What Is Startup Weekend?

What is Startup Weekend?

Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities. Come share ideas, form teams, and launch startups.

Startup Weekend Global Site

Past event…

Event Ended

AT&T Foundry - 2900 W Plano Pkwy, Plano TX


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Please note that Startup Weekend Dallas is hosting multiple events in the coming weeks...in Plano, in Denton, in (of course) Dallas, etc. So we've set up multiple websites and Eventbrite registration pages...


Click here for the Dallas website.


To register for this (Plano) event, click on orange Register button above.

Schedule

Friday

Nov 9
  • Registration Starts
  • Dinner & Networking
  • Welcome & Speakers
  • Pitches Start
  • Attendees vote for the top ideas
  • Teams start forming and discussing ideas
  • Start to formalize teams and take an inventory of skills. Be honest, and direct about what resources and skills are needed for the weekend. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow
  • Time to wrap for the night and leave.

Saturday

Nov 10
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend
  • Lunch
  • Call for needs & skills
  • Dinner
  • Mid weekend check-in, status reports, call for help
  • Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow

Sunday

Nov 11
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Call for help (this is self motivated, so don’t be shy)
  • Lunch
  • Gut check. Start prepping for presentations
  • Dinner
  • FINAL PRESENTATIONS
  • Judging & awards
  • Wrapup
  • Go home!
Tier 1 Sponsors
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Tier 2 Sponsors
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Tier 3 Sponsors
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Tier 4 Sponsors
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Organizers
Brad Anderson
Jared Schaffer
Speakers

Yoram Solomon

Entrepreneur, Vice President, Corporate Strategy, and GM, penveu

Yoram currently serves on the board of trustees of the NTX Regional Center for Innovation and Commercialization, he serves on the advisory board of (and teaches in) the Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Texas, Dallas, he chairs the steering committee of the Dallas Regional Chamber's Innovation and Technology Council, and he is on the board of directors for the Texas-Israel Chamber of Commerce.

He holds a Doctorate in Organization and Management, an MBA, a Law Degree, and an Association Electronic Engineering degree.

Judges

Weston Rice

Vice President - Silicon Valley Bank

Weston manages a portfolio of tech clients ranging from VC-backed startups to profitable industry leaders. Weston also manages SVB’s Entrepreneurial Ventures initiative in Dallas to assist early-stage companies obtain the resources and capital connections needed to grow.

Weston currently sits on the Board of Directors for TeXchange-DFW and is actively involved with numerous other entrepreneur-focused organizations in Dallas, including serving as a judge at Startup Weekend Dallas. He recently graduated from SMU where he served as both his MBA class president and treasurer for the program. Additionally, he organized a small pro bono consulting group to provide early-stage companies with financial and strategic guidance.

Chuck McCoy

Exec Director - North Texas Angel Network

This too cool for school legend doesn't even have his own LinkedIn profile pic. But no matter. I found this one.
Chuck is Executive Director and has had 25 years’ experience in the software business, initially with Arthur Andersen and subsequently as an independent product developer for large companies such as AT&T, E-Systems and MCI.
With an accounting background and extensive sales experience, he has helped multiple businesses grow through M&A as well as new product roll out. He has served as Director of Commercialization Programs at the North Texas RCIC and helped the Texas Emerging Technology Fund become an important funding source for technology start-ups.

Frank Edwards

Director of IT Strategy, PepsiCo

Frank specializes in data center capabilities, cloud hosting, and virtualization for a large, global IT organization. As Director of IT Strategy, he developed complex modeling tools to determine the optimal IT strategies and staffing plans in uncertain, risky environments. Prior to his current role Frank led PepsiCo’s network and server operations groups.
Frank retains strong ties to the entrepreneurial community by mentoring startup founders, and offering feedback to Wharton global consulting teams as an alumni panelist.
Frank received his MBA in Finance and Operations, with honors, from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a BS in Computer Science from Baylor University.

Coaches

Mike Merrill

Mike serves as Director of Marketing for ReachLocal, an online marketing services company for local businesses. He is also the President of Social Media Club of Dallas and Co-Organizer of Ignite Dallas. Mike’s background includes sales, marketing and operations management roles at NetApp, Dell, Intel and two venture backed startups. Mike pursued his MBA at University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and holds undergrad degrees in Finance and Accounting from New Mexico State University. He speaks regularly on the power of social media and personal branding.

Nancy Hong

Asst Director, Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UT Dallas

Nancy is an entrepreneur with over ten years of experience in start-ups, higher education and not for profits. She works closely with community groups, major corporations, universities, and high schools to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
At UTD, she is heavily involved in the Entrepreneurial Development Series, Research and New Venture Showcase Series, Commercialization & Entrepreneurship Boot Camp, Annual Business Idea Competition, and the UT Dallas Innovation Opportunity Camp.

Madelynn Martiniere

Executive Director at The Idea Engine

Madelynn is the executive director of the Idea Engine, a fiscally sponsored 501(c)(3) non-profit launching late October in Deep Ellum.
She is also an art, technology, and emerging media aficionado with a passion for encouraging and facilitating collaborative communities, both online and off.

Tony Cecala

VP of Technology at Newsroom Ink

Tony is a business strategist specializing in technology solutions. He is VP of technology at Newsroom Ink, a brand journalism firm that builds and staffs online newsrooms for mid-sized businesses and non-profit organizations. He runs the second largest WordPress Meetup in the US, and produces the annual Emerging Tech Conference and bi-annual Wellness Expo in Addison.

Adam Lotia

Innovator – Sr. Specialist Technical Architect at AT&T Foundry

Friends call him "Jax". He is a Innovation Coach / Sr. Specialist Technical Architect at AT&T Foundry. He helps teams reach their potential with his technical expertise. Jax is also Producer and Technical Consultant at Freelance Jax.

Chuck McCoy

Exec Director - North Texas Angel Network

This too cool for school legend doesn't even have his own LinkedIn profile pic. But no matter. I found this one.
Chuck is Executive Director and has had 25 years’ experience in the software business, initially with Arthur Andersen and subsequently as an independent product developer for large companies such as AT&T, E-Systems and MCI.
With an accounting background and extensive sales experience, he has helped multiple businesses grow through M&A as well as new product roll out. He has served as Director of Commercialization Programs at the North Texas RCIC and helped the Texas Emerging Technology Fund become an important funding source for technology start-ups.

Frank Edwards

Director of IT Strategy, PepsiCo

Frank specializes in data center capabilities, cloud hosting, and virtualization for a large, global IT organization. As Director of IT Strategy, he developed complex modeling tools to determine the optimal IT strategies and staffing plans in uncertain, risky environments. Prior to his current role Frank led PepsiCo’s network and server operations groups.
Frank retains strong ties to the entrepreneurial community by mentoring startup founders, and offering feedback to Wharton global consulting teams as an alumni panelist.
Frank received his MBA in Finance and Operations, with honors, from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds a BS in Computer Science from Baylor University.

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