Are you ready to launch your own startup? Come learn how to do it straight from Seattle's real tech CEOs!
In this workshop, Leslie Feinzaig, the Founder & CEO of Venture Kits and Seattle Female Founders Alliance, will show you how to pitch an idea in front of investors... just like they do in Sharktank. You'll work in teams with other aspiring student entrepreneurs to brainstorm a business idea and create a pitch for it. At the end of the workshop, each team will get to pitch their idea on stage for a chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
And, by the way, you'll be mentored by leading Seattle CEOs!
This is a great opportunity to learn some important foundational skills in starting a business while getting a flavor of the startup culture in Seattle. We think it will be the most fun event in all of Seattle Startup Week!
Ages: Middle - High School
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
- lunch will be provided
- bring a laptop if you have one
- please show up at 9:50 at the latest so we can start on time!
- Enter name and info into this google form once you have signed up https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1HOSNpCBR1v_aH3SL1EDGcvBQVnYwEL4-EEUIXzf2vK0/edit
The presentation will provide an overview of key challenges and opportunities presented by blockchain tokens and tokenization, with a focus on the current regulatory landscape applied to token sales.
Theme – Experiencing the city through the lens of new Seattlers, and their hopes and dreams for the future.
This will be a unique tapestry of insights into Seattle as seen through the user experience of people from across the world who have made this city their new home. The moderated session will explore experiences across a wide range of topics, including the high’s and low’s of their early years in the city. The session will appeal to old Seattle residents as well, who will get great value from listening to the stories of panelists as the city changes with the times. Besides taking in the experiences that brought them here, the panel will also explore the future they dream of for the city and what they see as the big challenges we need to overcome on the way there. Hopefully valuable take-away’s for city leaders of all kinds!REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED.
Thank you for your interest. We're not able to accept registrations after 10/1/2017 7:00 PM. We hope to see you at our other events!
VENUE:
AMAZON DAY 1 BUILDING
2121 7th Ave, Seattle, WA 98121 (map)
Registration required - 140 seats available on a first-come-first seated basis
SCHEDULE:
10:00 AM Doors Open - Checking in & Networking
10:30 AM Doors Close - Panel begins
11:30 AM Panel Ends - Open Q&A
12:00 PM Event Ends
“Your level of success will rarely exceed your level of personal development.” - Jim Rohn, legendary entrepreneur, author, speaker
And yet, as hard-charging business owners, we often sacrifice our personal needs in favor of working one more hour or one more weekend. But does that extra hour or weekend really translate into the desired ROI for your business?
Or perhaps it’s time to turn the lens inwards. Personal development is about taking the time and, making the commitment, to invest in the greatest resource in your business – you.
Join us for a moderated panel where successful Founders, CEOs, and Investor-Mentors share their personal stories of how personal development helped them become better leaders, make wiser decisions, and become the entrepreneur they needed to be, in order to bring their business to the next level.
YOU WILL LEARN:
Make the most of Seattle Startup Week’s outstanding networking opportunities. Learn how to make business connections that pay off!
Startups success relies on much more than a great idea. Having the right network and fostering deep relationships can lead to new customers, partners and investors. But, networking is much more than simply showing up.
Learn three networking secrets that will transition you from cold-calling to having opportunities knock down your door. Lisa Ann Pinkerton will outline a tested, simple and systematic process for building an engaged network that pay off in the short- and long-term. You will discover:
From the newsroom to the boardroom, Lisa Ann Pinkerton has used her keen analytical skills to share cleantech stories with the world for nearly two decades. Most recently she was named a Women of Influence by the Silicon Valley Business Journal for 2017. She is Founder and President of Technica Communications, Founder and Chairwoman of Women In Cleantech & Sustainability, Co-Founder of the Global Cleantech Cluster Association, an international speaker and moderator and documentary filmmaker.
Lisa Ann started her career as a broadcast journalist for nearly a decade. Her work has been broadcast on National Public Radio, PBS Television, NBC and other US news outlets. Lisa Ann holds the degrees Bachelor of Fine Art and Master of Art Management and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University.
In this session on corporate innovation, learn about how:
A tsunami of emerging technologies is coming and transforming businesses in ways we could never imagine before
To succeed in this quickly changing world, corporations need to accelerate their innovation journey internally and engage with external startup ecosystem
Startups need to engage with a customer before developing a product and engagement with corporations becomes even higher priority
In the digital world, startups require much less Venture Capital funding, so corporate innovation and corporate investment become even more important
So, you’re growing exponentially and need top talent to push your startup to the next level. Now what? This round table discussion will explore the main drivers for engineering candidates and align them with what your startup needs to offer. This is your chance to hear from the people who spend day in and day out deciphering candidates desires and matching them with companies who are navigating what it means to compete in this hot Seattle market.
Would you like to know why celebrities and media personalities, chefs, beloved bloggers, and tastemakers are podcasting and making their shows available for free?
A well-done and carefully curated podcast is a great tool for building a brand. However, producing a show is far from easy. Join us to learn why the presenters believe podcasting is beneficial in shaping their messages and brands, and how technology is changing storytelling.
As a small company, how do you get coffee all the way from the equator to your customers? How do you succeed as a roaster in a town that has dozens? What do you offer your guests as a retailer that they cannot find elsewhere? These impressive panelists have found unique and creative ways to solve these problems. We will hear from a roaster, a retailer and a general manager as they demystify the coffee process, offer their insight and share their successes.
Venue Details:Startups may not be able to offer the highest salaries or best 401k packages, but they can beat big companies in spades. From impact and learning opportunities, there are loads of ways startups can have the edge. With competition for talented candidates fierce, and no shortage of options to choose from, the war is on! Luckily, what big companies offer isn't typically on the list of talented job seekers. The best candidates in today’s market are looking for mission driven companies, transparency, and to be able to make an impact. They want to work with strong peers and leaders, who can help them learn and grow.
