Build a Business in 54 Hours at Startup Weekend Omaha

If you’re interested in starting a business but procrastination or other obligations tend to get in your way, Startup Weekend Omaha may be just the kick start you need. In fact, in just 54 hours, you might leave as part of a new business.

Startup Weekend Omaha, March 19-21, 2010 is advertised as a community-building startup event. Local entrepreneurs, software developers, graphic artists, marketers, business managers and others will meet, form groups, toss around ideas, and then build businesses.

Anyone can participate. “It doesn’t have to be so much about what you can contribute as what you can be a part of, what you can learn,” said Corey Spitzer, one of the event organizers. Your idea doesn’t have to be high tech and you don’t have to come with an idea at all. Spitzer said that at a similar event he attended last year, about half of the participants came with ideas and the rest just joined teams at the event.

“Some people (who come) want to do a startup, some just want to build something and have fun,” Spitzer said.

The Omaha event is one of similar events the Seattle, Washington Startup Weekend group has organized in more than 50 cities and in 12 countries so far. The group, founded in 2007, operates as a nonprofit.

The registration cost, $45 ($35 for students), includes meals. Registration will be capped at about 100 participants, Spitzer said.

The weekend runs from 6 p.m. Friday to about 9 p.m. Sunday. Typically some participants go home Friday and Saturday nights and some stay to continue work. Saturday and Sunday work starts around 9 a.m. Participants freely come and go throughout the weekend.

Where the fledgling businesses or projects go after Sunday night is up to each group. The Startup Weekend organization won’t have a stake in any new startup, Spitzer said.

For registration and more information, go to the Website omaha.startupweekend.org.