Ooga Technologies, a North Carolina-based innovator, has made headlines by being named a finalist in the prestigious SXSW Pitch competition for 2026. This marks a significant achievement as it is the first time a company from North Carolina has reached this stage in the competition’s 18-year history.
The SXSW Pitch, a highlight of the South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference & Festivals, will unfold from March 12-18, 2026, in Austin, Texas. The event showcases cutting-edge startups from around the globe, providing them with a platform to present their groundbreaking technologies to a distinguished panel of judges and a live audience.
Out of 589 applicants, Ooga Technologies secured its spot among 45 finalists within the Smart Cities, Transportation, Manufacturing & Logistics category. The two-day event will kick off the SXSW festivities, culminating in an awards ceremony on March 14, where the competition winners will be honored.
Ooga Technologies specializes in an Integrated Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) inspections platform that utilizes AI to enhance the efficiency and reliability of infrastructure inspections. Designed to address capacity constraints in critical sectors like energy and transportation, the platform can streamline inspection processes from months to mere days while cutting costs by up to 60%. By digitizing the complete inspection workflow, Ooga enables its clients to transform inspections into competitive advantages rather than bottlenecks.
“Our technology helps utilities and midstream operators make faster and more reliable integrity decisions,” said Dr. Ajay Pasupuleti, CEO and Co-Founder of Ooga Technologies. “We’re excited to showcase how we’re innovating within the NDT industry.”
The SXSW Pitch will feature a total of nine categories, ranging from Enterprise and Future of Work to Sustainability, AgTech & Food, highlighting the diverse innovations poised to impact various sectors.
As the global drive for energy continues to rise, Ooga Technologies is positioned to play a pivotal role in enhancing the reliability and efficiency of natural gas infrastructure. Their platform serves as a comprehensive marketplace for vetted NDT experts, equipped with a suite of AI-driven tools to facilitate collaboration and project management.
For more information on SXSW Pitch and a complete list of finalists, visit https://www.sxsw.com/pitch.
