Techstars Startup Weekend Louisville

Learn how to think, work, and build like a startup in over the course of a weekend. Techstars Startup Weekend is an exciting and immersive foray into the world of startups. Over an action-packed three days, you’ll meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders and sponsors to show you how to get more done faster -- and, maybe even start that Business.

How it Works

Friday - Present an Idea

We kick off the weekend with 1-minute pitches on back-of-the-napkin ideas you’ve been thinking on. Ideas are voted on and teams are formed. Don't have an idea or not picked as a top idea? Join another team and learn the process while meeting other community members.

Saturday - Bring it to Life

Spend the rest of the weekend validating the problem, building a prototype, and creating a business plan. We’ll teach you how to do all of this in our workshops and with the support of mentors.

Sunday - Pitch Your Startup

Present your new startup with a Shark Tank-style pitch to a panel of judges. The winners get a sweet prize package to help them grow their business.

"MBA in a Weekend"

Here's a preview of the workshops and elements of the weekend:

Customer Discovery

The first thing you'll learn Saturday is how to interview people for validation of your idea and the problem you are trying to solve. We'll teach you the do's & don'ts of customer discovery and how to make the most out of every conversation.

The Pivot

After doing some customer discovery, you may find that the problem you're addressing isn't as big of a pain point for people as you thought. That's okay - we'll teach you how to pivot and iterate quickly on your idea to something more viable.

Minimum Viable Product

Now that you've identified a valid problem that people will pay to have solved, it's time to build out your product. We'll teach you what a minimum viable product is, some examples from previous teams and other startups, and how to build one. We're also bringing in an expert that will teach you how to use AI to build your prototype.

Business Model

It's great to have an awesome idea and a built-out product, but if you don't figure out how to make it profitable, the startup will die. We'll teach you how to build a business model and how to figure out your roadmap towards profitablity.

Pitching

It's time to share with the world (and our judges) what you've built! We'll teach you how to give a winning pitch that paints the picture of a better future because of your product. We'll help you construct a concise & inspiring presentation.

And So Much More

Our workshops are packed full of great and practical lessons, but the learning doesn't stop there. You'll learn lots more from your mentors, organizers, customers, and fellow attendees. Soak up as much as you can!

Tickets include:

Mentorship

While our workshops are phenomenal, chances are you’re still going to have questions on specific topics or need someone experienced to give feedback. We’re bringing in 15+ entrepreneurs and subject matter experts to help you throughout the weekend.

Food & Drinks

We’ll keep you energized, nourished, and delighted throughout the weekend with all of your meals, snacks, coffee, and drinks provided by local restaurants and vendors.

Tools

Not only does a startup need space to work, there also needs to be tools in that space. We’ll provide the giant sticky notes, markers, post-it notes, and other brainstorming tools. Some attendees like to use their computer to work - just don’t forget the charger!

Space

Our venue sponsor Story is proud to offer teams their own office for the weekend! Your startup will have dedicated space to work all weekend, throw ideas on the wall, build out your product, and rehearse your pitch.

Networking

While we can’t bring in every subject matter expert, we’ll teach you how to tap into your personal network, other attendees and organizers, and the broader community so you can get answers to validate your idea and build your business. Our event sponsor Amplify is also one of the best connectors in the city.
Resources

With just 54-hours, it’s best not to spend your time re-inventing the wheel - or business model canvas. We’ll share all of our recommended resources with you so you can follow a proven system as you work on your startup.