, Director, Microsoft for Startups

Panelist: Stefanie Diaz, Principal, Innovation & Venture Strategy, Catalyst by Wellstar

Panelist: Daniel Rodriguez Siller, Corporate Ventures Director, Arca Continental

Panelist: Antoine Woods, Senior Innovation Lead, Chick-fil-A

TBD
Calling All Startups at SXSW!
Capital Factory House
Full Day

Join Catalyst by Wellstar for Investor Office Hours at the Capital Factory. This is a great opportunity to connect with our team, share your vision, and discuss the innovative work you’re doing. We’re excited to meet startups driving change across industries and explore the latest ideas shaping the future of healthcare and beyond. Catalyst by Wellstar venture analyst Nasir Wise will be onsite throughout Capital Factory House looking for breakthrough ideas and Founders to invest and pilot with at Wellstar Health System, one of the largest health systems in the Southeast.

Reserve your spot now – we’d love to hear from you! https://house.capitalfactory.com/

Capital Factory House
701 Brazos St Austin, TX 78701

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