Learn how to compete in a candidate driven market, from local recruiting leaders who are helping staff some of Seattle’s top startups. From employment branding to interviewing process, what you can do make sure you attract and hire top talent.
**Opening Party + Pitch Competition, presented by Chase for Business & hosted by Founders Live **
Date: Oct 2nd
Time: 5PM - 10PM
Location: Chase Baescamp (aka Galvanize)
111 S Jackson, WA 98104
Arrival time: 5-6pm
Pitch Competition: 6-7pm
Opening Party | Networking Mania: 7-10pm
This is your formal invitation to celebrate entrepreneurship with Seattle's startup community on Oct 2nd from 5pm - 10pm.
Join us for a fun night of kicking off the week with friends, local entrepreneurs, and the organizers and presenters of Techstars Startup Week Seattle, powered by Chase for business.
The night will begin with our first annual pitch competition that will feature 5 local entrepreneurs sharing their 99-second value proposition for the market. The audience will be voting for the winner and they will receive all proceeds collected from the job fair. The pitch platform and voting technology are provided by Nick Hughes, Founder and CEO of Founders Live. He’ll moderate this fun event.
The Opening Party festivities, presented by Chase for Business, will start directly after the pitch competition. Beer, wine, select cocktails, a live DJ, and great food provided by That Brown Girl Cooks will be a just a few fun features at the event.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
The companies pitching are:
The rise of APIs is turning banks into platforms. It’s being driven by new regulations in Europe, but in the U.S. it’s being driven by technology and by leaders who see open banking as a competitive advantage. Whether you are a coder or a banker, join us to explore the risks and opportunities of open banking as fintech continues to change the face of traditional financial services.
What’s the next big thing in retail? When you are caught up in the day-to-day operations of your retail business, it can be easy to feel left behind when trends emerge. Major players like Amazon and Whole Foods make big moves that send ripples through the retail sector, but that’s not always a bad thing for smaller businesses. Join retail experts Christine Guillot and Joanna Rutter for a podcast-style conversation on retail intelligence and industry trends, especially as we prepare for the upcoming holiday season. Take a deep dive beneath the retail news headlines to learn what direction the industry is heading and what that means for small and startup retail businesses.
The program will feature a variety of industries, where we'll discuss the obstacles that companies face at different stages of growth. Our panelists will share their entrepreneurial challenges, how they overcame them, and the key lessons they've learned while building their businesses. Throughout the conversation, they will share insight on their solutions that have helped them successfully scale.
Venue Details:
*Due to event capacity, only the first 100 people who have arrived will be allowed in.
*Dress code restricts shorts, athletic wear, baseball caps and flip-flops.
The leadership imperative has never been clearer – We are experiencing a crisis of leadership globally from our national political leaders all the way to our own organizations and families. In this session, you will explore three hidden traits of great leaders – and how you can develop these traits in yourself – to have a positive impact in your organization and in our world. You will also get hands on with personal development planning tools useful for charting your personal growth as an entrepreneur.
VENUE:
Columbia Tower Club
701 5th Avenue, 75th Floor, Seattle, WA 98104 (map)
Registration required - 100 seats available on a first-come-first seated basis
SCHEDULE:
10:00 AM Doors Open - Checking in & Networking
10:30 AM Doors Close - Event Begins
11:40 AM Open Q&A
12:00 PM Event Ends
“There are no limitations to the mind except those we acknowledge. Both poverty and riches are the offspring of thought.” - Napoleon Hill, Author of Think and Grow Rich
You hustle, you grind and you optimize.
You circle back, you follow up and you get on people's radars.
But where's your head at?
You are the driver of your businesses' success -- but if your MIND is not prepared for greatness beyond your wildest dreams -- how will your business ever get there?
How does your mind factor into the ultimate success or failure of your business?
Join us for laser-focused panel of founders, visionaries, and thought leaders; carefully selected to give you an impactful 90 minutes on how to optimize your mind.
We kick off this panel with a fast-paced and deep-dive interview with Nick Hughes; whose Founders Live events are catching fire across the country. Nick's highly sought-after advisor chops and visibility in the startup community make him the ideal person for a bit of brain picking. Walk away with insights you can immediately apply in your business and life-path.
Then, get ready to roll up your sleeves and engage in experiential learning as our team of subject experts introduce and guide you through simple mental training tools that you can implement immediately to expand your perception of your own capabilities, AND of course, #MakeMoreMoney ;)
YOU WILL LEARN:
Some startups have a board of directors, and some opt for advisors. Others hold off for as long as they can. There are myths and legends about board of directors. Really, what is the value of having a board of directors, and how do you identify the right people? And when almost everything in a company has been disrupted, is there an alternative to a board of directors? In this fireside chat, we have two professional board members that will help us understand the role, power, advantages, and care and feeding for a board of directors. And there’s quality time set aside for you to ask your burning questions on this topic.
Hear directly from a former buyer of technology companies who then co-founded and sold his own technology company about how to make a buyer interested in acquiring your company. Get first hand insight into what your business might be worth, when and why to sell, what companies are buying when they buy, how to prepare for a sale and what the sales process looks like.
Lowell will review the five step process that he has documented for finding a buyer:
1. Planning & Research
2. Outreach
3. Engagement
4. Term Sheet & Due Diligence
5. Negotiation and close
Lowell Ricklefs twice built the leader in the online market research data collection industry - GMI (sold to WPP for $100M) and Toluna (sold to a Private Equity firm for $260M). He co-founded FlexMinder - the leader in Healthcare IT automated claim submission (sold to JellyVision), in addition he led the buying side of several transactions including a $10M technology company in Texas and a $40M technology company in Connecticut. At F500 Rockwell Automation as a Global Sales VP he worked closely with Corporate Development on acquisition strategy. Lowell started Traction Advising to pursue his passion: helping fellow entrepreneurs scale and sell software companies.
