Startup Weekend is a 54-hour event where developers, designers, marketers, product managers and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, build products, and launch startups! And we sent five of the Firebrand crew down...
What Katy Learnt?
In business, your networks (even your friends on social media) are key, and all it takes is a little ounce of courage to tap into these. At the end of the day, you are your biggest asset, your personal reputation and integrity will always assist in expanding these networks. If people don’t believe in you or your idea they will not put their reputation on the line.
What Bekah Learnt?
It's all about selling the sizzle - matching your pitch to the personality of your product. Ensuring the storytelling is strong throughout will give the audience a glimpse into how you'll market it (even if you don't quite get that far). If you can though, provide examples of marketing tactics and most definitely outline marketing costs in your forecast. Design, film and crafting copy so your brand can come to life!
What Anton Learnt?
It's so easy to underestimate the energy, knowledge, expertise and skill required for every facet of business development.
What Georgina Learnt?
Startup Weekend gives you a taste and a little glimpse at the complexities of starting and maintaining momentum through a myriad of pressures and pain points while starting a business. We are so lucky to have a passionate team that together, weather these storms and together celebrate the triumphs and successes.
What Alex Learnt?
The time and effort it takes from taking an idea through to creation and how everyone plays a part. In an event like this, your personal network is key. If you are passionate about an idea - pursue it!
Tips for Future Contenders...
Lean Canvas, fill it out then pull it apart, question everything and make decisions quickly - do this early and fail fast.
Know what the word ‘pivot’ means and be open to it. If your idea is precious to you, don’t bring it - while the weekend will tap you into wider networks, expose you to designers, developers and other business people - there is a possibility that everything about it could change.
The earlier you get into customer validation the better the position you will be in to ensure you create something your audience want - Even if all you have is an idea, a story, a sketch. Work with the timezones, someone somewhere is awake to do a survey.
Do SLEEP and HYDRATE - Look after that brain especially if like the Firebrand crew you have work on Monday!
Big thank you to whoever timed startup weekend with daylight savings #extrahour. We loved every moment of Startup Weekend and most definitely recommend it.
We'll see you at SWDUD 2018!
If this sounds like something you would be interested in, follow the StartupWeekend Dunedin Facebook page and get on board for Startup Weekend 2018.