SXSW awards students, entrepreneurs, and tech pioneers with 2025 Innovation Awards.
By Meg Richards
The SXSW 2025 Innovation Awards recognizes the work of movers and shakers from various industries across the globe.
Hosted by Saul Paul, who sang his song “Speak Hope, Sing Joy,” with a choir accompanying him, sought to uplift the audience and spread his message of positivity and empowerment for an evening of fun and accolades.
Here are the winners from the night, and what their missions are.
Hall of Fame
Mark Cuban was awarded the Hall of Fame at the 2025 SXSW Innovation Awards. He took the opportunity to encourage bright-eyed audience members to keep creating.
“What makes this event so special…is the spirit that it has,” Cuban said.
Artificial Intelligence
Winner: Wandercraft’s Self-Balancing Exoskeleton
Wandercaft’s award winning product is using Artificial Intelligence to revolutionize assistive technology and give members of the disabled community a chance to walk again.
The founder says with the help of his product, users around the world are “taking a million steps every month, with the help of AI.”
“South By has always been so special to us,” said a member of the team while accepting their award.
Audio Experience
Winner: I SEE MUSIC! By Synegram.com
“Synegram transforms music into geometric shapes, making intervals, chords, and melodies both visual and logical,” according to their website.
“Thank you to South By and everyone who [believes] in the power of music,” said their founder at SXSW last night.
Community Empowerment
Winner: Share@MealConnect
Share@MealConnect seeks to use technological innovation to quell worldwide hunger.
“The fight to end hunger is going to involve all of us. In America, the scarcity is not food — it’s the will to act.”
Connection and Communication
Winner: 855-HOW-TO-QUIT-(OPIOIDS)
855-HOW-TO-QUIT-(OPIOIDS) uses the imprint codes on opiate pills as phone extensions, which can help opiate users in duress by connecting them with a survivor of drug addiction.
“Opioids are a leading cause of death in this country, and we’re really proud to accept this award and help change that,” the founders said.
Health & Biotech
Winner: BetterWay: Blood Testing Reimagined
Based in the heart of Austin, Texas, home to SXSW, BetterWay: Blood Testing Reimagined, changes the role of blood-drawing in medicine and research by using just a drop of blood from one’s fingertip, rather than a blood draw from a vein in the arm.
“It’s the future of blood testing, and you can only get here in Austin, Texas.”
Interface Design
Winner: Posha: Your family’s Private Robot Chef
Over at Posha: Your family’s Private Robot Chef, cooking becomes innovative by giving Posha a recipe and ingredients to let the robot do the heavy-lifting.
“We’re able to marry the convenience of eating out with the health of eating at home,” a founder from the company said.
Product Design
Winner: The Daylight Computer
The Daylight Computer is “the computer, reinvented,” according to their website. DC-1 is a technology device that encourages deep-thinking and mindfulness by lowering blue-light and the effects it has on our eyes over long periods of time.
“Technology is no longer bringing out the best in humanity…it doesn’t have to be that way,” the company said at the awards ceremony last night.
Student Innovation
Winner: GismoPower’s Mobile Solar Carport “MEGA”
GismoPower’s MEGA is a portable plug-in that uses solar energy to power cars. The founder, AnTonia Tahia is a UC Berkeley student originally from Hawaii. In her acceptance speech, Tahia encouraged all students to continue making their dreams a reality.
“Huge shoutout to all the other student innovators. Please keep innovating,” TK said.
Sustainability Solutions
Winner: Uluu
Uluu is an Australia-based company that ferments seaweed and turns it into a material to replace plastic.
Urban Design
Winner: Sustainable 3D-Printed homes by Azure
Azure makes “future-focused modular living spaces,” while lowering the cost barrier for customers.
“To everyone in this room, who I’m sure [all] have the same burning desire to make a difference in the world, thank you for inspiring me,” the founders said.
What The Future?
Winner: SWEAR Security
SWEAR Security aims to revolutionize law, security, and media with technology and squash misinformation.
People’s Choice
Winner: Engineering the world’s first smart lipstick
Smark Lipstick by Grupo Boticário uses Artificial Intelligence to make makeup more inclusive and accessible.
“Thank you for reminding us why we it [is] we do this — innovating the future of beauty,” the founders said.
Best In Show
Winner: SolarSPELL Digital Libraries
SolarSPELL is a hand-held solar powered digital library “built for the half of the world still offline.” Their product acts as a digital library put into the hands of kids from third-world countries who would otherwise be without access to reading and education.