Gary Kocher is a partner in the Seattle office of K&L Gates with over 25 years of experience working with emerging growth companies and investors that support them. He counsels founders on business formation issues and works with clients on a wide range of transactions, including financings, strategic partnerships and acquisitions, intellectual property creation and protection, and exit transactions. Over his career, Gary has represented more than 100 start-ups. He serves as outside counsel to the Alliance of Angels in Seattle and is a member of the Public Policy Advisory Council to the Angel Capital Association. He has helped several angel groups form side-car investment funds and is a frequent speaker and writer on topics relevant to angel investing. In his spare time, he loves to fly fish and will talk for hours about pescatory pursuits.
A panel discussion on start-ups being “Born in the Cloud” and how to ensure scalability and elasticity, and why it’s important for the B-to-B and B-to-C to be in Hybrid Cloud. The discussion will include experts on how to be Cloud Ready, to a start-ups perspective on being “Born in the Cloud”.
Venue Details:
*Due to event capacity, only the first 100 people who have arrived will be allowed in.
*Dress code restricts shorts, athletic wear, baseball caps and flip-flops.
How ‘fundable’ is your organization? In this session, you will walk through a checklist including 8 dimensions of fundability and learn 21 key elements to ensure your organization is ‘optimized for fundability’ – from start up to successful exit. While focused on scaling companies, this content is useful for all start up stages as a framework for their development.
A majority of today’s startups have cofounders. Some Accelerators, like the Y Combinator, won’t consider your application unless you have a cofounder. MIT Professor Edward Roberts in “Startups That Work”, stated that the chances of being very successful increased at 2, 3 and 4 cofounders. The benefits of cofounder teams are obvious…the work is shared, so is the pressure and there’s a diversity of skillsets. Cofounders also means human dynamics are in play…all the time. In this session, we have a panel of 3 different cofounders that will talk to us about their cofounder experience and wisdom earned. Nope, no knock’em sock’em drama, and lots of opportunity for you to ask questions about The Good, The Challenge and The Reward of having cofounders.
How are you using your data? As a Startup, you need analytics and a beautiful story that people can believe.
Leaders in the Data Analytics community host breakout sessions so that you can learn about the resources available to you and ask your data science questions and have the conversations that will lead you to more efficient prospecting.
Breakout Sessions include:
Are you looking to expand your business? Trying to figure out what you should do first? Look no further than ‘growth’ expert Aseem Badshah, founder and CEO of Soceedo. Aseem is teaming up with ProDev and Seattle Startup Week, to discuss just what it takes to grow properly; taking your company to the next level without compromising company values and mission.
This ‘fireside’ chat, with fellow young professionals, will expand your knowledge and leave you with great practical advice you can actually use!
See you there!
How does having a diverse workforce further a company’s goals? Technology has made global communications accessible, making it viable to have a diverse workforce. Input from a diverse team creates empathy for a wider customer base, giving understanding to individual needs in other cultures. This panel is a variety of examples of how having an accomplished and multicultural workforce will provide your company an advantage in your market.
*Dress code restricts shorts, athletic wear, baseball caps and flip-flops.
Successful email marketing brought 5,500+ attendees to Techstars Startup Week Seattle last year. But there's more to mastering email than writing snappy copy and hitting the send button. To reap the relationship and revenue rewards that email has to offer, you’ll need to apply the same best practices used by the experts.
Get equipped with actionable advice and practical case studies. Plus, learn how to avoid pitfalls that can turn off your recipients or get you marked as a spammer. Email expert Erin McKeeby will be joined by Elizabeth Schmidt Ringwald who will share lessons learned from two years of delivering startup week's email campaigns. We’ll roll up our sleeves and get down to business, so you can grow yours!
Creating a company people want to work for starts with making sure you have a foundation of people who are as passionate about the company as you are. After all, your best recruiters are people who can speak to what it means to be a part of your team. They already know what you’re looking for and they are excited about your vision. This panel will lay out the basics of creating a recruiting culture by making recruiting something everyone on your team values through communication, incentives, events, etc.
Getting people to take a leap of faith is integral to starting a company. You have a vision. You have a sense of the steps to get there. Now you need a team. How do you get talented people to take a huge personal risk with you? One key skill set in attracting talent is the ability to tell a story. You need to create buy in, and you do that in part through storytelling. The same skill that has millions of viewers hooked on Game of Thrones is crucial in recruiting your team. At this event, you'll learn how to captivate talent through the art of storytelling.
This very special evening will highlight the works of The Catherine Mayer Foundation – including an interactive opportunity to express, energize and excite the inner being through creative expression.
The initiatives of the Foundation, and the benefits of art, will be discussed while attendees enjoy food, beverage, interactive drawing, painting, writing, music and movement to excite all of the senses and engage all participants.
Catherine Mayer believes in the power of creativity and its essential place in everyday life – its ability to open and connect the mind and spirit to anything and to anyone. It’s one of the reasons she has created The Catherine Mayer Foundation (www.thecatherinemayerfoundation.org).
An internationally recognized artist (www.catherinemayer.com), Mayer has engaged with Michael Woo of UpTop (www.uptopcorp.com), to develop design and technology-based solutions that help engage, calm and inspire through a curated experience. Most recently, Mayer has launched an app that encourages focus and calm in kids using interactive images, colors, sounds and music. The evidence-based app has been designed to help relax, focus and concentrate, increasing creativity, self-esteem and imagination. The app has caught the attention of Seattle Children’s Research Institute and the University of Washington College of Education – and is being featured in classrooms at Seattle’s Madrona Elementary School this Fall in partnership with Dr. Janine Jones, Director of the UW College of Education’s Psychology Program.
Dr. Ben Danielson of Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic calls Mayer’s efforts “preventative medicine for today’s youth and mental illness.”
The evening’s special guest includes Seattle Sounders’ All-Star Goalkeeper, Stefan Frei. In his youth in Switzerland, Frei rode the rails from school to soccer practice, from his hometown of Altstatten to the academy in nearby St. Gallen. He was always trying to catch a shape, or a squiggle or graffiti – the colorful stuff. Art has been his passion for years.
