Developers, Entrepreneurs, Designers & Other Creatives Needed for Startup Weekend Santa Fe
Eric Renz-Whitmore
Developers, Entrepreneurs, Designers & Other Creatives Needed for Startup Weekend Santa Fe
What if New Mexico's most creative people in business, web & software development and design got together for a weekend to transform ideas into viable startups? That's the question we're asking with launching New Mexico's first Startup Weekend event the weekend of March 1st in Santa Fe. We'd like to get you and your colleagues involved.
Creating more startups and interesting activity in New Mexico will take a range of talents, from programming and development to great design – as well as the variety of business skills needed to compensate people for their time. Unfortunately, these kinds of talents don’t come together as often as they should – so we’re trying to change that with one of the most popular and successful programs in the world for sparking more startup activity: Startup Weekend (http://www.startupweekend.org).
In recent years, this 54 hour hackathon for startup idea development, prototyping and validation has become something of a phenomenon, taking place in the United States’ most active hubs for innovation, over one hundred countries and including nearly 100,000 entrepreneurs. Dozens of companies and products have been launched as a result – and many more people have found work because of connections they’ve made.
We’re inviting your participation in New Mexico’s first Startup Weekend, running March 1-3 at the Santa Fe Business Incubator. We believe this – and more events like it – will not only begin to change the way potential entrepreneurs view ideas, but also help connect startup-minded talent in tech, business, and design. We hope that you’ll join us.
Want to get a better sense of what Startup Weekend is?
Try this short video: https://vimeo.com/28872840
and this longer one: https://vimeo.com/32424882
OTHER FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is Startup Weekend?
In addition to the event itself, Startup Weekend is a 501(c) 3 non-profit that promotes Startup activity internationally. Sponsorships for local weekends are collected by their organization and disbursed to local events (local organizers and their organizations are not paid). Any profits from a successful weekend are split between Startup Weekend to support their efforts and a fund to support future Startup Weekend-related events in the region.
Kinds of Startups/Participants that Work
It’s surprising how many different kinds of ideas and business models can be prototyped and validated in the course of a weekend, but not all can. Startup Weekend projects tend to have some web/mobile aspects to communicate their idea and reach their markets, but this is not a requirement. Similarly, while programmers and graphic designers are often in demand, it’s a mix of skills and willingness to work hard (and pivot) that really makes a difference.
Cost
Startup Weekend events costs are $79 (early bird through Friday); $99 standard and $49 for students. Registration includes food, snacks and beverages for the weekend along with basic supplies and sponsored benefits as well.
Timing
Startup Weekend has a standardized schedule for the 54 hours. Depending on the business ideas and people involved, most participants don’t work for 54 hours straight, but instead flesh out their idea and plan Friday night before getting some sleep. Work hours Saturday night depend mostly on progress toward the teams’ goals. Sunday wraps up w/ timed presentations in front of a range of judges in the startup/investment worlds. A breakdown of the weekend is at the main event site at http://santafe.startupweekend.org
Facilities
The Santa Fe Business incubator is providing facilities to accommodate 30-60 participants comfortably. (We would like to find support/discounts for overnight lodging nearby for those who are visiting town.)
Startup Weekend Santa Fe Team
Who’s behind Startup Weekend Santa Fe? Our team includes representatives from the New Mexico Technology Council, Santa Fe Business Incubator, Los Alamos Connect, Startup New Mexico and the New Mexico Angels (we’re eager for more!).
Want to learn more?
Sign up at: http://santafesw.eventbrite.com/
Visit us at: http://santafe.startupweekend.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SWSantaFe
Twitter: https://twitter.com/swsantafe
Eric Renz-Whitmore
Executive Director, New Mexico Technology Council