Detroit Startup Weekend

Below are the ideas that are being pursued after day one suggestions and votes.

Team Name: Idea

Vagabondoo: Story sharing tool using GPS enabled mobile devices.

Rate My Pitch [AKA: pitchlab]: Video rating and voting platform

D Sharp: The answer to creative flight out of metro Detroit in the form of an L3C effort.

GeeSpots: The definitive online resource for romantic and adult events, destinations and retailers.

Statsbragger.com: Create a trading card you can brag about.

BKMEDIC: EPAMRS: Interactive multi-linked system allowing the general public to access the 911 system and become an extension of your EMS providers hands until responders arrive on scene.

Aislewalker.com: An optimized shopping list that sorts your list to aisle number and provides you coupons

Detroit Dynamite: Developing a web based point of sale.

Tech Infusions Magazine:  Helping teachers dust off their computer lab and teach with tech.

Flickr pictures are at swd09

The Twitter conversation can be followed with the #swd09 hashtag.

By David Damore

By Shannon Paul

Day 2 of Startup Weekend Detroit is well underway and several groups have formed to launch new businesses. To track conversations, pictures and other links about the event, we started using the hashtag #swd09 to track the conversation on Twitter. swd9 stands for Startup Weekend Detroit 2009.

Whether you’re on Twitter or not, you can follow our conversations here: http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23swd09

By Shannon Paul

Many people have been asking if it matters what type of ticket they purchase to attend Startup Weekend. For instance, the “Business Development” category is listed as “Sold Out” on our registration page. The good people at the Startup Weekend organization created this type of form just so people would understand that those with a wide variety of skill-sets were welcome to attend — this in no way impacts what you will be able to contribute once you arrive at the event.

Please don’t hestitate to ask if you have any questions — email shannonpaul5[at]gmail[dot]com or call (734) 968-9065

Thanks!

By David Damore

Startup Weekend is a 54 hour event where people come together to create businesses. There are many talented people that will be participating. People from all walks of life attend. You have knowledge and talents that can positively contribute.

Why Would You be Interested?

Let’s ponder a few questions first.

• Have you ever thought about creating your own business?
• Have you ever wondered how other people create businesses?
• Have you ever had a sweet idea and just not know where to start to turn it in to a business?
• Do you want to see how an IDEA becomes a business enterprise?

There are more questions, but we will leave it there for now. If you answered yes to any of those questions, you should strongly consider participating in Startup Weekend.

Why is it Important?

Michigan has the highest unemployment of the 50 states. Lets make some changes. We can make an impact. We can start by creating small business that create customers and require employees to deliver products and services. We can do this. Bring yourself, some ideas and and open mind. Register here before that though.

Now is your chance to make it happen. In one weekend, 54 hours, you can be part of a powerful movement bringing ideas and entrepreneurs together. Order a ticket right now. Do not delay.

Are you willing to be part of something special?

Starts Friday March 27, 2009 at 6pm

Follow David on Twitter

It’s true, the press release for Detroit Startup Weekend is LIVE and it’s already getting a ton of hits. Our press release isn’t an ordinary static press release at all, but a multimedia news release (MNR) provided by one of our event sponsors, PR Newswire.

This release actually has a URL and contains a video as well as other relevant links so people can get more information. It is even enabled with comments so people can comment directly on the release. Pretty cool eh?

If you want to help spread the word about Startup Weekend Detroit and encourage all your friends to sign up, simply send them the link or post it to your Facebook page. Thanks for your help!

This post originally appeared on Brandon Chesnutt’s blog, Somewhat Digital.

By Brandon Chesnutt

Startup Weekend Detroit is only a month away.  As a first time Startup Weekend participant, here are five reasons why I am excited to attend.

(1) This is more than just a networking event

Startup Weekend Detroit will be a great opportunity to meet some very talented, creative and motivated people.  However, we are not just getting together to exchange business cards or enjoy $2 drink specials.  We are trying to launch a company.

(2) Startup Weekends have already helped create some great concepts

While not all of them have gone to market, a lot of past Startup Weekend project ideas are just really freaking cool.

(3) My specialties will mean something

By participating in Startup Weekend Detroit, I can take my specific industry knowledge and put it to good use.