“As a goalkeeper, if you make a mistake, nothing good comes from it. Ever,” Frei said. “With art, if you make a mistake, it can turn into something beautiful.”
Join us for a special evening as we better understand how art endures now more than ever, how art connects us, nourishes us and challenges us to better understand our shared humanity.
RSVPS on this schedule WILL NOT register you for the event. You MUST Register on the NTNW website. Registration includes quality connections, cool presentations, and hosted snacks and bar.
Welcome to the largest tech community in the Northwest! At New Tech, we foster meaningful connections, build your network, and showcase the industry’s best, all over great food, drinks, and a give first attitude. We’re an open door to the Seattle tech community and we’re glad to have you join us. Let’s help you build your dream and have fun doing it. It starts here.
More than just a meetup, we're a community that loves and supports people, the Northwest and tech. Tickets are $10 - $15 before the event and $20 at the door.
+ the crowd:
The Northwest’s smart, fun, creative, innovative tech community – software and application developers, company owners, startup founders, recruiters, hackers, job seekers, executives, investors, community leaders, and people who are new to the area.
+ the speakers:
Founders, leaders & innovators sharing their passion & new tech through 5 minute presentations & 3 minutes of your Q&A. Presenters flow from early stage startups to enterprise companies..
City Bldr presented by Bryan Copely – The first online real estate marketplace connecting owners with builders and developers. Know your land value in 10 seconds
Cellepathy presented by Dan Abramson – Smartphone-powered connected car technology.
MPIRICA presented by John Dex – We score hospitals and surgeons based on objective clinical outcomes, helping patients and payers avoid surgery risks and costs.
Video Analytics Towards Vision Zero Partnership presented by Ganesh Ananthanarayanan - Learn how Microsoft, UW and the City of Bellevue are working together to prevent traffic fatalities through a technology development partnership.
Chatbox presented by Jessica Webster – Create bots with a simple, easy to use framework. Connect data sources of your choice to personalize bot-based experiences. Use keyword triggers and other actions to automate.
+ the format:
Connecting, food & drinks >community building >community shoutouts >presentations >sponsor shoutouts >afterparty
+ the vibe:
Neighborhood block party – fun, friendly & relaxed with complementary food & a no host bar. You’ll laugh, smile, and have a fun night out with 350-500 Seattleites, 100-150 Eastsiders or 50-100 Tacomans.
+ the experience:
Discover innovative, creative and inspirational new technology (or smarter use of old tech). Could be VR, IoT, Apps, Fintech, Mobiletech, Healthtech, Cloudtech, Spacetech… you get the idea.
Register Now at http://www.newtechnorthwest.com
October 3, 2017 | 6:00 PM
Galvanize Seattle - 5th floor
Come join us during Seattle Startup Week for Seattle’s first ever Slack Meetup! We’re bringing together members from the Seattle tech community along with folks from the Slack platform team. You’ll hear from developers hacking away on side-projects and teams building venture-backed companies on Slack. You’ll also have the opportunity to hear from Amir Shevat, Director of Developer Relations at Slack - there will be plenty of time to ask him questions about the Slack Platform and where it is headed.
Schedule:
We're back for the third annual "Grit and Resilience" event!
Startups are hard whether you're the founder or on the team. Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Martin Tobias has created a Grit Test, see where you land on the Grit Scale. At this event you'll hear from entrepreneurs who have successfully created companies and how their grit and resilience has carried them through the toughest of times. You'll also learn new ways on how you can increase your grit before you attempt to start your startup.
At this event:
Note: This event is inside of the Facebook offices so please arrive early to get your badge and get through security before the event starts! Limited space so make sure to sign up. Parking is FREE!!
Also in this track, How To Build The Best Entrepreneur: From The Entrepreneur's Perspective on Friday, October 6th 12:30pm at Google Seattle.
It’s debate time and if you’re a techie, chances are you already have an opinion on what tech stack is best. Java, Python, Rails, Scala, C#....the options are endless but what tech stack should be the foundation for your startup? What scales the fastest? What language gets the product out the door the quickest? What has the strongest developer tools and support? Ultimately, what is the sexiest technology that is going to help you attract top talent in the Seattle tech scene. This debate is a chance for you to explore the pros and cons of different technologies and learn how it effects more than just the product. Come find out if you’re in the majority and share your own opinions on your tech stack of choice.
You have an idea that you are bringing into reality. People have expressed interest in the end product. There’s a few competitors but you’re confident that your features will get you market share. All is steady until the question of how will you generate revenue becomes more persistent. Will it be an affiliate model? Are you a B to B? Maybe B to C? What about a subscription model? Three different founders will talk to us about their business and their revenue model. What came first, the idea or the revenue model? At what point did the revenue model solidify? And were there any pivots in the revenue model? Bring your questions, and get answers from these founders’ experiences.
VENUE:
Simply Measured
2211 Elliott Ave, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98121 (map)
Registration required - 60 seats available on a first-come-first seated basis
SCHEDULE:
10:00 AM Doors Open (Checking in & Networking)
10:30 AM Doors Close (PechaKucha Begins)
11:30 AM Open Q&A
12:00 PM Event Ends
“We think, mistakenly, that success is the result of the amount of time we put in at work, instead of the quality of time we put in.” - Arianna Huffington, Founder and CEO at Thrive Global
Highly successful people have morning routines, afternoon hacks, and bedtime rituals to help them #WinTheDay:
Here’s the thing...
They began practicing these routines before they became successful, not the other way round.
Steve Jobs began his morning asking himself one question: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” He asked this single question repeatedly for 33 years - before Apple took over the world.
Join our expert panel as they share their daily routines with you in 20 slides - a snapshot of them IRL (in real life), pecha kucha-style. Get an insider’s look into the lives, routines, and biohacks of successful CEOs and Olympic athletes as they transform the way you define your own success while reaching for the stars.
Leave not just inspired, but ready to put your own daily routines into action to help you win your day!
