I think Startup Weekend is a great program that fosters
startup communities all around the world. I’m excited to see that Google has
now jumped on board to support this movement. The world needed a movement like this.
Since the inception in 2007 Boulder, Colorado by Andrew Hyde, it has shown some
promising companies. Launchrock, Zaarly,
and Foodspotting to name few of my favorites.
However, I cannot help but to express my concern for this type
of startup launch event organized to produce let’s-build-a-company-in-54-hours mentality.
For those who don’t know much about SW, this is how SW work.
Innovators pitch their ideas for 60 seconds and attendees vote for the top
ideas. Once top ideas are finalized, the chosen innovators are in an open
market place to recruit developers and designers to help build their product
for the next 2 days. At the end of the SW program, the chosen innovators present their final product to
the judges and the winners are selected. Then you go home.
I worry about this model. There is no intellectual property
protection for people who work together during Startup Weekend. Let’s
say there is a guy called Vinklevos who came up with a really cool social
networking idea and recruited 2 developers and designers. Together, they went through the
Startup Weekend and finished the program with a decent product, but the developer decided to stop working for this idea after the program. Startup Weekend doesn’t
provide much protection to help Vinklevos to protect his IP from the
developers who decided to leave. They should help sign IP documents the moment they
start the Weekend.
Another concern of mine is how you get to meet and work with
people. Do great companies’ management team really get to meet and vouch for
the next 3-5 years of their lives by getting to know each other under 54 hours?
For the founders, building a company together is like marriage – the skill sets
should balance each other and most importantly, they should get along together!
Extremely well! This isn't a one night stand! You’re going to live, breathe, and work together for years!
I think Startup Weekend is great. But if Startup Weekend’s
vision is to build quality startups coming out of the event, I challenge them
to consider the consequences of a 54-hour speed dating, startup building
community. It might be too near-sighted to really create an impactful
community.
Must say, I don't agree. Startup weekend is what it is. It doesn't make companies, but is a jumpstart to innovation. Making companies is the next part of the equation and that is why Startup weekend next was created: http://www.geekwire.com/2011/multiday-bootcamp-entrepreneurs-startup-weekend-kicks-sw
ReplyDeleteIt still doesn't solve the core problem of what I attempted to address. Jumpstarting innovation is important. But as the organization evolves, it also attracts people with ideas trying to make something happen through the event.
ReplyDeleteI think SW should embrace the responsibility of the importance of match making. Ideas can blossom to a real powerful reality if the "team" is right.