I’m a guy who lives and breathes marketing and PR.  But when it comes to software development or program architecture, I am totally lost.  This means that it will be my job to concentrate on getting the promotion engine running while the coding specialists and system admins are working their magic.  Full specialization at its finest!

(4) Detroit could use a bit of a boost right now

Between the Pistons, political snafus and layoffs, we really need some positive news coming out of this area.  Luckily, there are currently more than 25 people who feel the same way I do and are willing to donate 54 hours of their time to attempt something awesome.

(5) Bragging rights

The only way someone could come up with a more interesting story about how they spent their weekend would be if they could somehow incorporate the phrases “chainsaw bayonet” or “shark wrestling.”

We are attempting to brainstorm a compelling new idea and get a business off the ground three days.  Go ahead.  Try and beat that.

Are you intrigued yet?  Are you free March 27th through March 29th?  Then lend us your brain and your talent for a weekend…

Follow Brandon on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bchesnutt/

by Derek Farr ( DetroitDerek )

The following is a guest post by Chris Hollis. I put out an all-call on Twitter for Detroiters and Detroit natives to list 10 things he or she loves about Detroit for this blog since Startup Weekend Detroit is all about bringing talented people together to form a community that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship. To do that, I believe we need to start thinking positively about our surroundings and each other.

Other lists are sure to follow, but I hope you enjoy…

By Chris Hollis

Detroit is a special place. When I lived there, I don’t think I realized it as much as I do now. Since leaving, I’ve lived in or near Atlanta, Tampa, Orlando and Seattle, and those places have never felt QUITE right. There’s always something special, something electric in the air when I step back into Detroit, and no matter where I go, it will never be replicated.

When I sat down to write this, I honestly wasn’t sure what to say. And then it hit me: write about those things that make Detroit unique and special to me. So this is MY Detroit. These are the things that I miss and fondly remember and long for in Motown.

Photo by chadmagiera

1. Paczki – Maybe it’s because Fat Tuesday just passed us, but wow, do I ever miss fresh paczki (punch-key for those not familiar), straight from Hamtramck.  Nothing like an incredibly fattening pastry to make you feel good about life.
   

   Photo by Derek Farr ( DetroitDerek )

2. Michigan and Trumbull – Any Detroiter worth their salt knows that this corner will live on as part of the lore of Detroit forever. Tiger Stadium will always be a place that I hold dear, as I witnessed many a great Tigers game in that ballpark.
3. Woodward Ave. – The main artery of Detroit’s transportation network, “Motown” and “Woodward” go hand in hand. Whether it’s a Saturday night drive during the summer, or the Woodward Dream Cruise, “the Ave” is a staple of Detroit.
4. Vernors – Seriously. We don’t have it in Seattle. You don’t know how much you miss it until it’s gone.
5. National Coney Island – I cannot begin to tell you how many times I have been walking or driving around Seattle and have longed for a foot-long coney dog covered in chili, mustard, cheese and onions. Every time I am in Detroit Metro, I go out of my way to stop and get a coney.
6. North American International Auto Show – Nothing can match the spectacle that is the NAIAS at Cobo Hall each year. Not only does this event showcase the coolest cars and trucks, it also raises millions of dollars for local children’s charities.
   

   Photo by femaletrumpet02

7. Hockeytown Café – This might be my favorite bar in the entire world. And I love bars. The place is just so full of history and memorabilia, yet hip and trendy at the same time. I enjoy nothing more than standing at the bar or sitting upstairs with a tall beer and a Detroit game on the TV’s, while chatting it up with the greatest fans in the world.
8. Joe Louis Arena – While many people think it’s an old barn and the Red Wings should move, there is something about that Joe that gets inside of me and makes me excited. When you are in the Joe, you know it. From the sights and sounds, to the massive stairs leading up to the arena, JLA is a place I always love finding myself in.
9. Greektown – What’s not to love about a place where you can enjoy fine meats, flaming cheese and amazing deserts, and then walk out the back and be standing in a casino? When I’m in town, you can find me enjoying saganaki and ouzo at Pegasus Taverna before heading to the craps table in Greektown Casino. OPA!!!
10. The Spirit of Detroit – Detroiters know this is a loaded answer. Yes, it’s a cool statue that we put jerseys on during sports playoffs. But the Spirit of Detroit is truly emblematic of what makes Detroit such an awesome place: its people.

