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

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

Mar 1
  • 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

Mar 2
  • 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

Mar 3
  • 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

Tom Hazen

Co-founder/VP/GM, Open Sky Corp.

Tom Hazen is one of the Founding Partners of OpenSky Corporation. He is currently the Vice President and General Manager responsible for the Northeast Region. Tom has led the growth and development of OpenSky in a variety of roles including responsibilities for: IT, Recruiting, Practice Development, Delivery, and HR. Tom wanted to create OpenSky Corporation because he believed that companies had a need for quality, unbiased IT solutions. He possessed the experience and the passion to found OpenSky with his 4 partners. Prior to OpenSky, Tom was Managing Principle at INS for 11 years. He also worked at GE for 8 years managing their global network operations center. Tom is inspired by his brother and his father. All have shared an interest in leadership, quality service delivery and a sense of entrepreneurship. He is an avid golfer.

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Judges

Kevin Bouley

President and CEO of Nerac, Inc.

Kevin Bouley is President and CEO of Nerac, Inc., (http://www.nerac.com) a global technology and IP advisory research firm. A recognized leader in the information industry and thought-leader for the Tolland technology corridor, Bouley is an active Angel investor, nurturing innovation, investing money and resources in numerous small business start-ups, many of which are hosted in within a unique business development environment at Nerac. Working with UConn’s School of Business Administration, School of Engineering and Alumni, as well as members of the local business community, Bouley aims to bring more business development programs to fruition by connecting dynamic entrepreneurs with potential investors.

Rob Hughes

President & COO, TopCoder, Inc.

In June 2001, Robert Hughes was named President and Chief Operating Officer of TopCoder, Inc. of Glastonbury, Connecticut. He is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company. Prior to his role at TopCoder, Hughes served as the Chief Operating Officer of Tallán Inc. since 1997. Tallán is an Internet professional services firm that creates fully-integrated, technologically advanced solutions for their clients.
During his tenure with Tallán, the company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing technology companies in North America four years in a row by consultancy firm Deloitte & Touche and by Inc. magazine for its outstanding performance. In 2000, CMGI, Inc. acquired a majority ownership of the company.
Hughes graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1992.

Mary Anne Rooke

Chairman and Managing Director of the Angel Investor Forum (AIF)

Mary Anne Rooke is the Chairman and Managing Director of the Angel Investor Forum (AIF) an investor group comprised of 2 clusters of angel investors located in New Haven and Stamford. 
Mary Anne is the Executive Director of University of Connecticut’s Technology Incubation Program (TIP) located on 3 campuses. TIP’s goal is to bring early stage technology companies into the incubator, help accelerate their growth, build university & industry collaborations and to mentor these TIP entrepreneurs. 
She has served on several boards and commissions in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Connecticut. Mary Anne holds a BS in Accounting from Annhurst College and a MBA from Golden Gate University's Executive MBA Program.

Hadi Bozorgmanesh

Director of Engineering and Physical Sciences, UConn Ventures

Hadi investigates commercialization opportunities for UConn-developed technologies, advises faculty inventors on commercialization options, and identifies opportunities to form companies under the UConn R&D Corporation umbrella. Formerly the corporate vice president for Science Applications International Corp. Hadi received his Ph.D. in nuclear science and engineering from the University of Michigan -- Ann Arbor.

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Coaches

Jack Antonich

President, Sales Leverage Group   |  LinkedInGoogle+

Jack Antonich is President, Sales Leverage Group, Advisor to HYPE Entrepreneurial Task Force, business consultant, and Entrepreneurial Evangelist. Jack delivers the Kauffman Foundation FastTrac NewVenture & TechVenture prograams at the University of Hartford Entrepreneurial Center.

Danny Briere

CEO, Startup Connecticut   |  LinkedInGoogle+

Danny Briere is a serial entrepreneur, having started his own firms as well as been involved in advising some 200+ firms in the telecommunications and Internet space in the past two decades. Danny’s focus is on leading edge technologies and trends, with a special interest in social networking, social enterprise, education, and children. Danny has been involved in helping drive entrepreneurship across universities, towns, regions, and states, and continue to foster relationships to help build ecosystems to drive development and mutual growth.