YOU WILL LEARN:
At the end of the panel, the floor will be opened up to questions from the audience. This is your chance to seek out practical wisdom and actionable insights that will help you move the needle in your personal life and business! Seating is limited - do reserve your spot.
Love this? You may enjoy these events, too!
This will be a talk about common mistakes and misconceptions that startup investors hold about games startups and reasons to invest in them. For example, the"shots on goal" fallacy, or the idea that many investors hold wherein because they believe games are content, that the best strategy for success is to develop many small ones and hope one hits. This, in the age of service-driven games and online communities, is manifestly not true and yet investors still hold onto that belief.
Want to know what it takes to get your device made from start to finish? Come listen to seasoned clean-tech entrepreneur and consultant, Burt Hamner, talk about what you can expect along your journey of taking your device from concept drawings to manufacturing.
Theme – Exploring our start-up eco-system strengths beyond the tech advantages
Building a game, running a business, and nurturing a special relationship all take energy and attention. But what happens when you are doing them all at the same time? Can it be done?
In this panel, we will discuss the work the speakers do to elevate the power of food as it pertains to community, by bringing people together, sharing ideas, acknowledgement through feeding people in need, minimizing waste, and supporting transitional population.
Come meet the organizations that are helping to build a food system that is genuinely sustainable and growing its reach to all the different communities in Washington State and beyond. You can also find out about how to get involved or volunteer.
It’s often said that your network is your net worth. Agree or disagree? Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, seeking funding, or wanting to develop key strategic relationships to champion you at any stage of growth, how do you build influential social capital to attract the RIGHT people to help? Join us for a fun conversation with Seattle’s top super connectors and hear their unique perspectives on cultivating meaningful, leveraged contacts and amplifying your circle of influence through powerful digital and live platforms to reach thousands of people. You’ll witness social brilliance in action and take away principles and tools to develop invaluable connections right now, that work for YOU. This panel discussion is essential if you're seeking to authentically connect, be memorable, and create value-adds that distinguish you from the crowd and inspire others to help you.
Are you a student/individual looking for employment in a startup?
Are you a startup looking for a smart and eager individual to join your blossoming team of entrepreneurs?
If so, join us at the University of Washington Intellectual House (4249 Whitman Court, Seattle 98195) between 2:00-4:00pm on Wednesday, October 4th for our UW startup career/internship fair! Talk to dozens of fully established and vetted startups who are looking for people like you to join their companies. Bring your A game, and your resume(s).
To register for a table, fill out this form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScsnX2YG_7TK8cc0UpVnh0pxEV6gRlNAF2Lu7ZjxuVvhFjBog/viewform
All attendees MUST register via Eventbrite or on the official Seattle Startup Week page in order to attend.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/startup-career-fair-tickets-37260701762
In building a business, there is significant value in philanthropy and improving the community. Customers want to invest in companies that support their community and consumers vote with their dollars. Building a brand that says you care about more than just the bottom line is compelling and differentiating. In addition, employees want to find meaning in their work. By focusing on doing good for the community it motivates, engages and retains employees.
Join a diverse panel of industries and experts to learn how to get started with community and philanthropic initiatives that will support your business.
Venue Details:
*Due to event capacity, seating is on a first come, first served basis. Registration is required however it does not ensure entry.
*Dress code restricts shorts, athletic wear, baseball caps and flip-flops.
Facebook advertising is the most powerful form of paid advertising available on the internet today. With targeting abilities that rival any other ad platform, there exists no better channel to get the word out about your product or service. In this session, you’ll learn the secrets the pros use to make Facebook advertising pay.
From setting up campaigns to discovering audiences, there are actionable Facebook advertising tactics that can be run on a tight budget. Whether you are already managing Facebook campaigns or just getting started, you’ll come away with the things you need to do to start driving sales.
Enable higher performing teams by building an app for Microsoft Teams. Learn how to build, package, and distribute an app by walking through an example showing tabs, bots, compose extensions, and other Teams developer platform capabilities
Making data driven decisions is the gold standard today. But what happens when you’re too early to have much data? What happens on Day 1, when you have to decide product look and feel based on zero to little customer feedback? When to lease that office space? How to gauge staff growth? How many units to pre-order before having a track record of sales? Which feature and functionality to build when time and resources are tight? What is the (scarce) data saying about your product and customers?
Come hear from four successful entrepreneurs who started organizations with a deeply ingrained culture of data-driven decision making before they had the data set to make their vision real.
The panel discussion will be followed by a breakout session featuring small group discussions led by the panelists. Our goal is to demystify the early days of a startup and give ‘would-be' entrepreneurs the tools to get started!
Mistakes. We all make them. But some people have a knack for turning those mistakes into accomplishments, experience, and successes. It’s not easy. It takes self-respect, confidence and a bit of creativity.
Whatever challenges you may be facing, or roadblocks you may be trying to clear, come on down to hear how 3 of our local business leaders have translated their career missteps into positive experience.
The digital revolution has had a huge impact on the music business. In just few short years, the industry has evolved into something new entirely - musicians record on laptops, fans stream music, and traditional record labels are edging towards irrelevance. What does it mean to be a music startup in this landscape? Has it increased opportunities for entrepreneurs? What emerging trends are likely to become the new norm? What's in store for the future?
8Stem founder Adam Farish hosts a panel to discuss the past and present with Bruce Pavitt of Sub Pop Records / 8Stem Interactive Music, Daniel G. Harmann of the digital distribution company DistroKid, and Meli Darby, Seattle producer, event promoter, music marketer, and artist manager of the Upstream Music Festival & Summit, ReignCity Productions, and PLZCOMEAGAIN Management.
"PitchBlack is the best pitch event." - Silicon Florist
Hack Nation brings PitchBlack to Seattle. A national pitch competition by the people and for the people! Unlike traditional pitch competitions, entrepreneurs will have five minutes to tell the audience their story and then answer two questions about their idea from the audience.
After the last presenter has answered questions from the audience, attendees will then vote for their favorite two - top two split the money, and we will also have a social media vote for another cash prize opportunity .
