Published on: Tuesday, 18 November 2014

Start-up Weekend - This Weekend's Schedule (21/11/14 - 23/11/14

Start-up Weekend Cork will connect local entrepreneurs, developers, designers and start-up enthusiasts with mentors and key resources at this weekend’s event. Throughout the course of the 54-hour event, attendees will share ideas, form teams, and launch start-ups.

Around 100 participants are expected to take part over the weekend with the weekend kicking off on Friday evening. Expert mentors will be on hand throughout the weekend to provide advice and support based on their experiences in the fast-paced start-up world.  Once the all-important team formation has taken place early in the weekend, participants will focus on researching and implementing the most popular ideas with the help of industry mentors and seasoned start-up entrepreneurs.

On Sunday 23rd November, attendees will pitch their ideas to the audience in 60 seconds or less. Teams will present their ideas before a panel of judges where winners will be awarded prizes including a valuable mentoring package from the Rubicon Centre, CIT’s on campus incubation centre.  This prize package will ensure continued support for the entrepreneurial team as they move forward and build on what they have learnt over the weekend.

One of the expert judges, Dr Breda Kenny, Head of CIT’s Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence, commented “we are very excited in CIT to host the start-up weekend as it complements our existing entrepreneurial ecosystem very well.  We look forward to supporting these aspiring entrepreneurs throughout the weekend and will offer continued support as their new ventures progress.”

About Startup Weekend

Startup Weekends are 54-hour events designed to provide superior experiential education for technical and non-technical entrepreneurs.  Beginning with Friday night pitches and continuing through brainstorming, business plan development, and basic prototype creation, Startup Weekends culminate in Sunday night demos and presentations.  

Participants create working startups during the event and are able to collaborate with like-minded individuals outside of their daily networks. All teams hear talks by industry leaders and receive valuable feedback from local entrepreneurs. The weekend is centred around action, innovation, and education. Start-up Weekend Cork is organised by local entrepreneurs from various backgrounds and is supported by Bank of Ireland, CIT and the Rubicon Centre.

The event will take place from Friday, 21st November  at 7pm to Sunday, 23rd November at 9pm in the impressive architecture factory on the Bishopstown campus of Cork Institute of Technology.  For more information about Start up Weekend Cork, please visit www.up.co/communities/ireland/cork/startup-weekend

(L - R) Startup weekend organisers Donal Cahalane and Will Martin pictured with Dr Breda Kenny, Head of CIT Hincks Centre for Entrepreneurship Excellence, Gerard O'Donovan, Head of CIT Faculty of Business and Humanities; and Katherine Keane, Head of CIT Department of Architecture.