WisePies Pizza was one of 45 finalists to pitch at SXSW festival

Sixty seconds — that is all Season Chavez had to communicate the nearly 10-year business journey of WisePies Pizza, Snacks, and Sauces at Austin’s SXSW festival earlier this month.

Chavez, founder and president of the Albuquerque-based frozen food company, joined state officials and other company leaders to pitch New Mexico’s offerings at the event, which gathers artists, industry professionals, creatives and innovators from across the globe every year.

While other New Mexico-based leaders and companies made the trip to highlight the state’s tech and film scenes, Chavez was there to showcase her company’s food innovations within the Sustainability, AgTech and Food category of the SXSW’s marquee pitch event.

Out of 589 companies that applied to present at SXSW Pitch 2026, WisePies was selected to be one of 45 finalists that got to make their pitch to a panel of judges and a live audience across nine separate categories in mid-March.

In a statement, SXSW Pitch Event Producer Chris Valentine said WisePies and the other 44 finalists “constitute the next wave of innovation across the globe.”

WisePies’ selection, which Chavez learned about in February, nearly “took (her) breath away,” she said.

“It’s such an honor,” Chavez added.

With coaching and guidance from SXSW officials, Chavez spent the weeks leading up to event prepping and practicing the pitch — an experience she said challenged her to compile years of hard work into a message that was concise but impactful.

“Mealtime stress is something that millions of families are experiencing, and there's a strong demand for better-for-you, convenient food options that don't compromise on quality or flavor,” Chavez said.

As a working mother, Chavez’s own mealtime stress and search for convenient yet quality meals is what drove her to create WisePies in 2017. The company — the first and only frozen pizza business to come from New Mexico — has sold more than 2 million units since then. Available in thousands of grocery stores nationwide, but primarily in the Southwest, WisePies’ products include a portfolio of pizzas, calzones, sauces — and now, WisePies Mega Bites.

The Mega Bites, which WisePies rolled out roughly 18 months ago, feature small pizza bites stuffed with cheese and roasted red bell pepper marinara sauce. The company launched the product in Costco stores throughout the Southwest, as well as with the Texas retailer HEB.

The HEB launch was a major motivator in applying to pitch at the Austin festival, Chavez said. Participation in the event would establish crucial visibility and networking opportunities for the company, which is planning a retail expansion into the Midwest in the next two years, according to the WisePies president. Raising capital could be another avenue to support those future plans — something the company has not yet done, she said.

In the meantime, Chavez is still feeling the energy and taking notes from the day of the SXSW pitch, which she said was “amazingly charging,” Chavez said.

“You're surrounded by founders who are solving real problems at a really high level,” the founder added, “and that pushes you to be extremely clear and focused on how you tell your story.”

While WisePies did not take away the Best in Show winner award in its category, Chavez said she and the company came away with invaluable connections with consumer packaged goods professionals from Austin and across the country.

“The level of interest and engagement from them was beyond any other event that we've been to,” Chavez said. “Those connections are going to be something that will allow us to support our future growth and partnerships.”

WisePies also participated in the New Mexico House — a coalition of companies and state departments that presented the state’s offerings at SXSW — by serving WisePies’ green chile pizzas throughout the event.

Through connecting with entrepreneurs — not just from the food industry, but across various sectors and states — Chavez said her company’s mission came even more into focus.

“This is a problem that we're solving that truly resonates with busy working families,” Chavez said.

WisePies’ participation in SXSW, she added, “represents our continued momentum as we expand into new markets and bring better-for-you comfort food to more families across the country — and showcase New Mexico and our amazing hatch green chile along the way.”

Kylie Garcia covers retail and real estate for the Journal. You can reach her at kgarcia@abqjournal.com.