AUSTIN, TX: With thousands in attendance at the annual South by Southwest Interactive festival this week, major brands are seeking to connect with these tech-savvy influencers, from developers to young entrepreneurs.

Nearly 20,000 participants attended the interactive portion of SXSW last year, and more were expected for the 2012 show, which runs Friday, March 9, through Tuesday, March 13. Thousands more were expected later in the week for the music portion of the festival. 

Marketers here are trying to get ...