Techstars is a global network that helps entrepeneurs succeed.
A curated source for everything entrepreneurial in your community.
Startup Week: Celebrating entrepreneurs is communities across the globe.
Start building your future in just 54 hours. Learn, Network, Startup.
Learn More
- Overview
- Schedule
- Judges
- Coaches and Mentors
- Sponsors
- Organizing Team
Techstars Startup Weekend Billings
Friday, November 1 - 3, 2019
Event Alerts and Updates
Get the latest on Techstars Startup Weekend, Billings, and other local events through Techstars Startup Digest.
Techstars Startup Weekend Billings
Friday, November 1 - 3, 2019
Friday, November 1 - 3, 2019
Event starts at 6:30 pm
Montana State University Billings
1500 University Dr
Billings,
MT
59101
Buy Tickets
Your idea in 54 hours
Do you have an idea you'd like to pursue or a problem you'd like to solve but don't know where to start or who to start with?
Techstars Startup Weekend is the place to look for a team, create a prototype of your idea, validate your business idea, and receive feedback from experienced entrepreneurs, all in one weekend.
What do you need to bring?
Lots of energy! You'll pitch your own idea or listen to others, then vote on the most interesting ideas and form teams with diverse skill sets. You can come with friends, but you’ll get the full experience if you participate in separate teams. Remember, it’s all about the team.
Your idea should be something you have not previously worked on. The idea you pitch and the problem you set out to solve can span social, educational, financial, environmental, or other issues. Over the course of the weekend you'll be challenged to create a prototype of your MVP, or minimum viable product, that fits the needs of your target customer. You'll get feedback, iterate, and likely pivot your approach entirely! Important: You cannot have worked previously on your idea.
Techstars Startup Weekend is a full weekend long experience. Your ticket includes:
- 7 full (and delicious) meals over the course of the weekend
- Benefits and discounts from our global partners
- One-on-one time with amazing mentors
- A new network of developers, designers, and entrepreneurs eager, like you, to change the world.
- All the internet and coffee you can consume.
Watch the video below to see what you can expect, and if you’re feeling inspired click on the “Buy Ticket” button now!
Still have questions, feel free to reach us at “billings@startupweekend.org”.
Don’t wait any longer and join the Techstars Startup Weekend movement!
No talk, all action!
EVENT SCHEDULE
Friday November 1st
6:30 pm
Registration
Arrive at the venue and get checked in
7:00 pm
Dinner & Networking
Eat food, share ideas, practice pitches, get to know fellow participants
7:20 pm
Welcome & Speakers
Review agenda for the weekend and introduce speakers, coaches, and community leaders
7:30 pm
Pitches Start
Optionally line up to give your pitch
9:00 pm
Voting
Attendees vote for the top pitches
9:15 pm
Form Teams
Teams start forming and discussing ideas
10:00 pm
Begin Work
Start to formalize teams and take an inventory of skills. Be honest, and direct about what resources and skills are needed for the weekend. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow
Saturday November 2nd
9:00 am
Breakfast
Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
9:30 am
Begin Work
Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend
12:00 pm
Lunch
1:00 pm
Check-In
After-lunch check-in, status reports, call for help
2:00 pm
Coach Meetings
Coaches help teams one-on-one. They are here to help!
5:00 pm
Dinner
7:30 pm
Check-In
After-dinner check-in, status reports, call for help
10:00 pm
Wrap-Up
Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow
Sunday November 3rd
9:00 am
Breakfast
Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
10:00 am
Check-In
Coaches arrive. Final opportunity to ask questions
12:00 pm
Lunch
12:30 pm
Coach Meetings
Coaches arrive… ASK QUESTIONS
3:00 pm
Presentation Prep & Tech Check
Final hours of worktime should be focused on perfecting your presentation, tech-check for final presentations also takes place
5:00 pm
Dinner
6:00 pm
Final Presentations
7:30 pm
Judging & Awards
8:30 pm
Wrap-Up
9:00 pm
Go Home!
Event Judges
Cory Moore
Operations Manager of SGH Concepts
Operations Manager of SGH Concepts
Shea Dawson
Owner of Thirsty Street
Owner of Thirsty Street
Coaches and Mentors
Trevor Hartman
Senior Member of Technical Staff @ eBay
Full stack software engineer with two decades experience growing web and mobile apps. Wields technology to craft high quality products, and cares about Developer Experience as much as User Experience. Currently works as a Sr. Member of Technical Staff at eBay and builds an open source chatops platform called Yetibot as often as possible. Part time Pure Functional Programming zealot and Category Theory student. Coffee nerd and outdoor enthusiast.
Joshua Toenyes
Co-founder of Cardsetter
Co-Founder of Cardsetter, the simple, powerful website platform that's built for audience engagement.
Danny Choriki
Strategic and Product Consultant
Born in Bozeman and raised around the agriculture industry of Montana, Danny Choriki decided in his 20's to see if there was life without dirt under his finger nails. With a degree in the social sciences, Danny went to New York City to study environmental psychology with an eye towards understanding how people cope with and adapt to rapid social and technical change. He assisted the director of The City University of New York Graduate School's computer center to move from card punch machines, Wilbur and VAX terminals (9600 baud) to PC's on a LAN, structured databases, and eventually the internet. From there, Danny looked at the impact of information technology on New York Public Schools for a policy research center. A series of consulting and strategic planning positions at Fortune 50 corporations in legal, finance and telecommunications industries followed until the internet bubble burst. Danny returned to his startup roots in the online advertising technology ecosystem and built a vertical ad network and an AOL-owned US branch of an European ad serving company followed by digital privacy and online game startups. Danny returned home to Montana in 2012 to refresh his father’s 40-year-old startup business including innovation with drones and the company’s 18 years of experience with GPS farm consulting. Additionally, Danny advises startups on early stage strategic business planning. Danny was the lead organizer for the inaugural Startup Weekend Billings, is writing a book on integrating strategy into daily life, and a game idea (ask him about it!). Interests include digital privacy, rapid change adaptation, STEM, economic development, and low earth orbit.
Event Sponsors, and Partners
The Techstars Startup Weekend Billings team is grateful for the support of local community partners without whom this event would not be possible.
Learn how to become a sponsor here.
Silver
Organizing Team
Techstars Startup Weekend Billings is 100% led by volunteer community leaders.
Learn how to get involved here
Facilitators
Grant Carlile
Managing Director, The Mountains
Grant thrives on curiosity, coffee, and office supplies.
Drawing on my experience growing three businesses, building out content strategies, coaching teams in multiple capacities across multiple industries for 12+ years, and creating relationships with personnel of many walks of life, I thrive on curiosity, coffee, and office supplies.
Drawing on my experience growing three businesses, building out content strategies, coaching teams in multiple capacities across multiple industries for 12+ years, and creating relationships with personnel of many walks of life, I thrive on curiosity, coffee, and office supplies.
Event Blog
See Full Blog
We haven't written any posts yet. Stay tuned!