Our ultimate goal is to showcase the entrepreneurial and creative genius of black founders in the region while connecting them with the entrepreneurial ecosystem.Starting a company is not a solitary endeavor. You might have the perfect Idea, but you won’t execute it well without the right team. Whether it’s finding a co-founder or hiring your first, 10th, or 100th plus employee, it is your team that will execute your vision. The best teams are motivated and diverse. You’ll need to sell your team on your vision, and you’ll need to assemble a talented group of people with varied backgrounds and perspectives.
The leaders on this panel have built such teams and are going to discuss their approach to one of the most critical and challenging aspects of starting a company: How to build a diverse team.
Are you on the lookout for a new developer job? Do you want to brush up on your interview skills? Join us for Cracking the Coding Interview, a technical interview preparation session with fellow job searchers and coaches. We will build peer groups that go through algorithm and data structure interview questions, following the Cracking the Coding Interview book by Gayle Laakmann McDowell.
This session is being led by She’s Coding. She’s Coding is an open-source, non-profit, volunteer-driven project that aims to close the gender gap in tech through community involvement, education and empowerment.
Remember to bring your laptop and/or paper notebooks! We will have a couple of white boards at the space, but depending on the number of people joining, some groups might need to use laptop and paper. Also, in case you own the book, please feel free to bring your copy for reference.Are you a developer thinking about working for a startup? Join Dave Parker in a frank discussion about:
What you should know about the company, idea, and team before you start
How to judge the quality of ideas and the likelihood for success
How much you should get paid
The mechanics of stock options, contract agreement, and 1099 vs. employee roles
FinTech is one of the hottest sectors in the startup world. However, few have seen how much it has changed the developing world. From near-instant, mobile-only loans to biometric technologies connecting over a billion people to digital payments, emerging markets are starting to leapfrog the innovations we see locally.
Join us, DFS Lab, for a conversation about FinTech in emerging markets as we take a deep dive into the developing world’s FinTech trends. Hear from our team about the innovations we’re seeing, the growth of emerging market startup ecosystems, and what we think could make its way back to Seattle. Learn more about DFS Lab’s accelerator and how you can use your own technology experience to make an impact across the world.
Connect with both global and local experts before and after. Doors open at 6:30pm, event starts at 7pm, and we’ll hang around for a beer and conversation until 8:30pm. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the most recent trends in technology and connect with the foremost experts in the field. We can’t wait to meet you and learn about what you’re working on.
DFS Lab is an accelerator for FinTech innovations in emerging markets. We are supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Learn more on our website, Facebook, and Twitter!
Around 40% of today's workforce is made up of non-traditional working people, or a "blended workforce". The blended workforce is made up of people who work full-time and part-time, as well as temporary workers, freelancers, and contract workers.
How are Seattle companies embracing this trend? What are the challenges? How has this helped culture and productivity? Meet our panel who are either working as a non traditional employee or have teams made up of them.
VENUE:
The Pioneer Collective
100 S King St #100, Seattle, WA 98104 (map)
Registration required - 30 seats available on a first-come-first seated basis
SCHEDULE:
10:00 AM Doors Open (Checking in & Networking)
10:30 AM Doors Close (Panel & Workshop Begins)
11:40 AM Open Q&A
12:00 PM Event Ends
“Fighting emotions is like flailing in quicksand — it only makes things worse. Sometimes, the most proactive 'defense' is a mental nod and wink.” - Tim Ferriss, Author of Tools of Titans
Being an entrepreneur can be a wild ride. Thrilling. Nerve-racking. Invigorating. Rewarding. Stressful. All at the same time.
We’re sure you can relate to this image created by entrepreneur Derek Halpern.
(...in fact, sometimes some of us experience this roller coaster twice a day, even before it’s lunch time!)
So, what can you do to #harnesstheride and become an effective entrepreneur?
We kick off this panel with a fast-paced, deep-dive interview with Marination’s Co-Founder Roz Edison, as we explore the spirit of Everyday Aloha - the secret sauce powering this fast growing company that grew from a single food truck to a flagship of 6 signature restaurants.
Then, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and engage in experiential learning as our team of subject experts introduce and guide you through using simple daily tools that can not only effectively address your fears and doubts, AND also build self-motivation, self-accountability, and the trending “grit & resilience” leaders and investors have been talking about.
YOU WILL LEARN FROM:
At the end of the panel, the floor will be opened up to questions from the audience. This is your chance to get your burning questions about navigating the emotional roller coaster of entrepreneurship answered. Seating is limited - do reserve your spot.
Many companies and careers start by accident. Competing family and career demands dictate the need to have flexibility but you still needs to use your skills. This happens many ways: founders start work on a project that turns into a larger enterprise. Volunteer work turns into vocational work, and ad-hoc advice turns into a career change.
Come Talk with 4 local business people who have made that shift, and a career coach that works specifically with entrepreneurs.
Maybe you’re a start-up entrepreneur trying to compete with the big dogs for top talent. Maybe you’re a developer who is ready to get their feet wet in the start-up world but not ready to leave your $$$ on the table. This panel will break down the facts, fiction and fears regarding equity and give you a chance to discover whether the early stage startup world is right for you. Q&A to follow the panel discussion.
Are you fundraising for your startup? Learn how to deliver the most compelling pitch to investors in this interactive workshop drawn from Alliance of Angel's 20 years of experience with helping and mentoring entrepreneurs.
About Alliance of Angels
The Alliance of Angels is the largest and most active angel group in the Pacific Northwest. Each year, we invest $10M+ into 20+ companies. Our network of 140+ active angel investors is further augmented by a $6.6M seed fund. Learn more at www.allianceofangels.com
Event Sponsor: ExtraSlice - The Place for Tech
ExtraSlice is a hybrid Tech Park with shared office space & a vibrant community of Technology Companies, Service providers & Training providers. Learn more here: www.extraslice.com
*This event will be seated on a first come, first served basis. You must be registered to attend however it does not guarantee entry.
