Lynk has been named a finalist for the 2020 SXSW Innovation Awards

Falls Church, Virginia-based Lynk has been named a finalist for the 2020 SXSW Innovation Awards in the Innovation in Connecting People category.

Launched in 2017 and formerly named UbiquitiLink, the startup provides mobile connectivity from space. Lynk’s patented space tech is designed to allow cellphone users to stay connected virtually anywhere on the globe using low-earth-orbit nanosatellites, even in isolated areas.

The startup is the only D.C.-area company named among the 65 finalists across 13 categories. Lynk is nominated with four other companies in its category for its ability to connect people in innovative ways. The winners will be announced on March 16 during SXSW’s 23rd annual awards ceremony. This program is part of the annual media conference and music festival in Austin, happening this year from March 13 to 22.

“We are pleased to be recognized by SXSW for solving what many thought was an impossible problem — allowing everyone to stay connected everywhere using standard mobile phones,” said Lynk CEO Charles Miller in a press release.”

A panel of expert judges sifted through hundreds of applications to narrow each of the 13 categories down to 5 nominees each. Each application was graded on “creativity, form, function and overall experience,” per a press release.

This accomplishment comes after Lynk was recently named the #5 most promising young company to watch this year on Technical.ly’s 2020 RealLIST Startups.

Last July, Lynk secured $5.2 million in seed funding from D.C. venture firm Revolution’s Rise of the Rest Seed Fund and Blazar Ventures. The startup has major plans this year, including launching fully operational satellites to begin its commercial service. This decision follows Lynk’s three rounds of testing cell towers in space last year.