What Is Startup Weekend?

What is Startup Weekend?

Startup Weekend is a global network of passionate leaders and entrepreneurs on a mission to inspire, educate, and empower individuals, teams and communities. Come share ideas, form teams, and launch startups.

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Ever wondered what it takes to be an entrepreneur?

The professional and personal challenges, the high and lows, the failures and the success?

Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement of active and empowered entrepreneurs who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. It is the largest community of passionate entrepreneurs with over 400 past events in 100 countries around the world in 2011.

The non-profit organization is headquartered in Seattle, Washington but Startup Weekend organizers and facilitators can be found in over 200 cities around the world. From Mongolia to South Africa to London to Brazil, people around the globe are coming together for weekend long workshops to pitch ideas, form teams, and start companies.

All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams organically form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and then it’s a 54 hour frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekends culminate with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback.

Whether entrepreneurs found companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new, or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of startups. If you want to put yourself in the shoes of an entrepreneur, register now for the best weekend of your life!

Click Here to see why you should attend.

Schedule

Saturday

Oct 12
  • Registration Starts
  • Dinner & Networking Provided
  • Welcome & Speakers
  • Pitches Start
  • Attendees vote for the top ideas
  • Teams start forming and discussing ideas
  • Venue closes

Sunday

Oct 13
  • Breakfast provided by K&L Gates
  • Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend
  • Lunch-Sponsored by Avista
  • Call for needs & skills
  • Coaches help teams one-on-one. They are here to help!
  • Dinner
  • Mid weekend check-in, status reports, call for help
  • Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow

Monday

Oct 14
  • Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee
  • Call for help (this is self motivated, so don’t be shy)
  • Lunch
  • Coaches arrive… ASK QUESTIONS
  • Gut check. Start prepping for presentations
  • FINAL PRESENTATIONS
  • Judging & awards
  • DINNER
  • Go home!
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Speakers

Lisa Shaffer

Paw Print Genetics

Founder & CEO, Genetic Veterinary Sciences, Inc. (DBA, Paw Print Genetics)


Dr. Lisa G. Shaffer, PhD co-founded Signature Genomic Laboratories in 2003 in partnership with Sacred Heart Medical Center and PAML. Under her direction, Signature launched their first service in March 2004. In 2008, Signature Genomics was ranked 114th in the INC 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies with revenue growth of 1,766% over the first 3 years of the company. In that same year, Dr. Shaffer was named one of the top 10 women CEOs by INC Magazine and was named Business Woman of the Year by Inland Business Catalyst Magazine. In 2009 and 2010, Signature was ranked 1,012th and 2,044th in the INC 5000 Fastest Growing Private Companies. Also in 2009, Dr. Shaffer was the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Life Sciences for the Pacific Northwest and also a National Finalist in the same category. Among Dr. Shaffer’s other business achievements, she was named one of the Top 25 Innovators in 2009 by Seattle Business Magazine, received the Ken Gruzweig Innovator of the Year award by Greater Spokane Incorporated, and was a runner-up for Outstanding Achievement in Innovation in Life Sciences by Seattle Business Magazine in 2010. In May 2010, Signature Genomics was acquired.

In September 2012, Dr. Shaffer founded Genetic Veterinary Sciences. The clinical laboratory, Paw Print Genetics, is focused on genetic diagnostic testing for affected dogs and carrier screening prior to breeding for over 100 inherited disorders. The laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art, high-throughput assays for efficient laboratory solutions for those wanting to test one or more genetic mutations that can affect a particular breed of dog. Our novel approach of providing genetic counseling will insure that customers order only those tests that are needed and understand the results after testing. Unlike other canine testing laboratories, Paw Print Genetics will conduct its business as if it were a human diagnostic laboratory and will treat each sample with a level of worker safety and testing quality that is unprecedented in the canine genetics testing industry.

Dr. Shaffer received her B.S. in Biology from Washington State University and her PhD in Human Genetics in 1990 at the Medical College of Virginia. After Dr. Shaffer completed her training as a clinical cytogeneticist at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, she became the Director of the Kleberg Cytogenetics Laboratory at Baylor in 1992 and remained the director until 2001. She rose through the academic ranks and left Baylor in 2002 as a tenured full professor. In 2002, Dr. Shaffer moved to Washington State University in Spokane, where she was a tenured professor in Molecular Biosciences until 2008. She currently holds an adjunct appointment at Washington State University’s School of Molecular Biosciences, located in the College of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Shaffer has authored nearly 300 scholarly articles, almost two dozen book chapters, and three books in various aspects of clinical genetics. Dr. Shaffer is currently on the Board of the American College of Medical Genetics Foundation, the Board of the Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association (WBBA), the Board of Trustees of Greater Spokane Incorporated (GSI), and the Advisory Council for the new STEM program within the Mead School District, the Riverpoint Academy.

