What fantastic energy there was tonight at Start-Up Weekend ND! This evening's kick-off gave budding entrepreneurs the chance to pitch their ideas to an audience, lobby for votes, and form teams around the 10 top ideas. During the rest of the weekend, teams work round-the-clock to develop a business plan that projects customers, marketing, and financials. For the entrepreneurially-minded, it's a fast-paced, thrilling weekend with a great chance to test ideas, hone skills, and meet terrific people who could become your mentor, colleague, or friend.
Start-Up Weekend ND was where it all began for Green Bridge Growers, so returning for this year's event feels like a "full circle" moment. Last year we pitched our venture at Start-Up Weekend, and from that experience and the networking that followed, GBG was invited to participate in a social venture incubator program at ND during this academic year. Talk about a kickstarter - Start-Up Weekend was it for us! It was very exhilarating to be back tonight, and experience all the energy, creativity, and passion of the entrepreneurs participating. And without question, the graduate students in Notre Dame's ESTEEM Program deserve a shout-out for the marvelous job organizing the many logistics for the event. Onward, and may some great new ventures develop from this weekend!
Entrepreneur and facilitator Anna Curran kicks off the evening by explaining the
process of pitching.
Anton Tran of FixIt mixes it up with the crowd while participants vote for the top ten teams - he made it!
Always up for a pitch, GBG's Shane McCarthy successfully pitches Citiloco to the crowd