So ATDC can be quite the interesting place. I was walking down the hall yesterday when I noticed a lady that looked somewhat familiar standing in the reception area. I said hello and introduced myself. Turns out to be Jennifer 8. Lee. That is really her name.  

We struck up a conversation. She was in town to speak at the inaugural meetup for Atlanta Hacks/Hackers about the Knight News Challenge, a grant competition for open-source news and information projects that gives away up to $5 million a year. Jenny 8 also told me about the SXSW accelerator program presented by long-time ATDC partner MicroSoft Bizspark.

The third annual SXSW Accelerator will take place March 14-16 at the 2011 SXSW Interactive Festival in Austin. They are looking for business entries in Innovative Web Technologies, Social Media and Social Networking Technologies, Entertainment Technologies, Health Technologies and News Related Technologies. Finalists will receive up to two minutes to present their idea to a jury panel of venture capitalist or technology industry experts. The real benefit is exposure.

So if you need some of that mosey on over to the application process page or pass go and apply here by December 10. If you are self-funded and the $150 entry fee seems a bit much drop Chris Valentine a note.

Cross posted to atdc.org