FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana University’s Cyberinfrastructure Building will serve as the host venue for the sixth annual Startup Weekend Bloomington, a three-day conference for budding entrepreneurs that begins at 6 p.m. Friday and continues until 8 p.m. Sunday.
Sponsored in part by Innovate Indiana and the Innovate Indiana Fund, Startup Weekend is designed to provide time, space, knowledge and resources to help potential entrepreneurs launch their own businesses, said event organizer Meghan Turner.
The event is open to both students and community members, Turner said. Participants will open the event by delivering “minute pitches” on their ideas. After judges select the best ideas Friday night, the rest of the weekend will be spent turning those ideas into viable companies with the aid of coaches and experienced entrepreneurs.
“One of the greatest benefits Startup Weekend has to offer to entrepreneurs is the opportunity to interact with local CEOs, founders, investors and startup veterans who coach the teams during the weekend,” Turner said. “Working with these coaches not only gets the teams advice from experts, but it helps connect them with the local resources offered by the growing startup community in Bloomington.”
Final presentations are scheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday, followed by an awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. The top student startup will be offered a spot in the Bloomington Economic Development Corp.’s B-Start program. B-Start is a pre-accelerator program developed for IU and Ivy Tech Community College students.
“Moving technology and innovation from the idea phase and creating small businesses are building blocks in the Hoosier economic foundation,” said Kirk White, IU assistant vice president and military liaison. “IU is pleased to support these entrepreneurs during this intense weekend of business advancement.”
IU’s Cyberinfrastructure Building, or CIB, is at 2709 E. 10th St. Student tickets are $25; public tickets are $40. Additional sponsors include the Bloomington Urban Enterprise Association, the Gayle and Bill Cook Center for Entrepreneurship at Ivy Tech Bloomington, Humanetrix Foundation Inc., Hanapin Marketing, the Bloomington Economic Development Corp., and the City of Bloomington Utilities Department.
About Startup Weekend: Startup Weekend is a community program of Techstars, a global organization that helps entrepreneurs build businesses. Its mission is to empower individuals and create economic growth by providing experiential education to potential entrepreneurs worldwide. Bloomington Startup Weekend is run by a team of local volunteer organizers.
About Innovate Indiana: Indiana University is designated as an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. This recognizes IU’s commitment across all its campuses to being a leading institution in fostering regional economic development. Led by IU’s Office of the Vice President for Engagement, the university’s Innovate Indiana initiative engages strategic partners to leverage and advance the university’s intellectual resources and expertise, enhance Indiana’s economic growth, and contribute to the overall quality of life for Hoosiers.
About the Innovate Indiana Fund: The Innovate Indiana Fund provides early-stage capital to companies with an Indiana University connection. The fund also assists in such areas as technology assessment, market analysis and planning, management recruitment, product development, sales strategy, customer acquisition, and next-stage capital.