Startup weekend on hunt for new moguls

Startup Weekend voluntary committee members Larissa Matheson, Derryn Williamson, Sarah Fox and Sarah Kessell. Photo / Christine Allen

If you feel your weekends are not quite productive enough, the upcoming Startup Weekend in Whangarei will help you, by giving you 54 hours to turn a business idea into a prototype.

The event is part of a national roll-out of Startup Weekends and is being organised by 11 volunteers in Northland, who hope to see about 100 people sign up. The event kicks off on Friday, September 18.

Volunteer Derryn Williamson, who is also leading The Orchard business centre project in Northland, said the event was for those with a business or product idea and who would like to be part of a support team.

"On the Friday night, we will have a pitching session and we are hoping to have about 30 ideas pitched. A team will form around the idea and they have the weekend to turn it into a prototype," she said.

"The ideas can be around a business idea or a new product or growth project."

She said the event will get the help of volunteer web designers and technical teams, as well as some of Northland's business community.

"Nobody is being paid for this - we are all volunteers."

Once teams were formed, they would work on business plans with mentors on site before moving to market research in Whangarei on the day.

"This is about getting out and getting face-to-face feedback," said Ms Williamson.

Teams will then need to carry out their plans and develop a prototype, which judges will then test out.

She said the event aimed to help participants learn new skills and hopefully, help them get their ideas off the ground.

Chamber of Commerce Northland and Northland Inc are supporting the event. The venue has yet to be decided and judges were still being signed up. Admission would cost less than $100 and would include seven meals throughout the weekend.

-Tickets will be available in coming weeks. To get some, stay tuned to Startup Weekend Whangarei on Facebook.