things are moving in Biel/Bienne and that the city is back on the Swiss Startup map. After successfully holding a bunch of monthly events, we are moving to the next step: organizing the first Startup Weekend Biel/Bienne on March 20-22nd! (disclosure: I’m the driving force behind it!). As crazy as it sounds, Biel/Bienne didn’t hosted any of such events so far… even if there are so much creativity in this city. Now it will finally happen! For those who are not – yet – familiar with the concept: from Friday to Sunday night, you’ll have the opportunity to work on an innovative idea in small teams composed of other dynamic people. How does it work? You pitch your idea/project on Friday evening, get some investors (all participants get $$$ to invest in their preferred projects) and if your project is among the 8-10 most funded, you start to assemble your team (with other participants). Then you’ll have until Sunday, 4pm, to build/design your project, interview potential customers, develop your business model, test the viability of the project, etc. And then, finally, you present your project to the members of the jury (comprised of experienced entrepreneurs), as well as to the whole audience (the presentation are public)! All the way to the final step (the presentation of Sunday afternoon), teams are supported and coached by experienced mentors, who provide advices, constructive but sometimes hard feedback (everything an entrepreneur needs!). Here are the different coaches who will be active during the weekend: Tobias Lehr, Mike Schwede, Nadine Reichenthal, Martin Gysler, Verena Meine and… me. Startup Weekend always take place in a relax, creative and energizing atmosphere… But don’t expect to be totally relaxed: you’ll working hard… but have a lot of fun!

For whom is Startup Weekend? For everyone! You can be student, highly experienced professional, housewife… Developer, marketer, designer, lawyer, salesman/-woman… All you need is a strong desire to learn by doing, try to really createsomething (and not only dreaming it). You can have thought to your project for months… but you never really started. That’s a good reason to join  Startup Weekend Biel/Bienne! Or you are struggling to find cofounders? Startup Weekend is a great place to meet people who also have a desire to start! Where is the event taking place? At INNOCAMPUS, Aarbergstrasse 3-5, Biel/Bienne (5 min walk from train station). There will be a lot of space and even a roof terrace to build your project under the sunbeam… with view on Lake of Biel/Bienne! Ah yes, how about the language of the event? As you know, Biel/Bienne is bilingual (German/French). Often, in Biel/Bienne, everyone speaks its own language… and everyone understands others! But you can also speak English… No worries! All coaches master these languages! We also have found a great place to sleep (a bit) after these long working days: LagoLodge. It’s a youth hostel (price per night: from CHF 32.-) with a brewery (they produce an amazing honey beer that I’m sure you’ll love!)… What are you waiting for? REGISTER to Startup Weekend Biel/Bienne now!]]>