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Voice of America Learning Center

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

May 31
  • 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

Jun 1
  • 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

Jun 2
  • 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!
Gold Sponsors
Mentors

Avi Ram

Avi Ram was born and educated in Israel, with vast international experience gained in almost 15 years of working with entrepreneurs in South Africa, USA, UK, Europe and Switzerland. Avi acquired full company life-cycle experience, from setting-up and funding, through leading, investing and coaching, to selling and closing-down various startup ventures. Enjoy helping and working with exceptional people who have elegantly solved a valuable customer pain and now need top class project and general management expertise to realise their full commercial potential.

Ry Walker

Co-Founder @ Differential

- Cincinnati entrepreneur and web developer.
- Creator of more than a dozen companies and products.
- Lives in Anderson Township, Ohio with his wife and three children.
- Coaches and plays basketball, plays tennis.
- Co-founder of Spark59, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs success through tools, content, and coaching.
- Current organizer of the Cincinnati Lean Startup Circle.
- Created Sharkbytes, Inc. in 1995, one of the first web development firms nationally. Grew the company to 35 employees, and sold it in 1999.
- Served as senior leadership roles for The Devine Group and RecruitMilitary, both Cincinnati-based, technology-centered small businesses.

Silver Sponsors
Organizers
Tim Metzner
Rodney D'Souza
Nikki Pfahler
Chris Ridenour
Blog

Teams are Formed!

by swcincy

After a brutal elimination round Friday night, 8 teams remain! They worked late into the night Friday and got back [...]