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Google Techstars Startup Weekend 2020
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.
Kirsten Voege is a marketing strategist, business consultant, and fractional CMO. Before founding KiRated Communications, Kirsten held executive leadership roles on Madison Avenue, managing teams of 5 to 53 and overseeing the planning, negotiation, and optimization of more than $350 million in annual marketing budgets. An entrepreneur at heart, Kirsten’s early paychecks came from various roles, including babysitter, pachysandra broker, pet-sitter, cashier, receptionist and office clerk. After almost 30 years living/working in NYC, Voege made it happen and moved to the Capital Region of NY State.
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KiRated Communications delivers strategic marketing and business consulting. From real estate and financial services to technology, entertainment, SaaS, healthcare, and automotive, Kirsten has helped leading brands including Amazon, American Express, Anthem, Bacardi, Eli Lilly, Intuit, J&J, L’Oreal, Merck, Match, NordicTrack, Quicken Loans, Verizon, and Zillow stand out. Now she is ready to help your business do the same. Whether you need a fresh strategy or a trusted partner for your next move, KiRated is here to help you grow smarter, faster, and with confidence. Let’s make it happen, together.
