The Google Techstars Startup Weekend event is a Google for Entrepreneurs program in partnership with Google for Startups.
Another day, another event at the beautiful @urban Co-Works space in Schenectady! This time I was there to see the final day of the Google Techstars StartUp Weekend. More than 50 participants including inventors, entrepreneurs, students, educators, advisors, business owners, engineers, founders, mentors and community members all come together for 54 hours over the weekend. The Google Techstars brainstorm business ideas, collaborate, form teams and together develop the business ideas into actual business plans. At the end of the Startup Weekend a panel of judges from the business community listens to the five minute startup pitches and conduct a three minute Q. & A. session. After hearing all the pitches, the judges then decide on the top performers and award prizes. Exciting eh? I thought so.
On Sunday, I joined the Google Techstars crew at Urban Co-Works as a supporter
and audience member. I was excited to see the final presentation phase. It was great, there were ten final Google Techstar pitches. The teams pitched business that ran the gamut. including educational services, games, e-comm, a bear butcher, and the judges Q & A. It was pretty incredible to hear the different ideas and see how each pitching group handled the questions from the panel of judges.
Photo: Left to right, Judge Tom Franceski, CFO & Principal at Computer Professionals, Judge Nicole Snow, Founder & CEO of Darn Good Yarn, The Puzzle Chest father/son team, Judge Julianne Clouthier, Manager Industry Engagement at FuzeHub, the U-Create team and solo-preneur for High 5, the biggest winner of the day.
