SXSW evolves from small , community-driven event into a huge industry happening . From 2007 , SXSW Interactive 's attendance jumped from nearly 11,000 to just under 15,000 . In 2009 to 2010 , a tiny service nobody had heard of called Cloud used the fest as a launching ground . `` Start-ups are hot . As the festival grows , it tries very hard to be both sprawling and intimate .
SXSW evolves from small , community-driven event into a huge industry happening . From 2007 , SXSW Interactive 's attendance jumped from nearly 11,000 to just under 15,000 . In 2009 to 2010 , a tiny service nobody had heard of called Cloud used the fest as a launching ground . As the festival grows , it tries very hard to be both sprawling and intimate .