Startup Weekend Has Arrived in Panama City!

Since the Great Recession, the global phenomenon known as Startup Weekend has gained traction and now occurs every weekend in cities across the globe. Startup Weekends drive capitalism and local economic development. Now Panama City has joined the ranks of Orlando, Tampa, Miami, and Atlanta.

Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, the not-for-profit Startup Weekend is the largest global movement of active and passionate entrepreneurs who are learning about creating and launching successful startups. All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54-hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback. Winning teams receive prizes including further business coaching, space for business incubation, cash, and follow-up sessions with angel and venture capitalists.

Whether one is just looking for feedback on an idea, a cofounder, specific skill sets, or a team to help you execute, Startup Weekends are the ideal environment in which to test a concept and take the first steps towards launching a new venture.

Attendees at Startup Weekends are software developers, designers, product managers, business people, and startup enthusiasts. The reality is that ideas are everywhere. They’re a dime a dozen. It’s about assembling the right team that can develop, validate, and execute that idea into something of real substance and value. The weekends provide fun and learning in a highly energized format.

I’ve just returned from attending Startup Weekend Pensacola held March 28 – 30 at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition. This was Pensacola’s second event, their first having been six months earlier. There were 94 participants, 32 pitches, and 10 teams formed Friday night. After check-in and a buffet dinner, participants cued up and began delivering 60 second pitch fire presentations. Pitches such as “hello, my name is Mark Jones and I’m a civil engineer who enjoys weekend recreational fishing. The problem is that my fishing buddy’s and I will get in the boat and go where we think the fish are but we’re often wrong and we return with nothing. My idea is for a fish finder based on digitally enhanced sonar that is much more precise and reliable than that currently available. I need a software developer, science geek, designer, and kick butt marketing person to complete my team.” I observed participants similar to past Startup Weekends that I’ve attended. A diverse mix ranging from college students to local professionals and baby boomers. The atmosphere in the room was one of high energy, excitement, and openness to share, learn, and have fun.

I’ve often heard Startup Weekend referred to as cofounder dating. Traditional business networking comprised of the usual elevator pitch and business card exchange is often superficial and lacks real meaningful substance. If you want to know what someone is really about – what their temperament and skill sets really are – try working alongside them on a well-defined project for a weekend. One of the great takeaways that I’ve heard from Startup Weekend participants over the years is that the time constraints imposed by the 54-hour long weekend instills a sense of urgency that fosters high levels of productivity.

The first Startup Weekend in Panama City hosted 41 participants who pitched 22 ideas and formed 6 teams that worked over the weekend building prototypes, or minimal viable product. Each team presented Sunday night before a panel of judges. Winning teams are as follows:

First Place: Follow Me – A smart phone app for 2 vehicles following one another

Second Place: Replant – Cargo containers recycled for housing

Third Place: Fundational Co – Educational card game for elementary age children

STARTUP WEEKEND PANAMA CITY is hosted frequently by Gulf Coast State College at the Advanced Technology Center (ATC), 5230 W. U.S. Highway 98, Panama City. Visit www. panamacity.startupweekend.org for agenda, registration, speakers, coaches, judges, and sponsor details.

[author image=”https://www.panamacityliving.com/media/2014/05/Robert-Goetz.jpg” ]By Robert J. Goetz, Director, Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) , Gulf Coast State College, Panama City[/author]