During the event we will have two panels including a fireside chat discussing opportunities within the healthcare continuum, relating to interoperability and and other panel focusing their dicussion around investment opportunities and trends in health and lifescience markets.
To break up the panels we will have 2 sets of entrepreneurs pitching to investors, one set of entrepreneur's looking for seed funding, followed by the second set of entrepreneurs looking for Series A funders. Winner's of the event will be selected to go to the final summit event back in Seattle, November 15!
Startup resources like maker's space, formation processes, equipment, access to advisors and mentors, access to funding and partnerships are precious and can be hard to find. In this session, three organizations with different approaches to startup resources are spotlighted. Are you geared towards a brick and mortar resource with a community of startups, or wanting to source a community of experts and advisors, or do you seek a centralized command center for your de-centralized startup? Come with your questions, and discover resources that will help your startup get what it needs.
Are you highly creative but lacking the clarity, focus and plan of action to actually move forward so you won’t stay paralyzed by perfectionism, comparison and procrastination?
Do you need to TAKE ACTION and test to get results?
Do you know how to IDENTIFY what to outsource and what to do yourself. Learn from our panel of experienced women entrepreneurs who have launched, broken and fixed more times than they want to admit? Be inspired to get your ideas into motion.
Join Melody Biringer - founder of the CRAVE Company and startup junkie and Angela Shen founder of Savor Seattle for an in depth discussion on just going for it and relying on a bit of serendipity along the way.
Sometimes, you’ve got to make the tough decision to get your product out there – before it’s ready – just to learn.
Most times, it feels like your product will never. Be. Ready. But you gotta launch anyway.
Conceiving of, planning, building and delivering a technology solution is an incredible undertaking – not to mention getting it in front of customers, pitching it to investors and running your company.
This session tackles the tough questions and decisions you’ve got to make. We’ve collected experienced entrepreneurs, investors and business leaders who have worked through these important decisions with varying viewpoints for your benefit.
Looking for examples of the successful tactics that are winning customers today? Whether you sell products directly to consumers, through Amazon, or use other marketing channels, this session is for you. Our panelist will share the hard-won lessons they have learned so you don’t have to waste money on efforts which just don’t produce sales. It's a new consumer marketing world out there. Don’t miss their details about successful campaigns. They’ll cover content marketing, email campaigns, social media, branding, promotions on ecommerce platforms, and much more. Bring your questions.
The idea of pivoting our business model, our careers, or our personal lives can be very daunting. Often, we’re so absorbed in what we’re doing that we fail to see the warning signs that we should make a move.
Come by for a candid discussion on pivoting in the business world. How to be proactive, when to start preparing, what steps to take, and how to set goals to make sure you (or your organization) makes a smooth transition.
We’ll hear from some of Seattle’s business leaders who have successfully pivoted with their career or organization.
What is diversity and what can you do as a Startup organization to build a better practice from the beginning? How do you know when you've achieved your goal? We will begin to answer those questions as part of a panel discussion that includes:
Whether you’re topping Great Place to Work lists or grabbing headlines for less flattering reasons, it’s clear creating a genuine, positive culture can be that make-or-break factor for many companies. But culture isn’t just about “fun perks” – ping pong tables in the corner, a casual dress code or “margarita Mondays.” It’s about building an intentional workplace culture that’s aligned with your business strategy and values. For entrepreneurs and startups, in particular, it’s critical to think about what really matters to the organization right from the start. If that’s aligned, then employees are more likely to be engaged and excited about coming to work every day.
Join Laura Hamill, Ph.D., Limeade Chief People Officer and Managing Director of The Limeade Institute as she digs into this topic from the start-up perspective. As a passionate expert on this topic, she’s spent the last 20 years researching what truly makes company culture stick, whether you’re two people, 200 or 20,000. Using local employee engagement startup, Limeade, as a case study, Dr. Hamill will discuss the steps leaders must take to first define their culture. From there, she’ll walk through the subsequent actions that must be taken—including employee education, operationalizing the values and more—that will help make your culture authentically come to life over time. Participants will walk away with actionable guidance on how to build and improve their own company culture, increase overall employee engagement and drive better business results.
Entrepreneurs come in a number of forms but they all have one essential quality in common: having this crazy belief that their idea can actually work. Optimism is what wakes them up in the middle of the night, shoots them out of bed in the morning and allows them to leave with a smile after being told “No”.
Tami Michaels has mastered the art of optimism and lives by the slogan “Take the high road until your nose bleeds”. She arrived in Seattle with $2k to her name and moved on to build an empire with national recognition. What she now finds as a blessing, is that her triumphant story comes along with horrific struggles. Coming from a broken home in childhood, later having a divorce compared to War of the Roses, having her house burn down and surviving the 9/11 attacks at ground zero have all contributed to her positive approach to work and life.
Join us to hear Tami’s humorous and brilliant perspective on finding opportunities in doors closing.
Venue Details:
*Join us for happy hour at 5:00 for passed hors d'oveures and discounted drinks in the club
*Dress code restricts shorts, athletic wear, baseball caps and flip-flops.
*This event will be seated at a first come, first served basis. You must be registered to attend however it does not guarantee entry.
Join NextBank Seattle hosts Kim VU and Melissa Pelto, and Seattle startup veteran Shauna Causey of Simple Finance, for an informal and inspiring fireside chat.
About Simple Finance
Founded in 2009 and based in Portland, Oregon, Simple combines innovative technology, impeccable user experience, and expertise in behavioral economics to help its customers spend smarter and save more. Simple's banking services are accessible via intuitive web, iPhone, and Android apps. The company has more than 100,000 customers, processed $1.7 billion in annual transactions last year, and experienced 330% customer growth.
