About Startup Weekend
Techstars Startup Weekend is a creative and collaborative three-day educational event where anyone can develop and pitch new startup ideas. It's about pitching, business model creation, prototyping, designing, and market validation, in a friendly and supportive team environment. All in just 54 hours.
Before you organize a Techstars Startup Weekend, it’s essential you have a clear understanding of our mission, values, and activities—to the community, potential sponsors and participants.
Our Core Values
The mission of Techstars Startup Weekend is to teach and promote entrepreneurship and build, strengthen, and empower communities through experiential learning. Startup Weekend participants build diverse teams, work on their ideas and pitches, and collaborate with like-minded, innovative, driven, and passionate individuals.
We believe that the people who come to our event will be the ones to solve the real challenges our world faces. We put people first and are open to all. With that in mind, we have defined four values at the core of Techstars Startup Weekend.
01. Connected Communities
We believe strong entrepreneurial ecosystems are created from connected communities. That’s why we create strong community bonds by facilitating connections and sharing our networks. This is the foundation for community transformation.
02. Giving First
We help others whenever possible, giving first to our community, with no specific expectations of return. We believe that the pay-it-forward principle builds strong startup networks and communities.
03. Teamwork Matters
We believe collaboration drives innovation. Our community leaders are an integral part of the Techstars Startup Weekend team. As a team, we act with integrity and treat others with respect.
04. Inclusive & Open
Techstars Startup Weekend is always open to all. We’re committed to making people feel included and welcomed—before, during and after the weekend. We invite all communities to participate. We use inclusive language in communications and respect cultural differences. We lead with empathy and encourage inclusive behaviour that will nurture a safe and inclusive environment.
A Typical Startup Weekend
While each Startup Weekend is a little different, the following schedule gives a sense of what a typical three day schedule will look like.
Day 1 - Meet, pitch, and form teams.
Day 2 - Build a minimum viable product and receive mentorship from local industry experts.
Day 3 - Complete work, give final pitch presentations, network, and celebrate!
Techstars Startup Weekend is always open to all, regardless of experience, background, skill set and abilities, and whether or not the participant has an idea to pitch.
The Value of Organizing a Techstars Startup Weekend
Whether you’re looking to build a startup community in your local city or interested in developing as an entrepreneur yourself, organizing is a great way to get involved. You may decide to become an organizer to:
Play a vital role in building startup culture and creating impact in your community
Join an extensive network of passionate, capable, and connected organizers around the world
Meet and network with talented, driven people from around your local or regional community
Develop organizational and people skills that will help expand your work portfolio and advance your professional development
Gain access to unique job opportunities in the Techstars network through Techstars Talent
Travel locally or around the world, where possible, as a Techstars Startup Weekend certified facilitator
Have the potential to attend one of our community leader summits.
