This weekend, over 100 entrepreneurs from around the region will come together in Buffalo for the kickoff and weekend-long celebration of local startup initiatives at Buffalo Startup Weekend.
The celebration of entrepreneurialism (October 21-23, 2016) matches together entrepreneurs, developers, designers and startup enthusiasts, with business mentors and resources. Over the course of three days, ideas are hatched and business models are built.
The weekend is just the precursor to a week-long celebration (43North Finals Week) of ingenuity and entrepreneurialism, featuring a range of events and festivities that pay tribute to the world of start-ups.
The 54-hour event brings together local startups and entrepreneurs to pitch, from teams and build working prototypes of their ideas all in the span of a weekend.
From October 20* to October 27, Buffalo comes alive with eight days of events, pitches, speaking engagements and networking opportunities. The finals will feature a $1 Million Round & Awards Celebration at Shea’s Performing Arts Center. It is at that event where the three finalists will pitch their ideas in front of a live audience and judging panel.
Sixth Annual Startup Weekend Buffalo
- Friday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m. – Open mic pitches kick off the event on Friday night with team formation and business development happening on Saturday and Sunday.
- Sunday, October 23 at 2:00 p.m. – The weekend culminates with team presentations and business prototype demonstrations to a panel of expert judges on Sunday afternoon.
- Sunday, October 23 at 4:30 p.m. – The top three teams will be awarded prizes with a total combined value of more than $5,000 to help launch their businesses, ranging from business memberships to professional services, including web development, legal, marketing and business development.
Sixth Annual Buffalo Startup Weekend
Kickoff and Weekend-Long Celebration
Friday, October 21, 2016 (starting at 7:00 p.m.) through Sunday, October 23, 2016 (ending at 5:00 p.m.)
D!G Buffalo at the Thomas R. Beecher, Jr. Innovation Center
640 Ellicott Street | Buffalo, NY 14203
The week of events runs Thursday through Thursday (started Thursday night with “The Pitch” MWBE mini business competition*). Startup Weekend is only one part of 43North. The rest of the week will be as follows:
Friday, October 21 – Sunday, October 23 – Startup Weekend. Entrepreneurs will build a business over the course of a weekend.
Monday, October 24 – Startup Grind featuring Bill Maggio. Networking and fireside chat discussion at dig in the Innovation Center.
Tuesday, October 25 – Ping Pong Diplomacy. Tournament at 500 Seneca. Interested in playing? Register
Wednesday, October 26 – Pitches during the day at Rich’s. 11 am – 4 pm
Thursday, October 27 – Pitches during the day at Shea’s. 8:30 am – 1 pm
ALSO Thursday, October 27 – Final pitches for $1 million and Awards Celebration at Shea’s. Luke Russert will emcee.
43North Week Long Event Schedule – Click here to see the event calendar
*The Pitch (see below) is a new business competition for Buffalo-area minority and women-owned businesses presented by Mayor Byron Brown, 43North and ECIDA and sponsored by the New York Business Development Corporation and Excelsior Growth Fund.