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

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

Feb 22
  • 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

Feb 23
  • 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

Feb 24
  • 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 at the Henry Center on the South End of Campus
  • Wrapup
  • Go home!
Platinum Sponsors
Become one
Speakers

Kyle Bazzy

President of Benzinga

Kyle Bazzy is the President of Benzinga and passionate entrepreneur. Prior to becoming President, Kyle grew the business development program and managed product development. In 2012, Benzinga launched Marketfy, the first ever curated and verified marketplace that helps traders find the best financial products, tools and education. Through both Marketfy and Benzinga, Kyle continues to provide guidance and innovation in an effort to make a lasting impact on the financial industry.

Gold Sponsors
Become one
Judges

Ken Root

Director of Membership, Small Business Association of Michigan

Ken draws on 13 years business experience predominantly focused on business-to-business consultative development. 7 of those 13 years were focused in the franchise industry helping entrepreneurs build on their dream of business ownership. Ken has recently taken the position of Director of Membership at SBAM to continue the strong business growth in the state of Michigan and offer the benefits, services and advocacy entrepreneurs need to grow and maintain in this growing business climate.

Robert Fulk

CEO in Residence, Spartan Innovations

Robert Fulk is an accomplished business executive with nearly 20 years demonstrated leadership experience in the strategic business consulting and information systems industry – reengineering clients’ processes to achieve high performance and efficiency. Rob has held several leadership positions in successful companies establishing business and marketing strategies, operations, and financial processes resulting in increased market share and improved margins. Rob has a graduate certificate in accounting and an MBA in strategic management.

Dr. Forrest (Sam) Carter

Associate Professor of Marketing, Michigan State University   |  LinkedInGoogle+

Dr. Carter is currently an Associate Professor of Marketing in the Eli Broad School of Business at Michigan State University

Brian Town

President / Founder, Michigan Creative Media

Brian Town is one of the few mid Michigan certified Apple Final Cut Pro 7 and X trainers and is an independent on-line editor, line producer and cinematographer. He has his Masters degree in Business administration and Leadership from the University of Michigan. Brian started Michigan Creative in 2010, and directs the company out of the Technology Innovation Center in East Lansing Michigan. Michigan Creative is a full service creative marketing company dedicated to helping Michigan Business and Entrepreneurs.

Silver Sponsors
Become one
Coaches

Scott Watkins

Director of Market and Industry Analysis

Scott Watkins is Anderson Economic Group’s Director of Market and Industry Analysis. He and his team work with public and private sector clients to deepen understandings of their market, their place in the economy, and to develop strategies to strengthen their competitive positions. Recent clients include the Project Management Institute, Michigan State University, Automation Alley, the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitor Bureau, Rock Development, and the Michigan Retailers Association

Scott began his career with AEG in 2001, and has taken lead roles in developing the firm’s operating, financial, and quality assurance policies and procedures. He servers as AEG’s controller, and is also the CFO for the recently-launched software company Supported Intelligence, LLC.

Scott holds an M.B.A. from the Broad College of Business at Michigan State University. He also has B.A.’s in marketing and international relations from MSU. He serves on the board of directors for the Lansing Sailing Club, the James Madison College Alumni Association, and the Michigan Remembers 9-11 Fund.

Dave Mulder

Co Founder, GoSoapBox

Dave Mulder co-founded GoSoapBox, an award-winning audience response system, at Lansing Startup Weekend in 2011. Initially working in education, GoSoapBox has expanded to events, conferences, and corporate training. Dave specializes in product design and user experience

Media Sponsors
Become one
Organizers
Jeff Smith
Paul Jaques
Tom Stewart
Ken Szymusiak
Blog
view all

Welcome to 2013!

by lansing

This February, we are very eager to bring the best pitches, ideas, and startups we have seen to date.  Considering [...]

SWLansing 2.0

by lansing

So… hopefully you loved SWLansing Mark I. It was awesome, and we are ready to go for round 2. To [...]

Meet the Teams of SWLansing: Thoughtback

by lansing

Name: Thoughtback Site: thoughtback.com Twitter: @thoughtback Facebook: facebook.com/thoughtback The private idea “journal” that automagically collects, organizes and e-mails your thoughts, [...]

Upcoming Events
View all
Past Events
View all
Oct 5-7 2012