East London entrepreneur and founder of Digital Shoreditch to work with South by Southwest Interactive Festival to replicate success in Europe’s creative tech capital

London, March 9, 2012 – An unlikely international diplomacy mission will be underway this week, as Kam Star, founder of East London’s Digital Shoreditch festival heads to South by Southwest (SXSW) Interactive in Austin, Texas. At the invitation of Hugh Forrest, SXSW Interactive Festival Director, Star will work with his counterparts on the SXSW team as he looks to bring back insights and experience ahead of the second annual Digital Shoreditch festival, taking place from May 21^st-June 1^st, 2012.

“Within four years, we want to be as significant as SXSW and be recognised as one of the world’s premier events for showcasing the most talented companies and individuals within the digital and creative technologies sectors,” said Star.

More than 2,000 people attended Digital Shoreditch in 2011, which was supported from more than 200 companies, media partners and government agencies including last.fm, the V&A, Wieden + Kendedy, Tech Hub and the Technology Strategy Board. This year’s event is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors, with 200 events and 500 companies participating.

Forrest’s invitation to Star came on the back of Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell’s visit to London in January, when the City of Austin and Borough of Hackney signed a friendship agreement, in acknowledgement of the creative culture that has taken routes in both cities.

“Our ambition for 2012 is to deliver London’s greatest digital and creative tech festival ever,” said Star. “There is an immense amount we can learn from the team behind SXSW, and I look forward to working with them as we gear up for Digital Shoreditch.”

Commenting on the Festival, Eric Van der Kleij, CEO of London’s Tech City Investment Organisation said: “Austin has a thriving community of tech, digital and creative businesses, and events such as SXSW has helped solidify its place among the most innovative clusters in the world. The developing connection between SXSW and Digital Shoreditch will encourage bold thinking and collaborations from entrepreneurs and companies on both sides of the Atlantic, and shines a light on the dynamism and innovation that make both cities ideal places to start and grow a business.”

Digital Shoreditch’s programme is focused on nine themes, ranging from funding and capital, to innovation, inspiration and marketing. It also includes a public exhibition weekend and hackathon, and will see the culmination of the Race for Apps competition, a London 2012 contest to recognise ideas for apps for visitors attending the Olympic Games this summer.

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Notes to editors:

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Digital Shoreditch is a not for profit, grass root, industry-led community dedicated to fostering connections and celebrating the outstanding creative, technical and entrepreneurial spirit flourishing in east London and Tech City. The Digital Shoreditch 2012 Festival will run from 21st May to 2nd of June 2012 where we will be showcasing the outstanding innovation in the UK’s premier digital and tech startup capital.

The inaugural festival in 2011 attracted contributions from 180 companies, where 2000 people attended 50 events in the first week of May. We are planning to showcase 500 companies and individuals for a phenomenal celebration of our capabilities, attended by over 50,000 people in 2012.