Aspiring entrepreneurs are set to converge for a three-day boot camp, to learn what it takes to start a company from people who’ve been there.
More than 100 designers, developers, students and creatives will gather at the Sunshine Coast’s seventh annual Techstars Startup Weekend, from August 5 to August 7.
The boot camp for big ideas will give innovators a framework and mentorship to transform their bright ideas into reality, with team formation, user research, prototyping and pitching to investors.
For the first time, the Startup Weekend will focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Sunshine Coast Council Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg said the event was an exciting and immersive foray into the world of entrepreneurship.
“Attendees will learn to think, work and build their own startup in a race to the finish line,” he said.
“This is an opportunity for innovators to link up with the very best mentors, investors, co-founders and sponsors to teach them how to get more done faster and maybe even launch that business idea they’ve been dreaming of.”
Council is supporting the Sustainable Cities and Communities category.
Tim Hall, from the local innovative startup venture Greaseboss, will be a judge at the event.
Greaseboss evolved from a similar Startup Weekend event in 2017. The business has grown to achieve global recognition in its field.
Other judges will include Charlotte Connell, the Head of Engagement at Climate Salad and Nicholas Paul, a Professor of Marine Science at USC.
They were selected as judges because of their passion for sustainability and entrepreneurship.
The boot camp will culminate with the pitch night on Sunday.
The participants will then have the opportunity to refine their offering with the support of local entrepreneurship network Silicon Coast and participate in the Social Enterprise World Forum in Brisbane in September.
Visit the event webpage to learn more and purchase tickets to the weekend. Spectator-only tickets are also available for the final pitch night on Sunday.
If you’re not sure if you’ve got what it takes to be an entrepreneur, hear from one of this year’s facilitators Jasmin Ward about her journey, from working in corporate finance to being involved in four start-ups, two accelerators and now having a career facilitating innovation, after an event just like this in 2016. Watch the video here.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are: No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Good Health and Wellbeing, Quality Education, Gender Equality, Clean Water and Sanitation, Affordable and Clean Energy, Decent Work and Economic Growth, Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, Reduced Inequality, Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land, Peace and Justice Strong Institutions and also Partnerships to achieve the Goal.
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