About

Welcome to The Beacon: Lounge with a Conscience

SXSW Interactive has become a focal point for nonprofits who see technology as integral to accomplishing their missions, who are looking learn, share and dream about what’s possible. But with hundreds of panels and what seems like miles of convention center to cover, it’s been a challenge to find a place where can you easily meet up with peers, unwind your brain, or just share all the cool stuff you’re absorbing with other people who “get it”.

An idea started to germinate after SXSW 2008 when Eve Simon from Beaconfire Consulting thought there had to be a better way to connect with the growing nonprofit geekeratti. So at SXSW 2009, with the help of our partners and colleagues, we planted The Beacon at the Austin Convention Center, hoping to give nonprofit professionals and the socially conscious community a place of their own. And our little seedling flourished. More than 500 people hung out at the Beacon last year, enjoying the comfy couches, the free wi-fi, the daily coffee and snacks, and the company of their peers.

This year, we’re excited to watch the Beacon grow bigger and better than ever with the rockin’ events we’ve planned:

- Morning coffee with panelists from “Will Kiva Kill Your Non Profit”.
- A daily social media rockstar interview/broadcast by Mark Horvath of Invisible People.
- A gallery of Mike Rohde’s beloved Sketchnotes.
- SoapBox lunches for a cause.
- Afternoon acoustic concerts, including virtual musicians.
- And of course, a place for you to hang your hat, rest your feet and catch your breath.

So if you want to get your good on at SxSW, there’s no better place for it than The Beacon: Lounge with a Conscience.

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About Beaconfire Consulting
Beaconfire integrates compelling vision, clever ideas, creative design, and leading-edge Internet technologies for our clients to produce websites and online campaigns that shine.  Every day, we work with our clients to coordinate stakeholders and constituents, data and online technologies, communications, campaigns and networks, and interactive websites to change the world. Beaconfire’s service lines include:

  • Web Design and Development: When you need a website that is beautiful, sophisticated, and easy to use like American Lung Association or Share Our Strength
  • Online Campaigns and Marketing: When you want to build an outspoken, loyal, and generous online constituency like the ACLU or NPCA
  • Internet Strategy and Planning: When you want a fresh and experienced perspective to help you plan for success.
  • Software Evaluation: When you want advice you can trust before making a big investment.

The Beaconfire team is made up of smart, curious, and creative people who like to help good causes make a difference in the world.

  • We’ve worked exclusively with the nonprofit community since 2001.
  • We’re rigorous and methodical.
  • We take our work much more seriously than they take themselves.
  • We’re committed to helping their clients shine.

To learn more about Beaconfire, come to the Beacon Lounge, or visit us at www.beaconfire.com.