PITCH TO PROTOTYPE IN 3 DAYS (FRI, Feb. 24 - SUN, Feb. 26)
One Weekend is all it takes to learn how to make your dreams a reality. Pitch idea. Form team. Launch company. It’s that simple! Be a part of the first Fort Collins Startup Weekend!
No previous experience required. Engineering, Computer Sciences, Business/ Non-Technical, Design fields encouraged to participate!
The Inaugural Fort Collins Startup Weekend hosted by The Colorado State University College of Business and Institute for Entrepreneurship invites entrepreneurs and aspiring entrepreneurs from all departments at CSU and the greater Fort Collins community to take an idea from nothing to something, pitch to prototype, in a three-day immersive workshop. (Get ready to work a little past bedtime!)
Startup Weekend propels participants to launch creative business, product, or service ideas by implementing the Lean Startup process. It starts by allowing anyone to pitch ideas, form teams around the top ideas, research their customers, and work intensely as teams to build a prototype that demonstrates the potential of their business. The event culminates in a pitch competition where teams present their business and demonstrate their prototype to a panel of experienced entrepreneurs.
In just 54 hours, you will experience the highs, lows, fun, and pressure that make up life at a startup. As you learn how to create a real company, you will meet experienced mentors, investors, co-founders, and sponsors who are ready to help you get started. Food, coffee, and soft drinks will be provided for the weekend.
Sunday Night Pitch Event
On Sunday, February 26, Startup Weekend participants will highlight their progress, innovation, and creativity in a “Shark Tank” style pitch to three judges. The judges will consist of three seasoned entrepreneurs. They will award the best two pitches, and the prizes will include in-kind donations from our sponsors and partners! If you are NOT participating in Startup Weekend, you will need to buy a ticket for the Pitch Event. (It's on the eventbrite)
NO TECHNOLOGY SKILLS REQUIRED
Any college student or community member (You do not have to live in Fort Collins) interested in startups, launching a business, entrepreneurship, or creative problem solving is encouraged to register. Startup Weekend demands teamwork, creativity, and determination! External experts with business and technical experience will help mentor teams, however, it is up to the participants to push the limits of their comfort zone and learn new skills.
NO TALK, ALL ACTION
Startup Weekend demands teamwork, creativity, determination, and focus from all participants. While Startup Weekend organizers and mentors will be on hand to help, every team will manage itself to optimize time.
Powered by Google for Entrepreneurs and Techstars, Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of passionate entrepreneurs with a mission to inspire, educate, and empower communities to launch revolutionary ideas.
Hosted by Colorado State University, this will be the first Startup Weekend in Fort Collins. It is the largest community of entrepreneurs in the world and has hosted 2000+ events in 200+ countries since 2007. Global sponsors of Startup Weekend include Coca-Cola, 3M, Sprint, Intuit, Chase Bank, .CO, and The Case Foundation.
Please feel free to contact fortcollins@startupweekend.org with any questions regarding the event!
