What Is Startup Weekend?

What is Startup Weekend?

Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities. Come share ideas, form teams, and launch startups.

Startup Weekend Global Site

Past event…

Event Ended

T-REx Incubator

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!

Schedule

Friday

Nov 9
  • Registration Starts
  • Dinner & Networking
  • Welcome & Speakers
  • Pitches Start
  • Attendees vote for the top ideas
  • Teams start forming and discussing ideas
  • Start to formalize teams and take an inventory of skills. Be honest, and direct about what resources and skills are needed for the weekend. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow

Saturday

Nov 10
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend
  • Lunch
  • Call for needs & skills
  • Coaches help teams one-on-one. They are here to help!
  • Dinner
  • Mid weekend check-in, status reports, call for help
  • Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow

Sunday

Nov 11
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Call for help (this is self motivated, so don’t be shy)
  • Lunch
  • Coaches arrive… ASK QUESTIONS
  • Gut check. Start prepping for presentations
  • Dinner
  • FINAL PRESENTATIONS
  • Judging & awards
  • Wrapup
  • Go home!
Media Sponsor
Become one
Speakers

Ron Roy

Founder, Wines that Rock

Ron has been a serial entertainment and sports entrepreneur for more than two decades. His first major success came when rock icon David Bowie and Ron’s team built the world’s largest music-based online Fanclub & Ticketing Company - UltraStar. Boasting a client list of professional sports teams that included The New York Yankees plus 19 other franchises and music legends such as The Rolling Stones, U2, Sting, AC/DC, and Madonna, UltraStar was at the forefront of social networking before it was the word that it is today. UltraStar was sold to LiveNation in 2005.
Leveraging that success, Ron founded a Rock ‘n Roll wine company in 2008 called Wines That Rock, which has seen International success in sales and marketing. Launched backstage at the Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame 25thAnniversary concerts, the first wines introduced were produced and branded for the Rolling Stones, 1969 Woodstock Festival, The Police and Pink Floyd, Sting and the Grateful Dead. The wines were recently named the official wine of all Hard Rock Cafes, Hotels and Casinos worldwide.
In addition to his entrepreneurial endeavors, Ron is an adjunct professor at Saint Louis University where he teaches Entrepreneurship and Digital Strategies in their business school.

Gold Sponsors
Become one
Silver Sponsors
Become one
Bronze Sponsors
Become one
Judges

Jean Roberson

CFO at Appistry

The Appistry CloudIQ Platform makes it easy for enterprises to harness the power and flexibility of cloud computing and virtualized IT infrastructure. Appistry is my third "start-up" experience. Prior to joining Appistry I was the CFO of Bandwidth Exchange and Partner Communications. Before getting involved in early stage IT companies I was the Treasurer for Purina Mills and started my career in public accounting with Ernst & Young. I have been involved in mentoring companies with ITen since 2008.

Dana Marshall

I am an engineer by training, and experienced executive, having founded and led technology-driven companies in the laser, photonics, optics, high voltage, and defense science fields. I have broad management experience with small companies (scientific research markets).
A portion of my career has been invested in rebuilding damaged organizations and turnaround situations. I have a special interest in organizational dynamics and design, and have had success helping management teams navigate through difficult growth transitions, including founder succession, major market shifts, and recovery from business crises.

Tom Niermann

CEO at Achieve Communication

Tom is currently the CEO at Achieve Communication. They are dedicated to helping families & individuals impact Autism, and the associated learning disabilities, reach their full potential with iPad application specially build for different learning styles and communication abilities.

Curtis Davis

COO at Multicoreware

Curtis is currently the COO of Multicoreware in St. Louis, MO. He is also a co-founder of Ageia Technologies that was sold to NVIDIA."

Organizers
Rosa Mayer
Matt Menietti
Jody Shelton
Steven Adamski
Francis Chmelir
Jay DeLong
Shawn McGinness
Kevin Farrell
Tara Pham
Photos
Blog
view all
Upcoming Events
View all