Supriyo “SB” Chatterjee

Information Technology Consultant & Entrepreneur   |  LinkedInGoogle+

Supriyo "SB" Chatterjee is a consultant specializing in Information technologies. He has worked for companies like Aetna, MassMutual, US Army Medical Corps, UNICEF, Microsoft, IBM & NASA. He has been awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award 6 times since 2008. He holds graduate degrees in Computer Science, Business Management and Economics. He is the former President of Trinity Club of Hartford (Alumni chapter of Trinity College). He has been active with local startups and entrepreneur groups since 1998. He is the Acting Director of CTDOTNET - an organization of Microsoft development technologists and CTDEVSTARTUP - a group for software developers who are interested in launching or growing their startup company.

John Francis

John Francis is an entrepreneurial veteran of the interactive services and early-stage technology sector. He has founded and/or served as President for several innovative interactive services and application development firms over the past 17 years. John focuses on the intersection of business and online strategy, technology and website development. His work has been instrumental in positioning several Technology and Thought Leadership groups as well in the creation of several high performance interactive services groups.

As a board member of the Massachusetts Innovation and Technology Exchange (MITX), John co-chaired the MITX Technology Awards program for 8 years helping to identify and judge innovative early stage technology solutions across a range of markets while judging their web awards program for each of the past 17 years. He has a BS and a BA from the University of Connecticut and an MBA from the Tulane University A. B. Freeman School of Business.

John is currently advising several start-ups, one venture-backed, the others in the early stages of pursuing outside capital while consulting with such industry leaders as Red Hat, and recently, CA Technologies.

John blogs periodically at www.ontios.com and www.platformsconsulting.com on a variety of topics including: strategy, positioning, early stage technology adoption and the evolving role of platforms in technology. John can be reached at jfrancis@ontios.com.

Dr. Drew Harris

Dr. Drew Harris is a modern renaissance man. At various times he has earned a living as an Information Technology executive, ‘Big Eight’ management consultant, independent consultant, business owner, real estate investor, longshoreman, construction worker, dancer, musician, and author/speaker. He has been on boards of directors, presided over a council of not-for-profit organizations, and co-organized his community’s response the hurricane Katrina. He is an accomplished chef, story teller, basketball player, kids coach, and father of three beautiful girls.
He has degrees in Mathematics (BA from University of West Florida), Statistics and Operations Research (MBA from the Stern School of Business, NYU) and Management (Ph.D., also from NYU). He has been friends with elites, like the late Nobel Laureate Dr. William Vickery and Dr. W. Edwards Deming, and he relates well to children from all walks of life.
Currently, Dr. Harris teaches Strategy and Entrepreneurship, consults with both for-profit and not-for-profit businesses, and serves on the Board of Director of Connecticut Innovations.

Eric Knight

President, Remarkable Technologies, Inc.

Eric Knight is a veteran business owner, business pioneer, entrepreneur, and inventor. He is the President of Remarkable Technologies, Inc. -- www.remarkable.com -- a company he founded in 1994.
Over the last 18 years, Eric's company has focused on providing innovative products and services that enhance business and empower people. In the 1980s, Eric created one of the world's first global "e-commerce" systems, providing online software sales -- worldwide -- via credit cards. In 1996, he created one of the world's first online travel agencies: Travelforless.com. In 1998, he created SearchItAll.com, one of the Internet's early search-engine portals.
A few years later, he created SEO International, an innovative search-engine-optimization enterprise.
Eric also had a wide-ranging 13-year career as a Vice President, an Associate Creative Director, and a Senior Copywriter at Connecticut's largest advertising agency, Mintz & Hoke.
After his career at Mintz & Hoke, Eric helped transform a five-person Web-development company into an international powerhouse with over 250 employees, spanning 18 offices in 13 countries. 
Eric has a wide range of patents and products in the marketplace. As an inventor, he has been on numerous television programs and talk shows -- including a guest appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman. 

