54 Hours Like No Other: Vancouver Startup Weekend Goes Down This August

Admit it, you’ve read the Techvibes headlines about successful startups and thought, “That could be me,” or, “I so had that idea!”

It’s a Friday afternoon and you’re sitting in the cubicle daydreaming about it. Standing at the water cooler, you’ve been talking about it.  You’ve maybe even been to a meet-up and rubbed shoulders with someone actually doing it.

You ask them, “what’s the startup life really like?” The answers probably leave you with nagging self-doubts, and a weekend of thinking about self-imposed constraints: a lack of cash (“I really do need this job”), no co-founder, no team, and really no idea how to find one or build one.  And then in a blink it’s Monday again—back to the cubicle.  

On Friday August 17th, you can quit dreaming about it, and actually experience what the essence of Startup life is all about. Vancouver Startup Weekend  returns August 17-19, and is being hosted at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. This edition of Startup Weekend is also very pleased about being  the kick-off event for Grow2012, arguable the year’s most significant tech event.

For only $99.00 you’ll live it… “No Talk. All Action. Launch a Startup in 54 hours”

Startup Weekend will sell out. Tickets are now on sale, and you can purchase yours here

It’s fair that you ask: “What the heck is Startup weekend?” “Why should I pay?” “Why should I care?” “Will it make my dream come true?”

The What: On Friday, groups of developers, designers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more pitch ideas for new startup companies, (the Vancouver event focus being on B to C; B to B; or socially responsible web apps; mobile apps; and gaming) form teams around those ideas, and work to develop a working prototype, demo, and/or presentation by Sunday evening.

The Why: This is a competition, not just a collaborative collective learning experience. There are judges, there are prizes, there is food, and there’s definitely sleep deprivation. Last year’s Judges included 2011 BC Angel Investor on the Year, Boris Wertz; GrowLab Executive Director, Mike Edwards; and Capital West partner Brent Holliday. There will be great prizes for the top three teams.  Should you really need extra incentive, consider the value to the winning Startup Weekend team, the opportunity to pitch at the Grow Conference… can you say, “Show me the money!”

Dreams come true: The organizers won’t make that guarantee. They do promise an excellent venue, some great speakers, fun, learning, networking, mentoring, some nice swag, and a 54 hour experience unlike any you’ve ever had.

Consider this as you ponder making an investment in yourself…

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.

You will have the chance to join a Global community. You will join over 45,000 Startup Weekend alumni, all on a mission to change the world.

You can follow the event via Twitter @VanStartup #vanstartup

Like them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/StartupWeekendVancouver

The organizing team have been lining up some great sponsors,  and definitely welcome more. If your business would like to connect with the local startup community, and support this event you can contact vancouver@startupweekend.org

With two months to go, there will be more Startup Weekend stories to come.