Socialtrait Selected as SXSW Pitch 2026 Finalist in Intelligent Systems & Robotics
San Francisco, CA, January 22, 2026— Socialtrait has been selected as one of the top five finalists in the Intelligent Systems & Robotics category at SXSW Pitch 2026, part of the annual SXSW Conference & Festivals.
SXSW Pitch is the marquee event of South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals (March 12 - 18,2026), where leading startups from around the world showcase some of the most impressive technology innovations to a panel of hand-picked judges and a live audience. Out of the 589 companies that applied to present at SXSW Pitch 2026, Socialtrait was selected among the 45 finalists, spanning nine separate categories.
At Socialtrait, we simulate AI-driven communities using an audience behavioural simulation engine, helping teams understand how people are likely to perceive, react, and respond before ideas, messages, or products are launched.
“Being selected as an SXSW Pitch finalist is strong validation of the problem we’re working on,” said Vivek Kumar, Founder & CEO of Socialtrait. “Socialtrait makes audience behavioural simulation accessible, enabling teams to simulate and predict how ideas, messages, and products are likely to perform before launch. AI can optimize decisions at scale, but without early insight into human reaction, teams risk making choices that miss the social, cultural, and emotional reality of their audience.”
By enabling teams to anticipate human reactions earlier, Socialtrait aims to reduce unnecessary waste, misalignment, and unintended consequences, supporting more thoughtful, responsible decision-making at scale.
“SXSW Pitch has been supporting and elevating the global startup community since its inception in 2009. Over the last 18 years, SXSW Pitch has sought to provide the necessary resources and exposure to help startups succeed and thrive as they navigate the early-stage venture ecosystem,” said SXSW Pitch Event Producer Chris Valentine. “The 45 companies selected as 2026 finalists constitute the next wave of innovation across the globe. We look forward to seeing these startups take the stage in March to present their new technologies to our panel of expert judges.”
SXSW Pitch finalists present live on stage March 13–14, 2026 in Austin, Texas, as part of the official Pitch program.
For more information about SXSW Pitch and to view the complete list of finalists, visit: https://www.sxsw.com/pitch
About Socialtrait
Socialtrait is the world’s first Audience Behavior Simulation Engine - an AI platform that creates lifelike digital populations to test ideas, concepts, and campaigns before they hit the market at scale. It helps enterprises replace guesswork with predictive clarity, transforming how global brands understand, anticipate, and influence human behavior.
Media contact: anna@socialtrait.com