In 2003, Eric conceived of the business and brand "UP Aerospace", and brought it to life via the resources of Remarkable Technologies, Inc. In 2007, UP Aerospace gained worldwide attention for launching the ashes of Star Trek's "Scotty" James Doohan into space. Eric moved on to other ventures in 2008.

Christopher Levesque

Executive Director, University of Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CCEI)

Christopher Levesque currently serves as executive director of the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CCEI) at the University of Connecticut School of Business, charged with overseeing experiential learning programs and facilitating creative economic enterprise throughout the state. The CCEI’s experiential programs include the Innovation Accelerator, a semester-long, graduate-level consulting initiative for entrepreneurial clients, as well as a new, corresponding course for undergraduates and students from diverse academic backgrounds.

Mike Roer

President, Entrepreneurship Foundation

Mike Roer is president of the Entrepreneurship Foundation, an organization supporting entrepreneurship, education, and business plan competitions. He is a frequent lecturer at universities on business modeling and financing. Previously, Roer was the Executive Director of the Connecticut Venture Group, Connecticut Angel Guild and Crossroads Venture Fair. Roer@EntrepreneurshipFoundation.org.

Nadav Ullman

CEO & Co-Founder, Sobrio, LLC

Nadav Ullman is the CEO and co-founder of Sobrio, LLC. Recently graduated from the University of Connecticut, he is now the Entrepreneur in Residence for the Innovation Quest competition and incubation program, as well as a partner in UConn's Technology Incubation Program.

Lane Watson

Attorney, Day Pitney LLP

Lane Watson is an attorney at Day Pitney LLP in Hartford. He represents companies in mergers and acquisitions, reorganizations, Hart-Scott-Rodino antitrust issues, commercial contracts, private placement of securities, and '34 Act compliance, and represents startup companies and venture capital funds in venture capital financings. His practice also includes day-to-day counseling on general corporate and business issues for privately held, publicly traded, and start-up companies in the high technology service, and utilities industries.

Fred Wergeles

Founder & Principal, Fred Wergeles & Associates LLC

Fred Wergeles is the founder and Principal of Fred Wergeles & Associates LLC, a consulting practice that specializes in Strategic Planning and Competitive, Intelligence process improvement. He has over 25 years experience managing, intelligence collection and analysis in support of strategic decision making in both, the federal government and a Fortune 100 corporation. He has advised, companies in a diverse array of industries, including utilities, construction, oil and, gas exploration, insurance and financial services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, advanced manufacturing, consumer products, and high tech start-ups. Fred has, developed innovative methods and tools for clients – from Fortune 500, companies to small firms – to quickly and effectively improve their Strategic, Planning and Market Assessment capabilities., Before starting his own practice, Fred was the Manager of Competitive, Intelligence in the Corporate Strategic Planning office at Pratt & Whitney (a, division of United Technologies). Prior to his work at Pratt & Whitney, Fred was, a senior consultant with The Futures Group/Deloitte Consulting., Before entering the private sector, Fred spent 18 years at the Central Intelligence, Agency. He was the senior intelligence analyst in the White House Situation, Room and the National Security Council, and also spent time as an analyst in the, Pentagon. Fred managed large, multi-agency collection programs and diverse, groups of intelligence analysts during his tenure at the CIA., Fred is the Founder and President of the Connecticut Economic Gardening, Group (CT-EGG), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing business, information, analysis and marketing services to entrepreneurs and small, businesses., Fred is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Hartford Barney School of, Business, teaching Competitive Intelligence in the MBA program. He also is a, member of the Business Advisory and Advancement Council for the Central, Connecticut State Univ. School of Business. Fred is the Connecticut Chapter, Chair of the Strategic and Competitive Intelligence Professionals, and was on, SCIP’s international Board of Directors from 2005-07. He was awarded the SCIP, Catalyst Award in 2004, and was named a SCIP Fellow in 2012 for outstanding, contributions to the competitive intelligence profession and SCIP. Fred, is the Executive Director of the Simsbury Education Enhancement Foundation., He is the co-leader of the Connecticut Technology Council’s Hartford Innovation, Cell, and past-President of the Simsbury Youth Hockey Association., Fred earned an MA in National Security Studies at the Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service, and a BS in Physics from the University of Lowell, (now UMass-Lowell).

