INSIGHTS / News

Exeter will be staging its first ever Google Startup Weekend at the Innovation Centre, Rennes Drive, University of Exeter on 17 to 19 July 2015. It promises to be an exciting opportunity for anybody with a new business concept looking to turn their idea into reality.

Google’s Startup Weekend is a global phenomenon which takes place over 54 hours from Friday through to Sunday evening. You can pitch your idea, develop it, explore potential markets and plan a business launch.  The event provides a unique opportunity to build lasting relationships with co-founders, mentors and possible investors. Startup Weekend Exeter is a non-profit, community-building event. It brings together entrepreneurs of different backgrounds. They include software developers, marketers, designers and many other enthusiasts. 

Participants have 60 seconds to make a pitch (or listen to others) which their peers whittle down to the top ideas.  Teams form around those ideas to develop them. The weekend culminates with presentations to an audience of judges and potential investors.  There are fantastic prizes on offer such as access to co-working space and professional support on offer for the best efforts.

The event is open across disciplines, so please come along, whether you are the next big tech thing, have a tasty food and drink idea, or are into social enterprise. Perhaps you are committed to renewable energy or have an idea for the best ever retail product?  Startup Weekend Exeter is the place for you to get your idea off the ground.

In the past 3 years Startup weekends have attracted many thousands of entrepreneurs.  Over 500 new businesses have been born as a result. Teams have even started to generate revenue during the 54 hours event, while others have gone on to raise funds from business angels or venture capitalists. These numbers also don’t include the unprecedented networking opportunities and on-going professional relationships for participants.  Startup Weekend is all about “Build a Community. Start Companies. No Talk. All Action.”

Startup Weekend Exeter will be the beginning of a journey for individuals. They can come and turn their vision into reality through collaboration and teamwork.  Wout Laban, a Google Startup representative from the Netherlands will be facilitating the event.

Robin Jackson Director of the Innovation Centre says: “We are really excited about holding Exeter and the Peninsula’s first ever Startup Weekend in July at the Innovation Centre, University of Exeter.”

“Startup Weekend Exeter will be the beginning of an amazing journey and a fantastic weekend of entrepreneurship, startup technology, collaboration and celebration for participants.  It will also start to put Exeter ‘on the map’ as a Startup community”.

You can purchase tickets at a subsidised rate, thanks to the generosity of the local sponsors at www.bit.do/exetersw

Sponsors include The Innovation Centre, CrowdCube, Andromeda Capital, Ashfords Solicitors, The University of Exeter, Frobishers, Haines Watts Accountants, TechHub Boston and Zenen Education. 

For more information on this event please contact [email protected]

Follow on Twitter @ExeterStartup

Website: http://www.up.co/communities/uk/exeter/startup-weekend/6604