Creating solutions to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure people enjoy peace and prosperity will be the motivation for more than 100 designers, developers, students and creatives who will gather at the Sunshine Coast’s seventh annual Techstars Startup Weekend (August 5-7).
This boot camp for big ideas will run for 54 action packed hours of hands-on entrepreneurship, giving innovators a framework and mentorship to transform their bright ideas into reality, with team formation, user research, prototyping and pitching to investors.
For the first time, the Startup Weekend will focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Sunshine Coast Council is proudly sponsoring the Sustainable Cities and Communities category.
Economic Development Portfolio Councillor Terry Landsberg said this event was an exciting and immersive foray into the world of entrepreneurship.
“Attendees will learn to think, work and build their own startup in a race to the finish line,” Cr Landsberg said.
“This is an opportunity for innovators to link up with the very best mentors, investors, co-founders and sponsors to teach them how to get more done faster and maybe even launch that business idea they’ve been dreaming of.”
Tim Hall from the local innovative startup venture, Greaseboss, will be a judge at the event.
Greaseboss is a Sunshine Coast based success story which evolved from a similar Startup Weekend event in 2017. The business has now grown to achieve global recognition in its field.
The boot camp culminates with the pitch night on Sunday. The participants will then have the opportunity to further refine their offering with the support of local entrepreneurship network Silicon Coast and participate in the Social Enterprise World Forum in Brisbane in September.
Visit the event webpage to learn more and purchase tickets to this thrilling weekend. Spectator-only tickets are also available for the final pitch night on Sunday.
Still not sure if you’ve got what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Hear from one of this year’s facilitators Jasmin Ward about her journey, from working in corporate finance to being involved in four start-ups, two accelerators and now having a career facilitating innovation, all of which began with an event just like this in 2016. Watch the video now.
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are:
1. No Poverty
2. Zero Hunger
3. Good Health and Wellbeing
4. Quality Education
5. Gender Equality
6. Clean Water and Sanitation
7. Affordable and Clean Energy
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
10. Reduced Inequality
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities
12. Responsible Consumption and Production
13. Climate Action
14. Life Below Water
15. Life on Land
16. Peace and Justice Strong Institutions
17. Partnerships to achieve the Goal.
