TACKLE BIG CHALLENGES THROUGH ENTREPRENEURSHIP!

Startup Weekend Jackson (SW Jackson) is an action-oriented, weekend event, during which groups of developers, business managers, startup enthusiasts, marketing gurus, graphic artists and more pitch ideas for new startup companies, form teams around those ideas, and work to develop a working prototype, demo, or presentation by Sunday evening.

 Here's how it works:  The participants that attend have 60 seconds to make a pitch (optional), the pitches are whittled down to the top ideas, and then teams form around the ideas to come out with several developed companies or projects. Finally, the weekend culminates with demonstrations in front of an audience of judges and potential investors.

 This unique and exciting event allows participants to PRACTICE the foundational skills of entrepreneurship while collaborating to reach a common goal, taking a business from idea to reality. It sheds a spotlight on the creativity of wonderful, diverse minds and individuals we have right here in our community. 

While we anticipate hearing pitches from several different industries, we will have special mentors and award categories for education based ideas.  We're looking for passionate k-12 educators, school administration, parents and studentswho want to make a difference in education now. Come and pitch your idea for solving real problems in education.  You can participate just for the experience -- serious creative thinking, inspired work, and a lot of fun!

Everyone is welcome and no previous entrepreneurial experience is required!

This is a great, low risk way to test the merit of that idea you've been thinking about.