The Startup Weekend Twin Cities Student Event is one of the highlights of Startup Week Youth. Participants will make teams around innovative ideas and build their entrepreneurial acumen through experienced mentors, pitch decks, inspiring speakers, and product development during the weekend.
5:30 PM - REGISTRATION
Arrive at the venue and get checked in
6:00 PM - SNAX & NETWORKING (Possible Qdoba/Noodles)
Eat food (Provided by SW Team), share ideas, practice pitches, get comfortable with fellow participants that you’ve met Monday and have known through the week.
This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
6:20 PM - Introduce SLACK & Download
Show the participants the communication tool we will be using throughout the weekend: Slack
6:25 PM - WELCOME & SPEAKERS
Review agenda for the weekend and introduce speakers, coaches, and community leaders. This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
6:45 PM - PITCHES START:
Pitches on Friday night will be in a "pitch-fire" format, which means you will have just 60 seconds to get the audience interested in your idea. You will have no slides or props -just your voice. You won't have time to go over features, so just focus on the core of the idea and make your enthusiasm contagious. Here is the format for
pitches that we recommend: Who are you and what is your background?
- (5-10 Seconds)
What is the problem that your product is solving? Or, begin with a story- (10-20 Seconds)
Explain the product and how it solves the problem
- (10-20 seconds)
Who do you need on your team (a developer, marketing, designer?)
- (5-10 seconds)
Finally, make up (yes you can just make it up) a name for your startup
8:00 PM - DISCUSSION AND VOTING
After pitches, you will have more time to mingle. If you pitched an idea, this is your time to start recruiting others that may be interested in your idea. If you did not pitch, or if you are having trouble finding others to join your team, use this time to seek out those that pitched other ideas that you found interesting.
Next, the crowd votes on their favorite pitches. This is simply a way to encourage quick team forming.
From there we will form teams and these are the startup ideas that will be worked on over the weekend.
8:15 PM - FORM TEAMS
Teams form and start discussing a plan of action.
9:00 PM - BEGIN WORK
Start to finalize teams and take an inventory of the available skill sets. Be honest, and direct about what resources and skills are needed for the weekend and make a plan.
Teams should begin discussing everyone’s roles within the unit, and how everyone
10:00 PM - WRAP-UP
Finished for the day. Go home and get some rest!
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SATURDAY SCHEDULE: 9:30am - 10:00pm9:00 AM - BUILDING OPENS AM - CHECK-IN AND BREAKFAST
Arrive, bagels, fruit & coffee This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
9:30 MORNING CHECK-IN (SPEAKER)
A time to make announcements and an opportunity to share your team's progress and to call for help if you need it! Listen to a presentation about customer development and using the business model canvas. This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
10:15 AM - WORK TIME
Develop your MVP!!!
This is a good time to be focusing on customer research and business model development.
1:00 PM - LUNCH
Provide by Chipotle Mexican Grill This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
2:00 PM - AFTERNOON CHECK-IN
After-lunch check-in, status reports, call for help This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
2:10 PM - MENTORS ARRIVE
Mentors help teams one-on-one. They are here to help!
2:20 pm - WORK TIME
This is a good time to be focusing on market research and hitting the streets.
6:30 PM - DINNER
Provide by Papa John's Pizza This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
7:30 PM - EVENING CHECK-IN
After-dinner check-in, status reports and calls for help. This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
10:00 PM - WRAP-UP
Finished for the day. Go home and get some rest! This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
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SUNDAY SCHEDULE: 9:30am - 10:00pm
9:30 AM - CHECK IN AND BREAKFAST
Arrive, Check-in and eat breakfast (bagels, coffee and fruit) before getting to work.
This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
10:00 AM - MORNING GROUP CHECK-IN
Review plan of action for the day and any announcements from the group.
This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
10:30 AM - WORK TIME
Start finalizing your ideas and integrating them into your pitch.
12:00 PM - LUNCH
Provide by Jimmy John's
This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
1:00 PM - WORK TIME
Start finalizing your ideas and integrating them into your pitch.
1:30 PM - MENTORS ARRIVE
Mentors Arrive
3:00 PM - PRESENTATION PREP & TECH CHECK
Final hours of work time should be focused on perfecting your presentation, tech-check for final presentations also takes place
4:00 PM - DINNER
Provide by Pizza Luce
This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
5:00 PM - FINAL PRESENTATIONS
Time to Pitch!
7:30 PM - JUDGING & AWARDS
This is done in coordination with the adult SWTC
