Startup Weekend to educate go-getters

By LAURIE WINSLOW World Staff Writer - 11/7/2009


A fast, intense and fun weekend aims to give Tulsans a crash course of sorts on what it's like to be an entrepreneur.

Tulsa is one of 10 cities worldwide selected to participate Nov. 13-15 in Startup Weekend in conjunction with Global Entrepreneurship Week.

The event, being called a sort of boot camp for entrepreneurs, will begin at 6 p.m. Friday on the lower level of the ONEOK Plaza Building, 100 W. Fifth St. Cost is $75, and registration will close by noon Friday

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"We can demonstrate on a global stage the quality of our entrepreneurs," said Scott Phillips, the local event coordinator for Startup Weekend in Tulsa. "Everybody talks about Tulsa being a place for entrepreneurs, and this is an opportunity to showcase that fact."

Phillips, president and CEO of Isocentric Networks, said he attended a Startup Weekend in April in San Francisco, where he met organizers of the event and lobbied for it to be held in Tulsa.

Founded in 2007, Startup Weekend has inspired more than 9,000 entrepreneurs and led to more than 250 startups.

Startup Weekend is about "doing," Phillips said. It's not a meeting where people attend lectures or workshops. Instead, they focus on learning by actually creating a business prototype over the weekend.

On Friday evening, participants will gather and pitch their entrepreneurial ideas to each other. Then teams will form and start creating products or companies based on the ideas they've heard that evening. A team might consist of one person or several, or all of the participants might decide to focus on one business idea, Phillips said.

Each team sets its own agenda. Mentors will be on hand to help teams.

Throughout the weekend, team members will work together to develop their selected business prototype and get it ready to launch. On Sunday evening, each team will make a presentation for its company, talking about what worked and what didn't.

"There's a lot of synergy that happens, and being able to interact with other teams and see how they're doing things helps people focus," Phillips said.

In one weekend, participants will experience every step of what it's like to be an entrepreneur that would normally take a year, he said. They'll learn about proper team building, deadlines, prioritization and the importance of focusing on getting things done. They'll also interact with angel investors and venture capitalists.

"It's a whole new way of thinking about entrepreneurship," Phillips said. "There has always been a very formal process. The 20-somethings today are looking for more of a hip, energetic vibe that goes with entrepreneurship, and this event is what attracts those types of participants."

About 35 people have signed up so far, but organizers would like to have 60-80.

Overall, the weekend is a litmus test for individuals, Phillips said. Entrepreneurship is not easy by any definition, he said, and in one weekend participants will know with absolute certainty whether they are cut out to be entrepreneurs.

Participants also will come away from the experience with a network of people crucial to their success, he said.

Individuals can register for the event at tulsaworld.com/startupweekend. Global Entrepreneurship Week

Following Startup Weekend, a series of events are planned for Global Entrepreneurship Week, Nov. 16-20.

Nov. 16

Global Entrepreneurship Week Kickoff Event, ONEOK Field, 11:30 a.m., to 1 p.m. RSVP to Michelle Allen by Nov. 14 communicationdept@cityoftulsa.org

Nov. 17

Tulsa metro Chamber — roundtable Connection Networking Event, renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center, 6808 S. 107th East Ave., 7:30-10 a.m., RSVP to Elaine Walsh by Nov. 14 at elainewalsh@tulsachamber.com VizThink Tulsa — Visualizing the Steps to Starting Up Your Start-Up, presented by Sean Griffin, entrepreneur and visual thinker, Spirit- Bank Community room, 1800 S. Baltimore Ave., 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., free, lunch provided, RSVP to Lou Ann Lissonnet by Nov. 14 at louann@atmos.tv.

Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Spirit Award ceremony, 5:30-8 p.m., Tulsa Community College Center for Creativity, downtown, sponsored by SpiritBank, RSVP to Michelle Allen at communicationdept@cityoftulsa.org.

Nov. 18

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Coaching, Tulsa Collaboratorium, 111 W. Fifth St., 10th Floor, 4:30-6 p.m.

Collaboratorium open House and Entrepreneurial Celebration, 6-8 p.m. RSVP to Lou Ann Lissonnet by Nov. 13 for both events at louann@atmos.tv.

Nov. 19

The Tulsey Awards, Cain’s Ballroom, 423 N. Main St., 7-10 p.m. For more information contact Michelle Allen at communicationdept@cityoftulsa.org

Nov. 20

Kevin Fleming speaks on “Transformational Leadership in a Family Business Culture,” Allen Chapman Activity Center, University of Tulsa, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Family-owned Business Institute members free, nonmembers $20. For reservations contact Claire Cornell at 631-2684 or claire-cornell@utulsa.edu.

Laurie Winslow 581-8466
laurie.winslow@tulsaworld.com




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