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

Location: JCTC Small Business & Entrepreneurship Center, 620 S. 3rd St., Suite 200


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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!

Startup Weekend Spring ’13 Location:

JCTC Small Business and Entrepreneurship Center

620 South 3rd St, Suite 200, Louisville, KY 40202

3rd St. South of Chestnut, next to the Henry Clay Building

Parking Options

  • Paid surface lots across 3rd St. – $3/day, unattended, credit cards accepted.
  • Parking garages: 3rd St just before Broadway, Chestnut St between 3rd & 4th.
  • Parking meters on 3rd St – free after 6PM and on and Sunday.

 

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Thanks to our Food Sponsors

Startup Weekend includes great food & drinks!

HeineBros InsiderLouisville JGumbos RooibeeRedTea SkylineChili

Schedule

Friday

Mar 1
  • 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

Mar 2
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend
  • Lunch - Accelerator programs present
  • 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

Mar 3
  • 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!
Host Sponsors
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Speakers

Cedric Francois

President and CEO at Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Cedric Francois has founded two companies in Louisville, Potentia Pharmaceuticals and Apellis Pharmaceuticals. He received an M.D. degree from the University of Leuven in Belgium and a Ph.D. in Physiology from the University of Louisville. His research has been published widely, and he is an inventor on many biotechnology patent applications. He was featured recently as keynote speaker at Venture Connectors, and is an Adjunct Professor at University of Louisville.

Judges

Felicia Allen

Former Partner and COO, Ascend Venture Group

Ms. Allen was responsible for human resources, operations, investor relations, finance, administration, and legal matters at Ascend Venture Group in New York.

Mike Dahlem

Former CEO, TelaPoint

Mike co-founded TelaPoint, Inc. in 1999 where he held the position of President and CEO. His responsibilities included: securing investment capital, negotiating customer contracts, attracting key employees, and contributing to the overall vision of the supply chain solutions. Mike has also held executive positions at FocusSoft, Inc., and IBM.

Kimberly Spalding

CFO Consultant

Ms. Spalding was co-founder of both TechRepublic and NarrowCast Group, where she served as CFO at both companies until they were sold. As CFO at each company, Kim lead the companies’ human resources, information technology and financial divisions. She also had primary responsibility for facilities and risk management and banking and equity investor relationships. Kim has experience raising both equity and debt capital.

Andy Swan

Founder, SwanPowers, LLC

Mr. Swan founded MyTrade.com and Daytrade Team.

Phoebe Wood

Independent Consumer Goods Professional

Ms. Wood is an active angel investor and the former Vice Chairman and CFO of Brown-Forman.

Gold Sponsors
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Silver Sponsors
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Mentors

Ty Adams

Managing Director, Adams:Kincaid Design

Katie Bush

Founder & Creative Director, KBD

Jonathan Erwin

CEO / Founder of Red e App

Terry Goertz

Former co-CEO, ParkVu Inc

John Humphreys

VP Business Development at IGear Online, LLC

Elizabeth Rounsavall

Marketing, Operations & Research at Chrysalis Ventures

Tony Schy

Managing Director at VelocitySI

Bob Saunders

Managing Director, Saunders Capital

Organizers
Melissa Chipman
Greg Langdon
Kelby Price
John Receveur
Eric Roland
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Past Events
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Sep 14-16 2012