Ben Wiles

Attorney, Day Pitney LLP

Ben Wiles is an attorney at Day Pitney LLP in Hartford. He represents investors and emerging growth companies in formation, financing, mergers and acquisitions, strategic joint ventures, technology arrangements and general corporate matters. Ben recently relocated to Connecticut from San Francisco, where he had practiced venture finance at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP for five years. While at Pillsbury, Ben represented major Silicon Valley venture capital firms. On the "company" side, Ben represented startups in the internet media, social media, and gaming sectors from incorporation, through outside investment, to strategic exit. Ben also incorporated and represented the Bay Area's first gaming startup incubator.

Ira Yellen

President, First Experience Communications

Ira Yellen, president of First Experience Communications, provides marketing, public relations and strategic business counsel for clients who are in the health care, education and technology fields. He recently created HomecareMatchKiosk.com in response to the need for consumers to have a transparent referral website which matches their home care needs to agencies that provide professional caregiver service. He has mentored dozens of start ups, and is currently mentoring emerging companies at MassChallenge 2012.

Joe Wehr

Founder, DBMI

Joe Wehr is a life-long entrepreneur. He is a founder of Data Base Management, Inc. (DBMI), an IT consulting and training services firm. From four founders DBMI grew to 180 employees serving Fortune 1000 companies throughout the US. Upon its acquisition by a publicly held systems integration firm, Joe led the successful integration of the firms’ services and staff.

Joe has been involved in a number of start-ups, as a member of the management team, an advisor and an investor. He knows, from first-hand experience, what it takes for a start-up to become a successful, viable company. Joe understands the key role “culture” plays in the success of a start-up.

Paul Hughes

Partner at Wiggin and Dana, LLP

As a member of the firm’s Corporate Department, Paul represents both mature and emerging growth companies in the areas of debt and equity financings, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, joint ventures, strategic alliances, and corporate governance in a variety of industries including energy and utilities, information technology, clean technology, telecommunications, biotechnology, health care services, manufacturing and outsourcing. Paul has served as Vice President and General Counsel of a venture capital-backed pediatric health care services company, and its pediatric clinical trials network where he was active in all aspects of business development, corporate strategy and operations and was responsible for all of the companies' legal affairs.

Steven Camerota

Associate at Wiggin and Dana, LLP

As a member of the firm’s Corporate Department, Steven represents clients in a variety of corporate and transactional matters, including entity formation and organization, equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate governance. Before joining Wiggin and Dana, Steven was a business development analyst with the Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, where he worked with high-technology, start-up companies in Connecticut.

Nick Jaensch

Co-Founder, COO, and head of business development and application design at Shizzlr, Inc.

Nick received a Bachelor of Science in Marketing and MBA from the University of Connecticut. Prior to starting Shizzlr in 2010 Nick had worked at two other venture funded startups.

Keith Bessette

Co-Founder, CEO, and lead engineer of Shizzlr, Inc.

Keith received a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Engineering, Masters in Computer Science, and MBA from the University of Connecticut. Keith has been a founder at two prior startups before beginning to work on Shizzlr in 2010.

Keith Woodward

Front-End web developer at Shizzlr, Inc.

Keith received a Bachelor of Science in Management Information from the University of Connecticut in 2011. Keith deferred going back for a graduate degree to join the Shizzlr team full time in 2011.

Tom Bachant

Co-founder of Sobrio & the lead iOS developer at Groupcentric

He is a skilled mobile application developer with years of experience doing programming, UI design, and graphic design. He has also been the lead of various independent project such as iHusky, and he is currently the entrepreneur in residence for the Innovation Quest Incubation program. He will be graduating from UConn with a BS in Biomedical Engineering in May.

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