Here at Evo3 we’re big fans of creative thinking and innovation. In fact, that’s why we do wha
t we do. We believe that innovation and creativity grow exponentially when in an environment of collaboration instead of lone efforts.
If you’ve ever started a business, you know that the beginning stage is rife with false starts, heaps of trial and error and an overwhelming sense of uncertainty. You are forced to learn all sorts of new words such as Business Model Canvas and MVP. It can be a daunting task but it can also be exhilarating. Startup Weekend makes the process of building a business just a bit easier.
This is why we we were stoked to cohost Summit County’s 2nd Startup Weekend.
Startup Weekend is a global 54-hour event where talented, entrepreneurial people come together to launch a startup- in just one weekend. Participants will pitch their great ideas on Friday night and team up with developers, designers, marketers and the like to work their butts off all weekend making those ideas come to life.
This past weekend, we were able to be a part of this event. The energy going around was amazing and it was exciting to see the process each team went through.
Here are a few of the teams.
Adrenaline Escapes, the first place winner, is a web platform that connects local talent with travelers. Vacationers looking for something a little more adventurous than a week at the beach can connect with locals. The locals, who create profiles on the site, can show them all the hidden gems their home has to offer, give lessons in their favorite sport and help them make the most of their experience.
Malaria Detection Systems. Currently, malaria is detected by analyzing a blood sample for 30 minutes by a trained professional. This yields about a 60% accuracy. This team wrote software (in a weekend!) that can detect infected cells in a fraction of that time, with a much higher accuracy rating. Talk about a game changer!
Savvy is an on demand help line aimed at college students. They can text, call or chat their questions to trained professionals and get advice exactly when they need it. Colleges will purchase credits for their students to subsidize the costs.
Each team spent the weekend formulating their business model, writing marketing plans, doing market research, creating a budget and of course, developing their product. The coaches, volunteers from different local businesses, were on hand to offer their expertise in marketing, finance and graphic design.
The amount of creative energy at Evo3 this past weekend was amazing and we were excited to be a part of it. Innovation, growth and collaborative entrepreneurs: that’s what we are about!