God bless you, Detroit. May your future be bright and may your sports teams win many, many more championships. And may you always be special to each and every one of us who has experienced the true Spirit of the city.

By Shannon Paul

The press release has yet to go out, but already, a lot of buzz about Startup Weekend Detroit is developing in several places around the Internet.

Hubert Sawyers wrote a beautiful ode to the event with his dreams for what things like this might mean for the city of Detroit on the Urbane Apartments blog:

Friends, I have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that on a brisk weekend in March, creatives, techies and business folks alike can come together for a great cause - the development of new business for the great-but-wounded city of Detroit.

I have a dream of a room in the Compuware Headquarters building filled with brilliant, focused and motivated people setting aside personal agendas in order to do what is right for the collective good.

I have a dream today.

I have a dream that one day every vacant building shall be occupied and refurbished, and every political setback shall be made null, the inter-county squabbles shall be squelched, and the crooked leaders of the city shall to this chance to absolve themselves and do what is truly right for their hometown.

This is my hope [and I hope it's yours], and this is the faith that I go back to Royal Oak with.

Maureen Francis reposted our call to action on the Active Rain real estate blog, urging people in her network to assist with raising funds to cover costs for Startup Weekend Detroit:

If there is one thing Detroit needs right now, it is jobs, and Shannon is doing her part to create some new ventures here. Who knows, the next Google or Amazon.com could be born in Detroit this year.

Adaptive Blue mentioned Startup Weekend Detroit on its list of the Best Tech Events Across the U.S. along with Refresh Detroit and Ann Arbor Tech Cocktail.

I also put out the call for people around the world to write a list of 10 Things I Love About Detroit, and the lists are rolling in. I will be posting them here.

If you have a list of 10 Things you Love About Detroit, send it to me at shannonpaul5[at]gmail[dot]com and thank you for your support!

Please also remember that Startup Weekend Detroit is now less than a month away! It’s only $40 to attend the entire event and space will be limited, so please, don’t wait to register. Sign up now and help spread the word!

By Shannon Paul

We’re finally getting ready to ramp up publicity efforts. Many of you have already chipped in to help with costs associated with this event, but with only 6 weeks left before the actual weekend, it’s time to get serious. If you haven’t already registered, please do so as soon as possible so we can account for your attendance.

Thanks to our sponsor, PR Newswire, we’ll be putting out a multimedia press release very soon with details on the event in hopes of getting the maximum amount of media exposure for all who participate. Besides, couldn’t Detroit use a little positive press right now?

If you’ve been on the fence about whether or not you should attend, take a look at this video and let us know what you think. P.S. This is also a great place to voice any questions you might have.

Startup Weekend Detroit from Shannon Paul on Vimeo.

Many thanks to my friends Brandon Chesnutt and Jeremy Tanner for helping gather the necessary footage and the brilliance of David Griner and John Hunter from Luckie & Co. for working their magic in the editing room.

Startup Weekend Detroit is March 27, 28 & 29 at the Compuware World Headquarters in downtown Detroit.

By Shannon Paul

Last week Craig Sutton, someone I know from Twitter, posted an interview with me on his blog about some of my various endeavors. One of the questions in particular related specifically to Startup Weekend Detroit:

Q: You are organizing the upcoming Startup Weekend Detroit (Mar. 27-29). Can you explain what that is, and why other cities would benefit from doing the same?

A: The Startup Weekend organization was founded by Andrew Hyde in Boulder, Colorado. There have been several Startup Weekends in cities across the country and even in Europe. Basically the event gathers together creatives and people with technical skills to launch new companies within a single weekend. Each event is different since the direction is largely determined by the people who show up. I live in Detroit and I was raised here. There are hard times across the country right now, but Detroit is under even more intense strain than most in the U.S. I really believe that the future of this city lies in the ability to bring people together to get great ideas off the ground. Nobody becomes successful in a vacuum. We need each other. Events like Startup Weekend help bring people together with a variety of skills to roll up their sleeves, work side by side and get things done. I attended Startup Weekend in Ann Arbor, Michigan last year. What struck me most about the event was the fact that so much was accomplished in a single weekend. This experience leaves people who attend with the feeling that anything really is possible if you work together. What city couldn’t benefit from a little of that?

What are your hope for Startup Weekend Detroit? If you participated in a Startup Weekend anywhere else in the world, what was your takeaway? Would you do it again?