What’s being built at #swdsm4
- kindaLike.me
- Yooooga
- df chat
- Dance Vs
- GoTraffix
- storling
- doodle cloud
- #ketchuponsports
- Rxminder
- embarkus
- eventurist
- Cliperist
- Auto Affirm
- Roadrageo.us
- Kitchen Genie
- NoMo Meetings
Startup Weekend Final Judging Criteria
The Startup Weekend judging criteria is broken up into three sections. Teams are judged according to the following 3 criteria (weighed equally):
Business Model
The heart of it all. If you haven’t got answers to these questions, you’ve spent too much time on frills & features and need to get back to the basics:
Who is your customer?
What is your core value proposition?
What are your key activities?
What are your revenue streams?
What is your cost structure?
Who/what are your key partners/resources?
What are your distribution channels?
What is your roll-out strategy?
Customer Validation
Have you taken the proper steps to ensure that the people who matter (your future customers) support and reinforce your assumptions? Think of Customer Validation as ‘evidence’ to back up the core structure of your ‘theory’ (your Business Model). The more feedback you gather (quantity), the more this feedback comes from your specific target market (quality), and the more you’re able to actually integrate this feedback into the Business Model and product development (execution), the better.
Execution
The nitty gritty: what has your team been able to actually build over the weekend? Even the strongest of Business Plans are useless in the hands of those who can’t properly execute on them. Getting as far as possible in the development of your product/prototype not only helps give Judges a tangible vision of what the final product could be, but proves your strength and skills as a team. This is what truly matters: investors don’t invest as in ideas so much as teams.
The Schedule
So you’re thinking about attending Startup Weekend Des Moines, but wondering what the schedule for the weekend will be? Here’s what a typical Startup Weekend agenda looks like, although it might be shuffled around slightly. We’ll keep this updated as we get closer to the event:
Friday:
5:30pm – Registration starts (dinner served)
7:00pm – Kickoff & Speakers
8:00pm – Pitches Begin – (60 seconds per person)
9:00pm – Voting
9:45pm – Teams start forming and discussing ideas
10:00pm – 1:00am – Teams begin to work
Saturday:
9:00am – Doors open. Breakfast & coffee.
9:30am – Teams continue working. Mentors arrive and begin working with teams.
12:00pm – Lunch
6:00pm – Dinner
7:30pm – Mid weekend check-in, status reports, call for help
12:00 midnight – Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow.
Sunday:
9:00am – Doors open. Breakfast & coffee.
12:45pm – Lunch
3:00pm – Gut check. Start prepping for presentations. Test your tech.
5:00pm – FINAL PRESENTATIONS
7:30pm – Dinner is served while judges deliberate
8:30pm – Awards & Wrap-up
9:00pm – Go home!
54 hours is a big commitment! Why Should I Spend a Weekend at Startup Weekend?
Over the past few years, one issue has been raised about Startup Weekend more than any other: 54 hours is a big commitment! Why should I spend it with Startup Weekend?
The answer is simple: the people.
Startup Weekend is one of the best places a budding entrepreneur can go to find like minded people. Where else can you find a group of 50–100 entrepreneurial-minded individuals, with a ridiculously diverse set of skills, all with the goal of getting shit done?
People looking for something new.
People looking for something fresh.
People looking for something exciting!
“But, Levi! I’m already working on a startup! What would be the benefit of me coming to a Startup Weekend?”
I’m glad you asked. First of all, that’s fantastic! Second, it’s pretty safe to say you already need the expertise of someone outside of your field. Marketing? Accounting? Developers? Lawyers? You can be assured they will all be at Startup Weekend.
I can further guarantee you that the experiences you’ve learned while building your startup will be gobbled up by every 9-5′er and fellow entrepreneur who attends. The value that you alone can provide to the event is immeasurable.
Oh, and those of you looking to hire kick ass people? Do I really need to say it? Don’t get me wrong, I love me some networking events. Jack and Coke in one hand, business cards in the other, and an elevator pitch ready to fire! But, how well do you really get to know people at these events? You should look at Startup Weekend as an extended introduction/interview. Not only will you meet new people – people you may want or need to hire – but you will also get a chance to work with them for a weekend to see exactly how they work, how skillful they are, and if they are a jerk or not. Many jobs have been filled due to Startup Weekend introductions.
“But, Levi! My spouse/kids/parents/pets/TV/couch don’t get to see me much, and weekends are “me” time!”
Another good question, but to be honest, this one personally bugs the shit out of me. Don’t get me wrong – with a wife, three kids, five pets, hobbies, and family all 3+ hours away – I get this a lot. Believe me, I cherish my down time. But in the end, one weekend with the potential to change your life is worth it. And it should to them, too.
Ok, sure, it sounds like I’m trying to sensationalize Startup Weekend. As if there’s no good reason not to attend. But, there’s truth in all of the sensation. Just ask Robert with bHeroic. Or Jake with Locusic. Or Bo with Zaarly. Or the folks with Foodspotting. All of these and a ton more have come out of Startup Weekend – and these are just a few I’m betting you’ve heard of.
Good things come from Startup Weekend events, plain and simple.
So do yourself – and your loving family – a favor. Go get your Startup Weekend Des Moines ticket now: http://dsm.startupweekend.org/tickets/
-Levi
March 2012: The month you actually launch that company that you’ve been thinking about for way too long
Save the date: the next Startup Weekend Des Moines will be March 2-4 at the Bank of America Building (313 6th Avenue, Des Moines, IA). Tickets will go on sale in early January.
More details to follow soon.
In the meantime, if you’re interested in sponsoring the event, please email levi.rosol [at] gmail [dot] com
