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

CitySpace, Charlottesville, Virginia


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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!

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.

Schedule

Friday

Oct 26
  • 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

Oct 27
  • 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

Oct 28
  • 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!
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Speakers

Stephanie Hay

Co-Founder   |  

Stephanie Hay (@steph_hay) is the co-founder of FastCustomer, co-organizer of the DC Lean Startup Circle, creator of NovaCowork, and a resident mentor at 500 Startups. When not testing ideas like Coffeeworking, she writes articles for publications including A List Apart and mentors startups on their content and UX design.

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Judges

Jim Cheng

Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade

As Secretary of Commerce & Trade, Jim Cheng manages the jobs and opportunity agenda for Virginia. In this role, Secretary Cheng oversees thirteen state agencies focused on promoting the growth of Virginia’s vibrant business community and attracting new investment into Virginia’s economy.

Secretary Cheng has over 20 years of experience in information technology and government contracting, and is active in angel investment and early stage entrepreneurial ventures of various types. He was most recently the President of Totus Lighting Solutions, a startup efficient-energy firm, and mentored several emerging companies.

From 1994-2005, Secretary Cheng was founder and CEO of CHM, a government contracting company specializing in Information Technology, which he grew from a staff of 5 people to 550 and $90M in revenue at the time of sale in 2005. In 1999, his company was named Virginia Business Magazine's fastest growing private company in Virginia and #12 fastest growing private US company in Inc Magazine's "Inc 500". In 2001, he was named SE Virginia's KPMG Entrepreneur of the year. From 1981-1994 at ECI, a government IT contracting firm, Secretary Cheng held various management and technical positions, rising to the position of Sr. Vice President of Marketing.

Secretary Cheng is active in the community and has served on the boards of non-profits, state-level and community organizations. He was a board member of the Virginia Small Business Finance Authority from 1999 2007, and is currently a Trustee of the Darden School Foundation at UVA, and a member of the ODU Education Foundation Board. Secretary Cheng holds a BS Degree in Computer Science from Old Dominion University,
a MBA from the Colgate Darden Graduate School of Business (UVA) and a JD from Georgetown University Law Center.

Long-time residents of Virginia Beach, Jim and his wife, Jeanette, moved to Northern Virginia in the late 1990's, where they reside.

Kurt Wassenaar

Chairman and COO

Kurt Wassenaar is a serial entrepreneur and veteran of seven startups as co-founder and senior executive over the last 20 years. With an undergraduate background in chemistry, biology and computer science, he is also a licensed Architect with a Masters of Architecture degree from the University of Michigan. Most recently, Kurt was co-founder and CEO of Charlottesville based Medical Automation Systems, Inc. working in the field of clinical informatics which was sold to Alere Corporation in November of 2011. He was also the CEO of the Epsilon Group, working in the field of computer modeling, analytics, and simulation studies for FDA clinical trials.

Currently he serves is as the Chairman and COO for Vibethink Corporation, a new digital media and marketing startup in Charlottesville and also has an active real estate development and design practice. Kurt joined the Charlottesville community 30 years ago as the Chief Architect of the University of Virginia and taught as an Associate professor of Architecture, founder of the schools Computer Graphics and Technology laboratory, and served for 8 years as Director of Research and Technology for the school. He has an ongoing interest in the ways that technology and design can improve our lives and a deep love of investing in and building new technology based ventures.

J. S. Gamble

Investor, Advisor   |  LinkedInGoogle+

Background – Founding Member of Blu Venture Investors. Served as Acting CEO of Smart Imaging Systems, Inc. Currently Advisor to Agilyst, Inc., Semantic Labs and Wiser Together, Inc. Senior Operating Executive positions in Broadband Cable and Wireless Operating Units with more than 15 years of Full P&L and CapEx responsibility. Built Teams focused on innovation, improving execution, developing and launching new products to drive revenue and OCF growth. Staff and Operating positions with McKinsey & Company, Inc., Price Waterhouse, and GTE MobilNet (Wireless Division). Adjunct professor of entrepreneurship at the McDonough School of Business, Georgetown University.
Education – McIntire School of Commerce, The University of Virginia (BS) The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (MBA)
Industry Expertise – Wireless and Broadband Telecom, Management Consulting
Functional Expertise – Finance, Marketing, Operations, New Product Development, Performance Improvement, Strategic Planning

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Coaches

Justin Etheredge

Founder   |  

Justin is co-founder and principal of Ecstatic Labs, a regional boutique software consultancy focused on building world class Rails and JavaScript web applications. When he isn't helping clients with their technology challenges, he is usually writing on his blog at CodeThinked.com, neck deep in a side project, drinking a tasty microbrew, or helping organize local code camps, conferences, and user groups.

Rob Masri

CEO/Founder

Mr. Masri is the founder and CEO of Cardagin Networks, Inc., a mobile marketing company that builds mobile loyalty programs for businesses interested in retaining their long-term customers. Cardagin has been branded a market leader by the Wall Street Journal, Inc. Magazine, the Financial Times and named a finalist for the 2011 Most Promising American Companies by Forbes Magazine.
Mr. Masri has extensive legal and business experience, having served as the Chief Development Officer for the University of Virginia Law School Foundation during the Law School’s $150 million capital campaign. Prior to joining the Law School Foundation, Mr. Masri was executive vice president and general counsel of Multicity, Inc. and a corporate attorney with Cooley and Hunton & Williams. Mr. Masri received his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.
Mr. Masri currently resides in Charlottesville with his wife, Natalie, and three children, Mira, Felix and Xavier.

