From staff reports
TechStars Startup Weekend, one of the Beaufort Digital Corridor’s signature events, is slated for Friday, March 21 through Sunday, March 23 at the Digital Corridor office at 500 Carteret Street D in Beaufort.
The event, sponsored by the Technical College of the Lowcountry, will award prizes of up to $10,000 in value and can teach potential entrepreneurs how to launch a startup in three days.
So what happens at TechStars Startup Weekend?
On the first evening, the event facilitator breaks the ice and participants, who must be 18 years old, get to know their fellow attendees. Anyone who would like to pitch a startup idea is given 60 seconds to give it a go.
These startup ideas are generated at the event. Participants are not supporsed to bring already formed startup ideas to the table.
Afterward, participants vote on their favorite ideas and join their teams. Throughout the weekend, participants will continue to work within their teams as they attend workshops on business plan building, customer validation, marketing, and pitching. At the end of the weekend, the teams will present a pitch deck (PPT) to a panel of judges for a chance to win a prize package valued at $10,000, including the development of their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) sponsored by LowCountry Games.
Participants should prepare for the event by researching the event schedule, understanding the types of ideas that can be pitched, and practicing their pitch.
Everyone who attends the event as a participant is expected to come to the event without a team and then join and participate with a team at the event. This is important to preserve the Techstars Startup Weekend educational experience.
The ideal team consists of members from diverse backgrounds and experiences who collaborate to build a great minimum viable product (MVP). The more people you have on your team to help you do market research and business model development, the quicker you’ll develop an MVP to pitch on Sunday.
TechStars Startup Weekend is designed to be the most effective platform for growing new businesses from the ground up over the course of a weekend. A key facet of the weekend, and a central value for participants, is the spirit of complete collaboration, buy-in, and ownership.
As mentioned, existing businesses in the mix undermines this spirit, in addition to creating an unequal playing field alongside those ideas that are truly conceived at the grass-roots level. The local organizers have the right to disqualify any existing ideas pitched during the event at any time.
By the end of the weekend, participants should plan their execution around what they’ll be judged for on Sunday, such as customer validation, execution and design, and business model.
What do you need?
Participants should bring a laptop/portable computer with a power cord, though it’s not mandatory; business cards (or a business card app); your phone — feel free to take pictures or video of the event; lots of energy.
Tickets
There are two types of tickets available at https://bit.ly/techstars2025:
— The “Team” ticket is $25. This all-inclusive ticket is exclusively for participants who will join a team to compete for prizes in the pitch contest over the three-day weekend. Participants don’t need prior pitching experience and will be taught everything they need to know about forming a startup. This ticket includes Friday night events (including dinner), Saturday workshops and one-on-one mentoring (including breakfast, lunch and dinner), and Sunday workshops, one-on-one mentoring, final pitches, and judging (including breakfast, lunch and a Finale Night catered reception).
— The “Watch The Show” ticket is $45. This ticket is for those who want to see what Techstars Startup Weekend is all about, but aren’t participating as a startup team member or competing for prizes. Audience members are invited to attend Sunday’s Finale Night with a catered reception, pitches, judging, and awards.
Students and military save $15. Use code TSW25STUDENT or TSW25MILITARY at checkout (must register with a school or government email).
As this is a fundraising event, all ticket sales are final, and we are unable to offer refunds.
For more information or questions, contact info@beaufortdigital.com.
