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Techstars Startup Weekend Billings
Friday, November 1 - 3, 2019
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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!
Coaches and Mentors
Vu Pham
Owner/Consultant
Owner/Consultant for Endgame Solutions, LLC
Keith Lauver
Serial Entrepreneur
Keith has successfully started and sold a mobile workforce management software company, a specialty food products company and an all-natural meal kits company. He now helps emerging companies with strategy, technology application, fundraising, and business development.
Chris Sledz
Innovative Sales Leader
Innovative Sales Leader with a passion to test theories, create repeatable processes, and develop inspired teams.
Shane Coleman
Partner at Holland & Hart LLP
Attorney specializing in commercial litigation and intellectual property law, including prosecution and litigation of patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Represented clients before Montana state and federal courts, Federal Appellate Courts, the Montana Supreme Court, the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and administrative agencies. Litigation practice includes intellectual property, construction, employment, bankruptcy, and other commercial disputes.
Allyn Hulteng
Principal, Rebel River Creative
Principal, Rebel River Creative
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.
Ken Lutton
President / CEO of Technology By Design, LLC
Technology By Design specializes in computer and networking support for small businesses and home offices in Billings, MT. and the surrounding communities.
Ethan Kanning
Commercial Real Estate Agent
Commercial Real Estate Agent
Steve Dimock
Chief Technology Officer
Chief Technology Officer at WebBuy, CSM
Brandon Eggart
CEO of Entre Technologies
Brandon has been a part of the Entre team since 2011. He is responsible for the financial management and strategic growth of Entre. He provides our clients with technical consulting, account management, and solutions design. When not working, Brandon enjoys taking trips to Bozeman for Bobcat football games and spending time with family and friends.
Patricio Mori
Business Professor
B.S., Industrial Chemical Engineer, Universidad Catolica de Chile, 1991; M.B. A. Florida International University, 2006; Ph.D. Management and International Business, Florida International University, 2013. Dr. Patricio Mori has 15 years of teaching experience at the graduate and undergraduate level. He has also 10 years of international industry experience both as a Product Development Engineer and an Entrepreneur in a family business. His area of research is on the drivers of innovation in family businesses. He is also interested in how new ventures internationalize and in how diversity of the founding team fosters or hinders strategic consensus. Dr. Mori has three publications in peer-reviewed journals and has been actively participating in paper presentations in major management conferences.
Elaine Labach
Dean of Business at MSU-Billings
Labach holds a Ph.D. in operations management from Indiana University School of Business; she also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Michigan and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Wayne State University.
Organizing Team
Techstars Startup Weekend Billings is 100% led by volunteer community leaders.
Learn how to get involved here
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