At the Startup Weekend Melbourne, Australian entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch their business ideas before a panel of venture capitalists and incubators which are looking for the next big thing. The winning idea will win $5,000, mentoring support and a chance to enter a $15,000, three-month incubator program.
Between the 4 and 6 of November 2011, Australian entrepreneurs who are looking for funding and mentoring to take their bright startup ideas into the next level will be allowed to pitch them in front of a panel of venture capitalists and incubators at the Startup Weekend Melbourne.
According to the winner of the 2010 Startup Weekends in San Francisco and New York and event organiser Tyson Lundbech, “the Startup Weekend is a great way to reach the right people with the funds and gain the skills, contacts and expert mentorship required to bring business ideas to life.”
Among the crowd will be two regional venture capital funds — SingTel Innov8 and JFDI, which will be hunting for startup ideas to include in their funds and to share their access to the Asian market.
The program
The event will begin on Friday the 4th when ideas will be pitched and the first votes will be cast to choose the best ones.
The chosen will then proceed to form several teams which will then start developing the ideas, focusing on customer development, lean startup methods and on building a viable product. The groups will proceed their work on the next day, when they will receive special mentoring.
On the final day, teams will present their prototype and will receive critical assessment from an expert panel.
Finally, a winner will be chosen.
The winning idea will take away a $5,000 prize as well as mentoring support. JFDI and Innov8 will also give the winner a chance to enter a $15,000, three-month incubator program in Singapore.
“Australian startups are very fortunate in that they have access to a network of entrepreneurs, seed funds, investors, co-working spaces and incubators which provide a supportive platform to nurture new business ideas. These people are building the next Silicon Valley right here in Australia,” said Tyson Lundbech.
- When: 4 – 6 November 2011
- Where: York Butter Factory, 62-66 King Street, Melbourne
- How: register here
