SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SXSW Interactive 2013 Featured Speaker Shaquille O’Neal is asking tech startups attending next week’s conference to “Pitch Shaq!” by downloading the free Tout mobile app (www.tout.com) and sending him a 15-second “elevator pitch” video for a chance to pitch him 1-on-1 on investing. Shaq will review all submitted Touts and select one company to pitch him in person during the conference.
In addition to his historic accomplishments on the court Shaq has also become a social media innovator as the first verified celebrity account on Twitter, the second-most followed athlete online in the U.S. and a catalyst in Tout’s rise to success when he announced his retirement from basketball via Tout in 2011, just two months after it launched.
“SXSW Interactive is the most cutting-edge event in tech and I’m looking for something that will be bigger than Facebook, bigger than Twitter,” says Shaq. “Help me help you!”
Startups attending SXSWi 2013 can “Pitch Shaq!” by downloading the free Tout mobile app for iOS or Android, using their smartphone to shoot a 15-second Tout video pitch to Shaq, and tagging their Tout #pitchshaq while sharing to Tout.com, Twitter and Facebook.
Pitches will be viewable on Tout monitors positioned in hotel lobbies throughout SXSWi, on Tout mobile, and at Tout.com. Shaq will announce the winning company from the stage during his Q&A on Monday, March 11.
About Tout
Tout is a real-time information network of up-to-the-minute video updates across news, sports, politics, entertainment, or whatever moves you. Capture and share 15-second video updates to Tout.com, Tout mobile, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or your own website.