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.

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River City Labs


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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 16
  • 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.
  • Venue Closes

Saturday

Nov 17
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend
  • Lunch
  • Coaches Arrive. Call for needs & skills
  • Dinner
  • Pitch Coaching Sessions
  • Venue Closes

Sunday

Nov 18
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Coaches arrive… ASK QUESTIONS
  • Lunch
  • Tech checks begin. Start prepping for presentations
  • Dinner
  • FINAL PRESENTATIONS
  • Judging & awards
  • Wrapup
  • PARTY!
Judges

Darcy Naunton

General Partner, Adventure Capital   |  LinkedIn

Darcy is a General Partner at Adventure Capital, an early stage digital media venture capital fund focused on funding and guiding early stage digital media and web 2.0 companies. Adventure Capital is intently focused on advancing the digital and online technology ecosystem, capitalising on Australia’s intellectual capital by providing opportunities for innovative, driven and intelligent entrepreneurs to reach their full potential.

Chris Adams

Founding Partner, Beachball Media   |  LinkedIn

Chris Adams is an internationally recognized new media pioneer, media, entertainment and technology executive, children's author and with nearly twenty years of experience in accelerating businesses within the media space.

Over that time, he has worked for: Facebook, HBO, Comcast Cable and Interactive, Glam.com, Amazon.com, Lycos, Vimation.com, Quickflix.com.au and many more.

Rebecca Hay

Principal, Optus Innov8 Seed Program   |  LinkedIn

Rebecca has over 13 years working in the digital media industry and is responsible for delivering strategic partnerships, business development and sponsorships. Prior to joining Optus, Rebecca worked at some of Australia’s leading digital and consulting organisations including SBS, News Digital Media, Telstra BigPond, Ticketek and McKinsey & Company.

In addition to being a Principal at the Optus Innov8 Seed Program, Rebecca has been an organiser of numerous Startup Weekends in Australia.

Stephen Baxter

Founder, River City Labs   |  LinkedIn

Mr. Stephen Baxter has a background in starting Internet based companies in Australia and working overseas on large scale data networks. His background prior to this was defence with a near 9 year stint as a regular soldier after enlisting at age 15 specialising in electronics, telecom, opto-electonics and guided weapon systems.

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Coaches

Greg Beaver

Founder, The Pioneer Development Fund   |  LinkedIn

Greg is the founder of The Pioneer Development Fund, a Federal Government registered Pooled Development Fund, specialising in seed, start-up and early-expansion investments. Pioneer has made seven investments in early stage technology companies across a diversity of industries.

Katey Shaw

Anthill Magazine

> Ninja at Online Marketing and Outsourcing

> Decipherer of brain-dumped ideas, into clear thoughts. That lead to decisive action.

> Systemizing all thought processes into achievable goals, that help businesses conserve time and build profits.

Sam Friend

Director, Friendfly   |  LinkedIn

Professional, entrepreneur and investor with extensive experience from establishing, growing and floating Australia's most successful accommodation website, Wotif.com

Unique blend of down-to-earth interpersonal skills and financial acumen together with a flair for innovation and creative solutions.

Nicholas de Jong

Technology and Innovation Manager   |  LinkedIn

B.Eng, Mining Co-Founder Julius Finance Corporation, Co-Founder Sensory Networks Inc. Extensive experience establishing, building and operating companies in Financial Services, Information Security and Consulting. Formerly Chief Information Officer, Sensory Networks. Chief Security Analyst, Securify (New York) and Security Consultant, Kroll O'Gara (New York).

Colin Kinner

Director, Spike Innovation   |  LinkedIn

Over fifteen years experience in creating value from technology and innovation, including formation, financing and growth of technology-based start-ups in Australia and the UK.

Experience includes strategy development, business planning, raising and deploying early stage capital and providing training, mentoring and coaching to entrepreneurs.

Peter Laurie

Director, Junta   |  LinkedIn

Peter is a software engineering professional who focuses on delivery of projects to a high level of quality in an effective, efficient and elegant manner. He has been in the software industry for 17 years, the last 11 of which have been focused on Enterprise Java solutions using BEA/Oracle's WebLogic family of products.

David Fleming

Business Advisor, Gresham   |  LinkedIn

An experienced executive who is passionate about unlocking the opportunities that exist within growth ventures. Extensive experience and proven results in business planning, understanding the “customer” and delivering first class execution. David is a qualified lawyer with an entrepreneurial spirit. He has successfully launched and exited two businesses.

Leigh Angus

iLab Program Director, UniQuest   |  LinkedIn

Experienced strategic marketing and business development professional within the ICT sector, domestic and international. Experience includes identifying and developing new business and opening up new markets and revenue streams.

Jessie Roberts

Project Manager, QUT Innovation Space   |  LinkedIn

The QUT Innovation Space (QIS) aims to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at QUT. As Project Manager of QIS I am responsible for the overall design and development of all programs and I work in a managerial role with the Events Coordinator and office Administrator to orchestrate the implementation of these programs.

Through this role I also have the opportunity to work directly with entrepreneurial students in the development of their idea, technology or business as they work towards the commercial realisation of their idea.

Anthony Painter

Advisor & Investor, Couperate   |  LinkedIn

Energetic, committed and successful construction industry professional with considerable project management experience in the residential building sector. Strong background in the establishment and management of project systems and procedures and in the building of formal and effective partnerships with sub-contract and supply organisations to achieve overall project outcomes.

David Harrison

Owner, Mammoth Media   |  LinkedIn

My name is David Harrison. In gaming circles I go by the nickname ‘trog’. I work for a company called Mammoth Media, working on a variety of generally gaming-related products and services (including AusGamers and GameArena, two of Australia’s major gaming destinations).

I’ve spent a big chunk of the last ten years working with web and gaming technologies. My particular areas of interest include game service management, content distribution, web development, online games infrastructure and community integration and management.

Colin McCririck

CIO Corporate BT, Suncorp   |  LinkedIn

Colin McCririck has over 30 years of experience in a variety of different industries including banking and insurance, natural resources, utilities and government departments. Colin's roles have included strategy and architecture as well as software development. Colin currently leads a technology team of over a hundred staff that look after the insurance claims domain at Suncorp. This includes projects and support across multiple product lines for Suncorp's core insurance brands in personal and commercial insurance.

Louisa Dahl

Founder & Director, Interactive Minds   |  LinkedIn

Louisa is an interactive marketing expert who founded event networking group Interactive Minds.

Louisa has over 12 years experience in the online marketing industry working for both private companies and agencies in developing and delivering strategic online marketing activities.

Louisa runs monthly events for professionals interested in online marketing and the internet through Interactive Minds where attendees can learn from talented industry speakers.

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Organizers
Dinesh George
Darcy Naunton
Peta Ellis
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Judging Criteria

by swbrisbane

The Startup Weekend judging criteria is broken up into three sections. Teams are judged according to the following 3 criteria [...]

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