Jim Erler

After over 20 years in technical consulting in Washington D.C., Mr. Erler spent a short time at Mercer Management Consulting before starting a semiconductor company. As the founder and CEO, he raised venture capital and developed the company's product strategy (battery power management for mobile devices). The resulting technology was ultimately sold to Texas Instruments.

Since moving to Charlottesville in 2004, he has provided strategic consulting to a local instrument company founded by graduates from the Physics department at UVa. In addition, Mr. Erler founded and operates a vacation rental business at Smith Mountain Lake and a residential home design business.

Jim brings a commitment to customer inquiry and pivotal problem solving to strategic planning, operations and due diligence. His participation in the Startup Weekend is motivated by his passion for mentoring and his interest in building companies through advising and active participation.

Mr. Erler has a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California, and an Bachelor’s Degree in Physics and Chemistry from the University of Redlands.

Doug Muir

CEO

Douglas Muir is a former captain with a US airline and is an authority in business strategy for small to midsize companies, having successfully built several multimillion dollar enterprises from the ground up.

He is considered the start-up guru and speaks internationally on topics of entrepreneurship, innovation, and business growth. He has been interviewed by Gerri Willis of CNN and by Bloomberg Radio, and has been published and quoted in numerous publications including Business Week and The Scotsman Guide, a prestigious magazine for the banking, mortgage, and investor industry. Douglas is the host of The Doug and Eric Show on ABC, “Exposing the Hidden Truths about the Three Credit Bureaus and the Banking and Finance System”. He was recently featured in Kaihan Krippendorff's business tactics book, Hide a Dagger Behind a Smile, which described how Muir infiltrated the insurance industry and locked out his competition.

Gary Henry

Principal Consultant

Gary Henry is the Principal Consultant of G F Henry and Associates, a management consulting firm and founder and Executive Director of the Charlottesville Technology Incubator (CTI) which accelerates the successful development of startup tech companies.

Gary’s career includes 26 years with General Electric during which he started two businesses, one in Europe and one in North America. Since then he has been a CEO and COO for startup and growth companies and a serial founder, principal, and angel investor. Gary served as CEO of Dominion Digital, a business process and technology consulting firm, from 2001 through 2003 when Dominion Digital was named one of the 50 fastest growing Virginia companies by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and later as Chairman and COO. He was named an Ernst & Young Virginia Entrepreneur of the Year in 2001.

Gary is Chairman of the Virginia Piedmont Regional Science Fair, twice past Chairman of the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council, Chairman Emeritus of the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council, and a past Chairman of the Technology Roundtable of the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce. In 2010 Gary was the recipient of the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council’s Navigator Award presented to the enterprise or individual who has demonstrated exceptional leadership in the regional business community. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology in Electrical Engineering.

Letitia Green

Managing Partner

Letitia Green is Managing Partner and Co-Founder of the Virginia Active Angel Network, LLC (VAAN) and Virginia Investment Capital Group, Inc. Since its October 2005 launch, VAAN has invested in 13 companies totaling $2.75M with investments in Washington, DC, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, and co-investments with several other ACA-member angel groups. As an entrepreneur, Letitia has started and run 3 companies. She has served on the Angel Capital Association’s Legislative Committee for the last three years, is certified to teach the Kauffman Foundation’s “Fasttrac” TechVenture and GrowthVenture Programs and is on the faculty at the University of Virginia’s School of Engineering & Applied Sciences teaching Entrepreneurship & Financing for Tech Ventures to engineers in the Business Minor program. She speaks frequently on venture financing at events for entrepreneurs and investors, most recently for the NIH at the Advanced Material Partnership Forum in Hampton Roads. Letitia began her private equity experience in New York and has experience across the financial spectrum holding positions at Oppenheimer & Co., Mocatta & Goldsmid, The Blackstone Group and Roxbury Capital Management (now CBIC-Oppenheimer). She holds a BA from the University of Virginia and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

John Feminella

Cofounder

John Feminella is a frequent instigator of shenanigans, occasional public speaker, and software architect hailing from New York and Charlottesville. Along with his two partners, John is the cofounder of Fluxcrux, a nascent technology solutions consultancy and laboratory of fun ideas. He's founded or worked at several startups to date, with three successful exits.

John contributes to open-source software on a regular basis on GitHub, and has answered thousands of questions on StackOverflow, where he's ranked in the top 0.1% of users. When he's not developing software or leading technical teams, John can be found making halfhearted attempts to improve his culinary skills, mentoring budding entrepreneurs at HackCville, or relaxing with a good book.

Brenden Grace

VP Engineering

Brenden Grace has found himself apart of or starting too many failed
startups to list. The last venture he was apart of, Personifi, was
acquired by Collective where he is now Vice President of Engineering.
Brenden is responsible for architecting and managing Collective's
Display Advertising technology platform and global engineering team
that generates well over 100 million dollars in revenue a year. When
he is not on the Delta shuttle heading to Collective's headquarters in
NYC you can find him working in coffee shops in Charlottesville, or at
his mentor desk at HackCville.

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Organizers
AC Capehart
Tracey Danner
Lianne Landers
John Thomas
Mark Green
John Berryman
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