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Judges

Stephanie Schreiber

Magner Sanborn

A detailed and accomplished designer and thinker, Stephanie approaches design challenges from a holistic perspective that considers all elements of brand strategy. Over the past 16 years she has lent her insightful design sense to extensive projects for a broad range of clients including Netflix, Amtrak Cascades, National Geographic, Providence Health Care, Qualcomm, Clearwire, Gonzaga University, Disney, Best Buy, Target and others. Currently an Art Director at Magner Sanborn, Stephanie uses her experience as a conceptual designer to connect brands to people in powerful, meaningful ways.

Jon Copeland

CEO of Nuvodia

Jon Copeland is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nuvodia, a newly formed Information Systems company that is a subsidiary of Inland Imaging. Inland Imaging consists of a Radiologist group called Inland Imaging Associates PS which consists today of 97 radiologists. They are the third largest independent radiology group in the USA today. Other components of the company are outpatient imaging centers in Washington state, as well as a healthcare business consulting company called Inland Imaging Business Associates, and lastly Nuvodia. Nuvodia today consists of 90 employees who are information systems specialists with extensive expertise in systems infrastructure and deep knowledge of Radiology Information Systems and Picture Archive Communication Systems or PACS. We have partnered with Philips PACS deploying PACS into some of the largest hospitals in the USA today, as well as specializing in smaller hospitals and clinics in the for over 12 years. For the past 16 years Jon has worked with the Inland Imaging companies in the following roles: * Chief Information Officer (CIO), * CEO of the healthcare business services unit called Inland Imaging Business Associates, * CEO of a company called RadWorkFlow, a joint venture between Inland Imaging and Providence Healthcare that created specialized radiology workflow software. This software was sold to Medicalis Corporation who are marketing the software nationally, * and now CEO of Nuvodia. Prior to working for Inland Imaging – Jon was the Director of Information systems for a large radiology group in Sacramento called Radiology Associates of Sacramento (RAS). Jon has also worked in information systems divisions in large US based product distribution companies in addition to spending seven years working in agricultural biotechnology (Calgene, INC) as their IT Director. Jon's training and experience across many industries and organizations make him a unique resource in any medical group's attempt to implement and operate new healthcare information technology services. He is innovative and forward-thinking, keeping abreast of technologies and applications that will positively influence the delivery of healthcare services, information, and achieve cost-efficiencies. Jon has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business & Management Information Systems from California State University, Sacramento where he also did post graduate studies. He is on the Advisory Board at Eastern Washington University school of Science, Health and Engineering and has also served on advisory boards for Washington State University. He serves on other community based non-profit organizations boards as well. Jon has been married for 23 years, and has a 15 year old daughter. For recreation, the family enjoys snow skiing, gardening, cooking, and traveling.

Tom Simpson

Spokane Angel Alliance

Tom Simpson has 25 years of experience as an investment banker, venture capitalist, angel investor and entrepreneur. Currently, he focuses on working closely with emerging companies in the Spokane region to achieve growth and profitability.

He is President of the Spokane Angel Alliance whose members have invested ~ $3.1 million in 12 Spokane area companies over the last few years. These companies have raised an additional ~ $16.3 million from other investors and currently employ ~ 320 people. Tom is also a co-founder of GreenCupboards, an on-line retailer of environmentally friendly products for homes and businesses.

Previously, he had been Managing Partner of NWVA. Between 1996 and 2008, NWVA raised and invested over $125 million in emerging companies throughout the Northwest. Prior to NWVA, Tom was a Managing Director in Dain Bosworth's Seattle-based investment banking group and managed public offerings, private placements and mergers and acquisitions for multiple companies in the region. He began his career as a CPA for Deloitte, Haskins + Sells.

Tom is on the board of directors of Berg Manufacturing, GenPrime, Gravity Jack, GreenCupboards and Telect. He also serves as Vice Chairman of the Mobius Science Center and is on the Advisory Board for the University of Washington Foster School of Business.

He has a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Washington, an MBA from The Wharton School and has served as an adjunct professor in Gonzaga University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program.

Tom selectively accepts consulting engagements, generally involving business planning, fund raising and mergers/acquisitions as well as new, corporate board seats.

Chhe Taing

Keiretsu Forum

Chhe Taing, serves as President of the Keiretsu Forum Spokane/Inland Northwest Chapter and as Managing Director for MindShare Resource Solutions. Prior to MindShare, he held prior positions with US Trust Bank of America Wealth Management Services and Bank of America Investments. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics, with minors in Finance, and Management Information Systems from Fairfield University in 1998. Mr. Taing is responsible for Strategic Development of MindShare’s Resource Groups: Investment Management, Corporate Finance, Business Development, Branding & Marketing, Business Operations,Information Technology, and Engineering. He leads the Investment Management Group which specializes in preliminary investment due diligence, connecting MindShare’s portfolio companies with funding opportunities and value added services.

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Coaches

Norm Leatha

www.gonzaga.edu

Norm has had a successful career working in large corporations, launching successfu startups, creating a local angel investment group and leading Gonzaga’s New Venture Lab.
Norm will be bringing over 30 years of experience and insight to this event. Startup Weekend is exciting to have him on board.

