Startup Weekend, the globally renowned start-up event that helps connect developers, innovators and entrepreneurs, is coming to the National Digital Research Centre (NDRC) in Dublin from 25-27 February 2011 to help people brainstorm, form communities and create mobile or web applications, ultimately growing viable businesses around these apps.
The 54-hour event is sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark, the Dublin-based Iota Localisation Services, Dublin City Enterprise Board and the NDRC.
This is the second Startup Weekend to be held in Dublin, with the first event last May being the spawning ground for some innovative ventures, including Geodealio (overall winner), Bragbet, Hit The Road and Classometer.
The Hit the Road team, for instance, has created a public transport journey planning service app that people can use to find directions in and around Dublin. The company is currently engaged in the LaunchPad programme at the NDRC.
Meanwhile, BragBet has added a social networking element to online betting. Before Startup Weekend in May of last year the team did not know each other.
Irish tech scene
For this Startup Weekend, Paris-based Clément Cazalot, CEO, MySecretGarden.com, will be teaming up with Amy Neale, programme manager at the NDRC, and Seán Murphy, NDRC collaborator on the LocalSocial project, as a facilitator.
“Having facilitated Startup Weekends across France and in the US, I am excited to learn about the local tech scene in Ireland, and to continue to extend the global reach of the Startup Weekend community,” Cazalot said.
Startup Weekend will kick off with open-mic pitches, whereby individuals and teams will voice their best ideas and aim to inspire others to join their team.
On Saturday and Sunday, teams will work together to code, design, research and develop and create business plans while simultaneously streamlining their start-up vision.
Finally, on Sunday evening, each team will present a demo, showcasing their start-up plans. Judges will give feedback and pick an eventual winner.
Confirmed judges at the Dublin event include serial entrepreneur and start-up investor Eoghan Jennings, who is managing partner at Parklane Capital and an advisory board member at Tiramizoo.com, and Philip Sharpe, director at DANU Technologies and chairman of Socowave, explained Amy Neale.
Spaces are filling up fast for Dublin Startup Weekend, according to its blog.
