Nov 20-22 was #StartupByron, the first Startup Weekend in Byron Bay and the Northern Rivers. The response from both the public and participants was simply, well, breathtaking.
Here's how we did.
Key Data
In short we exceeded all our targets, delegates and sponsorships.
Over 80 participants, volunteers, sponsors and coaches attended the whole weekend. 69 registered tickets with 36 hackers, hipsters and hustlers participated during the weekend forming 7 teams from 20 ideas pitched on Friday night. 6 teams pitched in the final presentations on Sunday.
Teams and Awards
- Our Legacy An online solution to aid people in making a media rich legacy asset
- Produce Provider Marketplace app to connect local (#GSB2015 Finalist)
- Be An Awesome Dad Timely, relevant messages that inspire quality time with your children (Winner: "Most Groomed" award, sponsored by Valor)
- Smart Jewelry Hip jewellery which prevents you from losing your phone
- Global Locals Finger Lime Drink (#GSB2015 Finalist; Winner: "Most Creative" award, sponsored by Art Park)
- Indie Homes A new way of thinking when it comes to finding the right fit in accommodation (#GSB2015 Finalist; Overall #StartupByron WINNER!)
#GSB2015 finalists go on to compete to be a Global Startup Battle World Champ and "Round 1: Best of the Cities" with the chance of being one of two regional champions in "Round 2: Best of the Regions". Anyone who pitched but didn't make the Top 3 may still enter to be a Track Champion.
In the #GSB2015 Asia Pacific region Hashtag Battle, #StartupByron punched well above it's weight to break into the Top Ten and hit a high of #7. Notable cities beaten during the battle were Melbourne, Perth, Sapporo, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Kyoto amongst others. You can check out the final rankings at http://www.globalstartupbattle.co/hashtag-battle/asia-pacific
Huge congratulations to Indie Homes who not only took out the accolade of Winner of the First Startup Weekend Byron Bay, but also won free entry to Batch 4 of StartInno's Incubator and Accelerator Program; 20% off company registration services from LawPath and well as swag from StartupTees.
IN THE NEWS: Accommodation up and ready for Bluesfest - The Northern Star 24-Nov-205
Legacy
Inspired by our friends at Our Legacy, it is extremely important that we keep building the startup ecosystem, linkages and community in our region. For many of the teams who presented, it is only the beginning. Whilst prizes and ideas are incredibly important, more sustainable are the relationships, networks and people we meet on the journey. Startup Weekend Byron Bay was a great success but is just one step towards helping people create jobs and move towards a better world. Hopefully more Startup Weekend events will happen in the region and we encourage anyone and everyone to take part.
Go to byron-bay.up.co to find out more how you can #juststart your own community event and keep following (and use) the hashtag #StartupByron -- check out Twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/startupbyron and Instagram http://tofo.me/tag/startupbyron for all the fun!
Keep following and posting to find out more about what's happening in our inspiring region.
Dan Swan, StartInno and Bill Wade, Our Legacy and SAE Institute Byron Bay, watching #StartupByron rise to #7 in the Global Startup Hashtag Battle #GSB2015.
A massive, massive thank you to all our partners, volunteers, sponsors, coaches, judges and organising team. Everyone donated their time for free and the weekend wouldn't have happened with out you! Most of all, to everyone who came along and especially all the teams that took part - you are the heroes!
Thanks to the global sponsors and team from startupweekend.org.
A huge shout out to everyone who dared to care and help our regional startups: Chau Duncan, Commonwealth Bank Australia, Bill Wade and all the team at SAE Institute Byron Bay, Andy Crawley from JackMedia, Norm from TripADeal, Dainen and Drew from WiresBroadband, Belinda and Cam from uBegin, Sarah and Jeremy from 100 Mile Table, Nico, Linda and Will Marvell St Coffee, Oscar from Bareblends, Dan and team from Byron Bazaar, Jaz at Stone and Wood, Jeremy and David Elements of Byron Bay, The Sun Bistro, Jonny, Sy and Benny Printhouse Byron Bay, Rick from StartupTees, Mayor Simon Richardson Byron Shire Council, Lawpath, Brookfarm, Ric Richardson, Matt Dickinson, Ange from Dotti Media, Sonia Friedrich, Jan Terkelsen, Brett Jarman, Craig Rochfort ArtPark/Jane Fender, Rick Slater ByronBay.com, Remy Tancred, Victoria from Valor, Ash from NRBM, Candice from Verandah Magazine, Regional Development Australia, Ray from PickFu, Orren Prunckun, Kyle from Mitchel Lake, Aaron Birkby River City Labs, Everyone at BayFM, The Echo, Ads, and a special thanks to Theo, Ben, Marion, Sego and Anais from #teamfrance.
An epic-thank-you to Lisa Ludvigson, without you we would have never come close to a #juststart.
Anyone called Paul for keeping me honest.
See you next year! Email swbyronbay@startupweekend.org for more information.
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