Steve Trabun

Avista

Steve Trabun has over 25 years of multi-functional and executive-level experience in large organizations and start-up environments, providing strategic and tactical business planning and leadership across all functional areas of the organization. Steve is a member of the Customer Solutions team at Avista Corporation, where he has led several strategic initiatives including the Virtual Possibilities Network (VPnet), a regional public/private partnership consortium, developing the Electric and Gas Emergency Operating Plan for restoration of services, enterprise business continuity planning, as well as several process and productivity improvement projects. Steve currently spends the majority of his time as a Regional Business Manager, working closely with the City of Spokane, Spokane County, and other area municipalities addressing business policy issues, focusing on driving economic vitality, and maintaining strong collaborative working relationships within the communities we serve.
Steve is a proven entrepreneur and has tremendous passion and energy for analyzing the feasibility of new ideas and concepts, and helping to build them into successful ventures. He has successfully developed several successful start-up organizations since 1996, including a new commercial micro-boutique winerym, Barili Cellars in downtown Spokane.
Steve serves on several boards in the community, including the Downtown Spokane Partnership, University District, Spokane Public Market, Gonzaga University Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program and New Venture Lab, Spokane Angel Alliance, and Terabyte Triangle. Steve holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Washington State University as well as a Masters of Business Administration degree from Gonzaga University. Steve has lived in the Spokane area since 1980. He and his wife, Dana, have two children. They thoroughly enjoy sailing and share a passion for wine making.

Chip Overstreet

MyBuys.com   |  LinkedInGoogle+

Chip Overstreet is a serial entrepreneur, having started his career at Oracle in 1987. Chip’s primary focus is marketing and business development for B2B software companies. He has run worldwide marketing and BD for several organizations, include Blue Martini Software (NASD: BLUE) and MyBuys, Inc. (current). Chip has been CEO of three startups: RTIME (sold to SONY for PlayStation 2), Encover (sold to Synnex), Thump Games (current). He has raised over $40M in venture capital, and he is an angel investor and an advisor to startups. Chip got an economics degree from Stanford in 1986, and has spent the bulk of his career in Silicon Valley and Sydney. A native of Spokane, he relocated back to the NW in 2011 with his wife and 3 young children.

Chad Skidmore

Director Network Services, INHS

Chad Skidmore, Director of Network Services for INHS, is responsible for all data centers, server systems, storage systems, and network connectivity for INHS. Mr. Skidmore and his team operate the foundation systems for INHS’ Information Resource Management Division which, under his leadership has experienced significant infrastructure and customer growth in the past six years. His department manages over 1200 servers across multiple data centers supporting healthcare customers from the St. Croix Virgin Islands to Alaska. Mr. Skidmore joined INHS in 2005 from the telecommunications industry where he spent 15 years in various roles including management, business development, engineering, operations, and product development.

Prior to INHS Mr. Skidmore was the President and COO of a Spokane Washington based Competitive Local Exchange Carrier, OneEighty Networks, providing advanced data services throughout markets in Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. Mr. Skidmore brings a strong entrepreneurial background to his role with INHS as well as many years of experience in a highly competitive and highly regulated technology business.

Mr. Skidmore also volunteers with a regional non-profit, all volunteer Mountain Rescue team based in Spokane Washington and is currently a board member and former President of that organization. Mr. Skidmore along with his wife, son, and daughter, have been happy to call Spokane home for the past 21 years.

Jim Schlosser

Co-Founder Pacinian

Jim Schlosser, a native of Spokane Washington, co-founded Pacinian in 2007. Pacinian invented several disruptive technologies for personal computing devices and sold in June of 2012 to Synaptics Inc. for $30M. Jim currently holds a position within Synaptics and working with the Santa Clara based team for a successful product launch. With Pacinian Jim had a deep understanding of the value proposition and market requirements of for their inventions, as well as the strategies necessary to effectively deliver Pacinian's solutions. Jim spent 10 years at Advanced Input Systems and successfully managed the company's top two customers, the U.S. Army and GE Medical Systems, resulting in profitable growth and more than $25M of revenue. Jim holds firm to his values of true partnership and strong ethics, and seeks to make every business opportunity a personal win for the customer. Jim received an MBA from Gonzaga University and a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University and holds 5 patents.

Steve Duvoisin

CEO, Inland Imaging

Darby McLean

Vice President Business Development, GenPrime

Darby McLean has been with GenPrime since its inception. She is a co-inventor of all of GenPrime's current technologies and is a co-author on many of the company’s patents. Darby's roles at GenPrime have ranged from Research Scientist to Project Manager and Sales & Marketing Executive. In her current role as head of Business Development for the Company, Darby is responsible for discovering business partnership opportunities and developing relationships to help secure the long term growth and stability of GenPrime.

Eric Agnew

Business Manager, Itron

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Organizers
Brett Noyes
Magner Sanborn
Talia Noyes
Doyle Wheeler
Mark Simonds
Emerson Shaffer
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Oct 12-Oct 14 2013