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

Startup Weekend Mount Pleasant

powered by the Kauffman Foundation

Past event…

Event Ended

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

Apr 12
  • 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

Apr 13
  • 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

Apr 14
  • 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!
Tier 1 Sponsors
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Speakers

Jim Holton

Owner of Mountain Town Station

Tier 2 Sponsors
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Judges

Teresa O'Brien

Founder of O'Brien Consulting Group, LLC

James "Jim" Foulds

JCP, LLC dba Johnson Carbide Products

An entrepreneurial type individual since the age of 9, I have been in business now for over 47 years.

I consider myself a seasoned professional who can uniquely integrate accounting, marketing, management, negotiation and leadership skills in running any business from infancy to $20 million in annual sales.

Specialties:Financing, franchising, mergers and acquisitions, tax planning, computerized accounting systems for manufacturing, union negotiation, TEAM building.

Tier 3 Sponsors
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Coaches

Gary Todd

Financial Analysis Director

My name is Gary Todd and I enjoy helping entrepreneurs realize their ambitions of owning their own business.

With 20 years of hands on business ownership, I have developed a strong analytic and creative financing skill set that I use with clients to ensure profitability in their venture. I am currently the Financial Analysis Director with the Central Michigan University Research Corporation. CMURC is a non-profit business accelerator that helps startups and established companies grow their ideas and their businesses.

My background also includes business consulting, fiscal budgeting, management of 30+ employees, property management, investments and the creation of five individually owned businesses. I have substantial financial experience utilizing my analytical skills to determine the most appropriate revenue model to employ for each given situation.

Specialties:

► P&L Ownership
► Business Consulting
► Strategic Planning
► Market Analysis
► Start Ups
► Sales Forecasting
► Financial Modeling

I believe the remedy to our economic downturn can be achieved through the formation of new businesses and persistent entrepreneurs who continue to pivot until they find their niche. Identify who your customer is and you are 75% of the way there.

If you have a business idea, prototype, or product or service and don’t know what your next step should be, please feel free to contact me. Together, anything is achievable.

Robby Roberts

Associate Directer of Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

Robby has many years of experience in Business, and Education. She became interested in Information Systems in the 1980’s when she was working on here MBA and she continues to work in this area. A member of the American Red Cross Board (Mount Pleasant, MI), Robby was a Finance Committee member and the Volunteer Committee Chair. Robby is a Michigan Real Estate Licensee since 1987 and continues her real estate education yearly. Robby’s education and experience in the business arena makes her qualified to help you in your online business endeavors.

Specialties:Education, Business, Information Systems, Finance, Recreation

Michael Vuillemot

Isabella Bank Institute for Entrepreneurship

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