Startup Weekend Elko will connect local innovators and startup enthusiasts to share ideas and launch companies
SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
ELKO, NV – Startup Weekend, a national grassroots business-launching event, is coming to Northern Nevada, September 28-30, 2012. Startup Weekend Elko will connect local entrepreneurs, developers, designers and startup enthusiasts with mentors and resources for a weekend of sharing ideas, forming teams and launching startups. The weekend-long event will take place at the Great Basin College campus in Elko.
Whether participants found companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new or learn a skill outside the usual 9-to-5, they will be better prepared to navigate the chaotic and exciting world of startups.
“Many of us in Nevada had the rug swept out from our feet the past few years and we’ve had to adapt; become innovative and entrepreneurial to survive,” said Daniel Herr, life-long Northern Nevadan, organizer of the event and a recent participant in the Las Vegas Startup Weekend. “Northern Nevada has a lot of hidden gems and I am really excited about bringing this fast-paced startup proving-ground to Elko. It will be great to bring entrepreneurs from many of Nevada’s smaller North-Eastern communities together.”
On Friday night, attendees will take the open mic to pitch their ideas to the group in 60 seconds or less. After groups form, the rest of the weekend will be spent formulating the most popular ideas – often web and mobile applications – with the help of mentors and seasoned startup entrepreneurs. It’s a 54-hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing and market validation. The weekend culminates with presentations in front of entrepreneurial thought-leaders, bankers, venture capitalists, and marketing and sales gurus, providing an opportunity for critical feedback.
“Startup Weekends are full of energy and creativity all focused around a model of ‘build and test as-you-go,’ ” says Shavonnah Tièra, organizer of the July SWVegas weekend. “Roughly 80 percent of participants continue working with their team or startup after the weekend, and over 36 percent of participating groups are still going strong after three months.”
The event’s principal sponsor is the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization (NIREC), a private nonprofit that focuses on transforming Nevada’s technology-based ideas into sustainable enterprises.
Software developers and designers as well as individuals with non-technical business skills (i.e., marketing & PR) are encouraged to sign up. Registration is open to everyone, though spots are limited to ensure a great experience. Registering costs $99, with discounted rate of $49 for students. For the best weekend of your entrepreneurial life, register online at elko.startupweekend.org.
About Startup Weekend Elko
Startup Weekend Elko is an intense 54-hour event where local entrepreneurs, developers, designers, marketers, product managers, startup enthusiasts and anyone interested in building a business will come together to share ideas, form teams, and launch a startup. The event will start at 6:30pm on Friday, September 28, 2012 at Great Basin College in Elko. Startup Weekend Elko is organized by Daniel Herr (@DanHerr) and Shavonnah Tièra (@ShavonnahTiera). If you are interested in helping organize the event, we would love your help in making this event a great success for Elko and Northern Nevada, please connect with us on Twitter @SWElko or by emailing [email protected].
Startup Weekend™ (a nonprofit organization) supports the development and expansion of entrepreneurship through events worldwide that educate aspiring entrepreneurs by immersing them in the process of moving an idea to market. Startup Weekend has built a network of more than 55,000 alumni, thousands of volunteer organizers and 100 trained facilitators spread across more than 300 cities in 100 countries. Kauffman Foundation, Google, Microsoft, .Co, Sendgrid, Cloudmine and the Nevada Institute for Renewable Energy Commercialization are sponsors of Startup Weekend Elko. We are also looking for more sponsors. If you are interested in helping sponsor the event, please email [email protected]. For more information, visit elko.startupweekend.org or connect with us on Twitter @SWElko.