Space is limited. Tickets required! > https://fbomboctober.eventbrite.com
Thank you to our generous October sponsors:
PhotoPad
Doyenne Legal
LayRoots
Please join us for this interactive workshop on this essential topic of building an inclusive workplace. Studies have now proven that a diverse and inclusive work environment increases productivity, innovation, and positively impacts the bottom line. How do we attract and select the right candidates? What type of employee development do we need to provide such as unconscious bias or conflict management skills training? How do we promote and retain a diverse workforce effectively? Most importantly, how do we shift an organizational culture toward greater inclusivity?
All guests must wear full-length pants and shoes that enclose the entire foot.
Getting there:Let the record state, there IS a place in the world of technology for women! This will be a conversational panel conducted as a world cafe.
What is a World Cafe?
In short, a more interesting way to network. We will set the scene by inviting individuals who are at different stages of their tech education experience. We want to create a space for each of them to speak to their experiences. Each interest group (current student and alumni) will be at a different table. Guests will have the opportunity to rotate through the tables to meet a variety of individuals and learn from their experiences.
Our panelist will answer:
What drove you to getting more education? (What was your inspiration? How did you get the support to get started?)
What are valuable learnings along the way? Was there a moment or a piece of advice that helped you know you were on the right path?
What drives your future? What is your advice for someone who would like to continue along a similar path?
VENUE:
Amazon Arizona Building
207 Boren Ave N, Seattle, WA 98109 (map)
Registration required - 90 seats available on a first-come-first seated basis
SCHEDULE:
10:00 AM Doors Open (Checking in & Networking)
10:30 AM Doors Close (Talk by Michael Hebb Begins)
11:00 AM Experiential Workshop Begins
12:00 PM Event Ends
“How does one become butterfly?' Pooh asked pensively.
'You must want to fly so much that you are willing to give up being a caterpillar,' Piglet replied.
'You mean to die?' asked Pooh.
'Yes and no,' he answered.
'What looks like you will die, but what's really you will live on.”
― A.A. Milne
As a culture we are obsessed with transformation and metamorphosis. Yet, we miss the obvious, in order for a transformation to occur, something needs to die.
This is the process we observe in nature, yet we forget to apply these lessons to the human condition. We experience little deaths constantly, but if we don’t allow ourselves to follow the full course of the natural cycle: life, death, and rebirth, we end up in conceptual and emotional purgatory.
An idea that contains genius also contains the death of the constraints that kept us from the breakthrough. Innovation is life giving and it leaves a corpse. This is not morbid, it is simply the oldest logic available to us.
What in you is ready to die? It is a simple question, and most people immediately know the answer. This is the terrain we will explore together.
In this 90 minute experiential workshop co-facilitated by Michael Hebb (Founder of Death Over Dinner & TEDmed speaker) and Tay & Val (Award-Winning Storytellers, Spiritual Strategists, and TEDx speakers) -
YOU WILL:
Come and integrate all your learnings, AHAs, and takeaways from all the awesomeness of Seattle Startup Week. This session is a perfect way to reflect, transform, and implement the upgraded version 2.0 you, into your life and business moving forward. Seating is limited - do reserve your spot.
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Whether you are raising capital or planning for an exit, all companies need help preparing for the rigors of due diligence. Are you prepared?
Sketchy corporate records, verbal contracts or weak IP assignments can derail a potential transaction before it even gets started. Startups today looking to impress investors need to understand that you can keep costs in check without cutting corners on diligence preparation.
This interactive session will delve into basics of due diligence, discuss how to avoid some common pitfalls and explore some new and evolving strategies to create a successful venture. Experts from Cloutier Ortega will help you understand what you can start doing today to make your next due diligence go more smoothly and ensure your company is ready for the next strategic investors.
You have heard representatives of so many accelerators, incubators, and other programs talk about what they offer and why they might be the best choice for you. But what about the experience from the students point of view? This panel isn’t from the eyes of the people that built these programs but through the perspective of the actual entrepreneur who is in the trenches. These companies have been through local programs and are here to give you biggest takeaways and tell their story of the impact the organization has had in their successes, as well as some of the changes they would make in the process. Come check out the panel as they take you through the ups and downs of being an early stage start-up in the Seattle market.
Our panel showcases a member from Techstars, Keiretsu, Doxxa Incubator, and Spring and a winner of Founder’s Live. Moderated by Peter Chee, creator of the EO Accelerator in Seattle, CEO of thinkspace and advisory board member of SXSW.
BONUS: We will have some representatives from various Seattle organizations showcased with booths at the event! Come network for the first hour and learn more about what they are all about!
A working father might never be asked “How do you do it all?” but the majority of the 30 million working mothers will often hear that question. Becoming a mother provides invaluable skills to the workforce that cannot be taught in-depth with any formal education: conflict resolution, time management, organizational skills, communication, collaboration, supervising, reliability and grit. Our panelists have a variety of take-away examples of how they manage to get 28 hours of work done in a 24 hour period.
*Due to venue capacity, we are seating at a first come, first served basis. Registration is required but does not guarantee entry.
RSVP here: bit.ly/ARKitHackL
Hack the Now & Next Hackathon: ARKit Edition!
With the release of Apple’s ARKit, the world of Augmented Reality is now accessible to everyone! Add “superpowers” to your apps by overlaying digital elements on the world around you. How would that new couch look in your apartment? What’s your favorite cake decorating idea to try out? Surprise a friend with a 3D Gif?
Calling everyone to create and ideate new and exciting AR applications! Spend the weekend discovering and creating alongside fellow innovators at Ratio’s Hack the Now & Next Hackathon: ARKit Edition. We’ll have Ratio technologists on hand to help guide you along the way. Team up with a few friends or meet new ones to build something cool and reach millions of people!
Friday, October 6th- Kickoff Party
Food & Beverage provided
7-7:30pm- Registration//Pizza & Drinks
7:30-8pm Welcome//Rules, Restraints, FAQs
8-10pm Pitch ideas, assemble teams, get started!
Saturday, October 7th- The Hackathon
Food and beverage provided
8am- Welcome back
12pm- Lunch
5pm- Demos
7:00pm- Judges convene
7:30pm- Winners announced//prizes