Local entrepreneurs with the “next big idea” for a new business will have the chance to put their thoughts to the test this weekend in a 54-hour event aimed at business creation.
The Jacksonville Startup Weekend at the University of North Florida will provide those with the ideas but not the time or resources with the opportunity to pursue their business dream and convince others to join their cause, said Lisa Daniel, JAX Chamber spokeswoman.
There have been 295 similar events held worldwide that have resulted in 2,400 new businesses, Daniel said.
The Jacksonville event is at capacity with 150 registered members comprising idea-pushers and potential backers in the areas such as marketing, law and accounting, which businesses need at the start, she said.
The event begins tonight when attendees will meet and hear from innovators and successful companies before making their own pitch to the audience. The audience will then vote on each idea, with the top 10-15 ideas promoted to the next portion of the business workshop.
From there, audience members decide which idea “team” they will associate themselves with for the weekend work of putting together marketing plans, business models, product demonstrations and other aspects of the business.
During that time, team members can also meet with business mentors one-on-one for advice.
Final presentations are Sunday, the last day of the event, when teams will present a brief offering to judges and potential investors, with the top three being named winners.
Depending on the product and presentation, investors could potentially financially back the product, but the goal is for ideas to come to fruition in the form of new businesses by the end of the event, she said.
Winners also will take home prizes worth $25,000, including wireless phones, free office space, legal services advertisement, marketing and consulting services among other goods.
The event is sponsored by the Indo-US Chamber of Commerce, JAX Chamber and iStart Jax Inc.
For more information about Jacksonville Startup Weekend, visit jacksonville.startupweekend.org.
356-2466