We told you what brands were up to at SXSW last week, which included tapping into attendees to crowdsource new ways to appeal to young consumers. Several brands at the festival also gave young startups the chance to earn support for their own innovative projects. Vitaminwater’s Project Hustle and Mastercard’s Priceless Elevator Pitch were Shark Tank-inspired contests that both took place in fake elevators, and asked participants to pitch unique proposals for a chance to win cash and mentorship to make their ideas come to life. Vitaminwater was also apparently inspired by Kickstarter: 10 Project Hustle finalists will continue selling their ideas and crowdfunding online for the following months. (Mashable)
