Starting this evening at 6 PM and lasting until Sunday, the “Startup Weekend” arrives in Nice Sophia Antipolis for its second edition. Around a hundred people will take on the challenge and launch their startup in less than 54 hours at the Les Satellites coworking space in Nice.
“Startup Weekend” is 54 hours to create a startup from an idea. A startup is a young, innovative company with high growth potential, requiring significant investment to finance its rapid growth. For this purpose, the second edition of “Startup Weekend” brings together developers, entrepreneurs, marketing gurus, graphic designers, and artists tonight at 12, Boulevard de l’Armée des Alpes, at Les Satellites space. The event is open to everyone living in the “Startup Weekend” spirit, from seasoned Silicon Valley veterans to fresh-faced students.
Founded in 2007 by Andrew Hyde, “Startup Weekend” is now led by Marc Nager, Clint Nelsen, and Franck Nouyrigat from Seattle (USA). The weekend’s concept is that of a conference focused on learning through creation. The program has already met with great success in more than 50 cities and 12 countries and now arrives in Nice Sophia Antipolis.
Participants start with an idea they choose and want to transform into a project or company. Each person brings their skills and passion to meet this challenge in an intense weekend. Each team manages its schedule (it is even possible to not sleep for 50 hours if desired) but here is a typical breakdown:
Friday
– 5:30 PM: Everyone gathers for a drink to get acquainted.
– 6:30 PM: Start of the Pitch Fire (for those who wish to participate): 1 minute per idea.
– 8:00 PM: Teams are formed (typically, there are about nine teams over the weekend, to create 9 products or 9 companies).
– 9:00 PM: Teams (hopefully) have consolidated their concept and created a basic “elevator pitch” (understand: a brief and exciting project presentation).
– 10:00 PM: Break at a bar or café to continue discussions and attempt to prototype the project on paper.
Saturday
– 9:00 AM: Work on development begins.
– 11:00 AM: Talk from a professional (serial entrepreneur, innovation financing specialist, etc.).
– Noon: Networking lunch.
– 1:00 PM: More coding, business plan development, with a special guest (music, venture capitalist, sponsor, etc.).
– 4:00 PM: Second professional talk in the amphitheater.
– 9:00 PM: Group meet-up for a drink to discuss everyone’s products.
Sunday
– 9:00 AM: The workday starts.
– 11:00 AM: Last professional talk with advice on preparing the “final pitch.”
– 4:00 PM: Go or No go for those who want to launch the project and present it.
– 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Presentations from each group/company, product demonstration, business plan. The project and beyond …
– 10:00 PM: Networking with refreshments.
Over these 54 hours, different professionals, serial entrepreneurs, accountants, lawyers, strategy consultants, etc., will coach the teams and provide them with advice and ideas.
