Photo By Jaret HarrisonSXSW is heading to Vegas this summer for SXSW V2V. Creative thinkers, entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, designers, tinkerers, believers and doers from all over the world will come together this August at V2V to share the inspiration that propels their ideas and dreams forward. They will learn from, and be inspired by, each other. And you can join them.

Register by this Friday, February 22 to be a part of this brand new SXSW event and save $355 off the walk-up rate.

Registrant photo by Arthur Van RooyLike a lot of people, the SXSW V2V crew is preparing for SXSW Interactive in Austin, which is only a few short weeks away. And we would love to see you there! If you are planning to attend SXSW in March, be sure to stop by the one of the many fun SXSW V2V and other Vegas-related events scheduled during SXSW Interactive.

Do you like fun? How about games? Large adult-sized bouncy castles? Can't go another minute with out some kind of food-on-a-stick? Then you won't want to miss the SXSW V2V Launch Party from 3:00pm to 6:00pm at the East Tent of Brush Square Park on Tuesday, March 12. Join us in welcoming SXSW V2V to the SXSW family with food, drinks and much gigantic-game fun!

Congratulation to Stacy Haitsuka, CTO of Anthem Digital Media (ADM), for being the lucky winner of a free registration to attend SXSW V2V this August. He was one of many Las Vegas Area entrepreneurs and tech professionals who joined us last week at the Downtown Cocktail Room for our SXSW Interactive and SXSW V2V Community Meet Up.

Stacy is a proven technology innovator who founded internet pioneer NetZero, among several other successful ventures. He has partnered with noted music industry executives who have generated over $2 billion in music sales and are responsible for over 100 Gold and Platinum records and over a dozen Grammy awards and nominations. The new venture Anthem Digital Media (ADM) is developing a cloud-based platform for unsigned musicians to connect with the top music producers in the industry.

Contestant photo by Jay ConlonSXSW V2Venture is now accepting applications. Innovative companies can apply now to compete in this fast-paced SXSW-meets-Vegas style pitch event August 13 and 14 at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. Companies with a ground-breaking new product or service that relates to Health, Education, Mobile and Tablet technologies, Culture and Entertainment, or Innovative World technologies can enter now through May 17.

This competition is open to projects that have launched, or will launch, between August 13, 2012 and November 15, 2013, and companies that have not participated in any other SXSW pitch event, including SXSW Accelerator, SXSW ECO Startup Showcase or LAUNCHedu. Click here for complete category descriptions and eligibility requirements.

Meet up friends by Gabe ShepherdSXSW Interactive stopped in Las Vegas on the way back to Austin from San Francisco. Last night's meet up at the Downtown Cocktail Room was a blast! A very special thanks to Jeremy, the gang at the bar, and everyone who came out to share a drink with us and learn a little more about SXSW Interactive and SXSW V2V. Also, big thanks are due to Chris Meyer and the LVCVA for such a warm welcome to Las Vegas.They were the first to hear that Zappos CEO, Tony Hsieh will be delivering the opening Keynote for SXSW V2V in Las Vegas the summer.