Ever wondered what it takes to be an entrepreneur?
The professional and personal challenges, the high and lows, the failures and the success?
Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011.
The non-profit organization is headquartered in Seattle, Washington but Startup Weekend organizers and facilitators can be found in over 200 cities around the world. From Mongolia to South Africa to London to Brazil, people around the globe are coming together for weekend long workshops to pitch ideas, form teams, and start companies.
All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.
Whether entrepreneurs found companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new, or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of startups. If you want to put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur, register now for the best weekend of your life!
Program:
Friday
Nov 16
•5:00pm Registration Starts
•5:30pm Dinner & Networking
•6:30pm Welcome & Warm up
•7:00pm Pitches Start
•8:00pm Attendees vote for the top ideas
•8:30pm Teams start forming and discussing ideas
•9:00pm Start to formalize teams, arrange setup and get to work
Saturday
Nov 17
•9:00am Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
•9:30am Hard work
•12:30pm Lunch
•1:00pm Call for needs & skills
•2:00pm Coaches help teams one-on-one. They are here to help!
•6:30pm Dinner
•7:30pm Silicon Vikings evening - talks and fun
•9:00pm Keep on working!
Sunday
Nov 18
•9:00am Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
•9:30am Work even harder!
•12:00pm Lunch
•12:30pm Prepare for the trial pitch
•1:30pm Trial pitches
•4:00pm FINAL PRESENTATIONS
•5:30pm Dinner
•6:30pm Judging & awards
•7:00pm Networking
•9:00pm Heading to the afterparty