Business Mission to Texas, USA

The Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) organized a business mission to Austin from March 12–16, 2026, on the occasion of the prestigious technology and innovation festival SXSW (South by Southwest). The mission was carried out within the framework of the National Project Support for the Internationalization of SMEs 2, aimed at promoting the export activities of Slovak small and medium-sized enterprises.

The business mission was organized in cooperation with SARIO’s Special Representative to the U.S. for Trade and Investment, Vladimír Lackovič, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in Washington, the Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Texas, the organization Slovak PRO and HR4U Solutions a Chavez & Valko LLP.

The main part of the program was the Slovak House event at SXSW, which provided Slovak companies with an opportunity to present their technological solutions, innovations, and business projects to an international audience. The program included company presentations, panel discussions, and networking with representatives of the technology and business community in Texas.

The event was opened by the Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the USA, Andrej Droba, and the Director General of SARIO, Egon Zorád. The program also featured a panel discussion with distinguished guests, including Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson.

The following day, Slovak companies had the opportunity to attend a lunch hosted by the Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic in Texas, Martin Valko. The event was also attended by Ambassador Andrej Droba and provided a platform for discussions on opportunities for developing trade cooperation and supporting Slovak companies in entering the U.S. market.

Participation in the business mission and accompanying SXSW events enabled Slovak companies to establish new contacts, present their solutions to a global audience, and gain insights into the latest trends in technology, the startup ecosystem, and innovation. Each year, SXSW brings together entrepreneurs, investors, technology companies, and creative leaders from around the world.

Participating Companies
A total of 15 Slovak SMEs took part in the business mission: AKULAR EMEA, Artman Technologies, RWY31 Ventures, Diorama, Telegrafia, Flowis, TACT, Instea, DimensionLab, ILFIRON, Opinest, Polyplast výrobné družstvo Pliešovce, Webgate, NextIT, PIVOT + QARI.

During the mission, the companies held more than 200 B2B meetings. The business mission represents another step in supporting the internationalization of Slovak SMEs and creates new opportunities for their expansion in the dynamic U.S. market.