TechCrunch

SXSW has traditionally been a stronghold for lifestyle technology.  Until recently, the Interactive crowd went as far as shunning the mere notion that enterprise business process or even mere productivity apps had anything to do with the social interaction of the creative minds that mingled amid the balmy spring weather of Austin.

APIs are so vital for business companies like TechCrunch are beginning to treat them as products in their own right. This approach allows such companies to maximize platform reach, profits and partnerships.

Photo courtesy of ProgrammableWeb.com

Here at Mashery, we’ve seen firsthand the proliferation of hackathons around the world.  There is no question to the tremendous value it presents to the API space for enterprise, startups, and the developer community.  The transition of an idea into an app can be a difficult process, especially when solving a complex problem. Hackers deserve tremendous credit for meeting this challenge and continuing to redefine how digital innovation will change the industry.