This past weekend was Chicago's seventh Startup Weekend. It was at 1871. If you haven't been, you need to go. It's a great thing to support. Not just because it's hip and there is a lot of energy around it.
Support it because it's a great place for people interested in building companies to network. Support it because it's a chance to bounce ideas off of people you don't know. Support it because it's a chance to collaborate with people you don't know.
I have judged the last two start up weekends. It's clear that some people came with ideas that they had been cogitating with for awhile. If you didn't win any awards, never fear. Don't fret. You had 54 hours to try and build a scalable start up. Keep thinking, working and iterating it.
Some of the companies we saw had legs. A photo app had the room buzzing. Others needed work on their technology or business model. Or, they were iterations of other companies that are already out in the marketplace.
Next time Start Up Weekend rolls around, participate. If someone asks you to sponsor it, figure out a way to sponsor it. To the participants-be bold. Try to get some idea built that is so wacky no one else has tried it.
It was great to see so many people engaged in the Chicago start up community. Thanks to you, something is being built here that hopefully will last long after we are pushing up daisies.
