By this point, you really have no excuse for not knowing that Startup Weekend is making its way back to Boulder. This weekend!
The 54-hour competition might be one of the most intense, tiring weekends you’ve been through, but, with all that being said, you should definitely go! Here’s why:
- Get mentorship from some amazing coaches: Get some quality one-on-one time with Cameron Houser of Given Goods, Ben Nunez of BirdBox, Jessica Dillon of Quick Left, Evan Spitler of SparkFun Electronics, Eugene Wan of TechStars or Tim Burcham of Markit on Demand.
- Go on a few dates: With potential co-founders, that is. At SW, you can share your ideas with others and see how they work in a stressful environment. Here’s your chance to find that one person with whom you are really, truly compatible.
- Join the SW community: There are 45,000 Startup Weekend alumni all over the world. Even so, your SW experience is bound to be one-of-a-kind because Startups Weekends are participant-driven. Every SW is different and unique.
- Finally launch that idea: About 80 percent of SW attendees plan on continuing with their team after the weekend. After three months, 36 percent of SW startups are still at it!
- Amass goodies: For $99 (or less if you’re a student), you get dinner, lunch, breakfast throughout the weekend. Plus, unlimited coffee from Atlas Purveyors and beer from Avery Brewing Company.
When it comes right down to it, you can’t call yourself an entrepreneur in the Denver/Boulder area and not attend Startup Weekend. So reserve your ticket and start preparing now! Startup Weekend Boulder Organizer Chris Menard recommends practicing your 60-second pitch and researching your idea using Startup Weekend’s resource database. But his most useful tip?
“Get some extra sleep beforehand,” Menard said. “I would recommend against showing up sleep-deprived to Startup Weekend!”