[liberationtech] Fwd: Nonprofit Education Technology Startup Weekend

[Adam Senft]

Sam King <samking at cs.stanford.edu> wrote:


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Ng <dng28 at stanford.edu>
Date: Fri, Jan 27, 2012 at 9:13 PM
Subject: Startup Weekend
To: Sam King <samking at cs.stanford.edu>
-------------------------

When and
Where_____________________________________________________________________

Details:
● Venue: Santa Clara at Kno Inc. Offices
● Date: Feb 24-26 Startup Weekend ?EDU ? SF Bay Area

Interested?
● Contact: Sidnie D. Davis: sidnie.davis at teachforamerica.org

Summary____________________________________________________________________________
Startup Weekend is an innovative, non-profit, community-building event that
brings together entrepreneurs of all backgrounds including software
developers, marketers, designers, educators and other enthusiasts to start
companies in just 54 hours. The participants that attend have 60 seconds to
make a pitch (optional), the pitches are whittled down to the top ideas,
and then teams form around the ideas to come out with several developed
companies or projects. Finally, the weekend culminates with demonstrations
in front of an audience of judges and potential investors.


Innovation + Entrepreneurs + Education:
Startup Weekend recently launched an EDU vertical focusing on education.
 The Gates Foundation has partnered with Startup Weekend to help support
the EDU vertical and grow it internationally. Google has also recently
partnered with Startup Weekend to help jump start developer skills.

From a past EDU attendee:
“Startup Weekend EDU is an environment full of ideas sparking and sense of
possibility…and the desire to roll up sleeves and get to work solving
problems. It’s also super fun and left me invigorated to return to my desk
to really make things happen. What does 54 hours entail? 1) Go, 2) Pitch
your idea in 60 seconds or less (nail it OR listen for ideas that spark
your interest or make you nod “yes I totally get it and and want to make it
happen”), 3) Create a team, 4) Build (including ideation, mentoring,
pivoting, designing, prototyping, even coding), 5) Pitch (the real one!),
6) Come away exhausted and exhilarated with potential to continue working
on your idea with the team, and 10) Make an impact? …You have ideas that
can make that impact when given a chance to grow in the right time and
space.”

Forbes on the EDU vertical and Gates backing.

An account of a Startup Weekend EDU.




Why Attend a Startup
Weekend?__________________________________________________

Here are the top eleven reasons, starting with the EDU vertical
specifically:

Education in the U.S. may be one of the human rights issues of our time.
Kids deserve access to an excellent education. Education as an
entrepreneurial space has recently gained much traction and interest,
including interest and backing from the venture and incubator community
(Business Week Article), but there’s still much work to be done with not
enough bright spots of success. We believe that if we bring you -- our
educators, developers, designers, business people ? together and help
facilitate your collaboration in new and innovative ways, we can help
contribute to the growing movement to close the achievement education.

Education/professional development:
Startup Weekends are all about learning through the act of creating.  Don’t
just listen to theory, build your own strategy and test it as you go.

Build your network:
This isn’t just a happy-hour. Startup Weekend attracts your community’s
best makers and do-ers. By spending a weekend working to build scalable
companies that solve real-world problems, you will build long-lasting
relationships and possibly walk away with a job or a even an investor.

Co-founder dating:
We all know it’s not just about the idea ? it’s about the team. Startup
Weekend is hands down the best way to to find someone you can actually
launch a startup with.

Learn a new skill:
Step outside of your comfort zone. With a whole weekend dedicated to
letting your creative juices flow, Startup Weekends are prefect
opportunities to work on a new platform, learn a new programming language,
or just try something different.

Actually launch a business:
Over 36% of Startup Weekend startups are still going strong after 3 months.
 Roughly 80% of participants plan on continuing working with their team or
startup after the weekend.

Get face time with thought leaders:
Local tech and startup leaders participate in Startup Weekends as mentors
and judges. Get some one-on-one time with the movers and shakers in your
community.

We cover what you need for the weekend (and it can pay off for long after):
Your ticket covers seven meals, snack, access to exclusive resources,
possible sponsor swag, all the coffee you can drink, and more.

Join a global community:
Join over 30,000 Startup Weekend alumni, all on a mission to change the
world.


Who you’ll meet at Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend attendees’ backgrounds are roughly 50% technical
(developers, coders, designers) and 50% business (marketing, finance, law).
 Twenty nine percent of Startup Weekend participants attend an event to
network, 20% attend to develop/build a product, and 13% attend to learn how
to create a new venture.  Roughly 80% of attendees plan on continuing to
work on their startup after the weekend.
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