Turning an idea into reality is challenging enough for entrepreneurs, but doing so in 48 hours adds a little drama\u2014and a lot of pressure\u2014to the mix.<\/p>\n
Yet it\u2019s the excitement of unleashing all that creativity that makes NAU Startup Weekend such a meaningful event for participants. Starting at 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, students of all backgrounds will gather to make one-minute pitches in the du Bois Ballroom, recruit teams, and begin the work of launching a startup by Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n
Coaches and mentors assist the teams, which consist mostly of students with technical, design, business and startup backgrounds, although anyone can join in, including non-students.<\/p>\n
Over Saturday and Sunday, the teams validate ideas and build at least a minimally viable product. On Sunday, they make their final pitches, demonstrate their prototypes and receive feedback from a panel of expert judges.<\/p>\n
One team will win a year of business incubation in the LaunchBox<\/a> Student Business Incubation program through the Northern Arizona Center for Entrepreneurship and Technology, which is organizing the event. The team will also receive a seed grant of up to $3,500 from NAU.<\/p>\n Martin Casado<\/strong>, who received his bachelor\u2019s degree from NAU and now serves as chief technology officer of networking and security at VMWare, will deliver a keynote presentation at 6:15 p.m. Friday.<\/p>\n