Organization:3 Day Startup
So, what is 3DS?
3 Day Startup (3DS) is a student-founded organization that strives to activate entrepreneurial potential across the globe
by offering free, experiential entrepreneurship education for students in any field. The skills and experience acquired during
a three-day Startup weekend will prepare students to blossom in successful entrepreneurship ecosystems, especially
technology-based ventures. By connecting students, educators and industry leaders- 3DS fosters a network of growth and
has established an everlasting educational community that spans the globe!
You might be asking yourself, “How can 3 days be enough to learn entrepreneurship?” As one of the world’s leading
entrepreneurial startup educators, the unique structure and experiential learning models employed by 3DS provide
necessary resources equivalent to 6-9 months of training, in just one weekend! During the three day course, approximately
40 students from various disciplines will guide their startup ideas through the design thinking process, culminating in a
final presentation to a board consisting of field experts and investors! 3DS provides participants with modules,
contacts, team-builders, and other accommodations such as meals and free server storage.
More specifically, the 3DS Startup weekend itinerary consists of:
- Day 1: Targets Ideation, Team Formation, and the Lean Canvas module
- Day 2: Focuses on Customer Discovery, Rapid Prototyping, and Mentorship
- Day 3: Encompasses How to Pitch, Final Pitch, and Joining the Network.
Please visit the website http://3daystartup.org/about/ or watch the following video
for more information: http://youtu.be/HjtKebKyVp4
Creating Success by Exploring YOUR Ideas
As a 501© nonprofit organization, 3 Day Startup delivers some of the best experiential entrepreneurship training with
educational programs that accomodate students from around the world! 3 Day Startup boasts a distinctly high success
rate, with sponsored events resulting in more successful startups than any other three day entrepreneurship event.
Startup Weekend provides an exciting opportunity for entrepreneurs in the Tech & STEAM fields, and 3 Day Startup has
led to over 41 technology startups acquiring over $14 million in investments!
By offering a variety of events and courses such as economic development, skill-building, accelerator/competition
readiness- 3 Day Startup is tailored for high school and university students as well as those in the enterprise, intermediate
and professional phases. 3 Day Startup is sponsored by Microsoft and Rackspace, where students receive free technology
and server access for quick building! While focusing on tech startups, 3 day Startup is all-inclusive, and encourages
participation by all majors at the university level.
The 3DS Startup weekend is unlike anything you’ve experienced before! 3DS rents out work space for the entire three day
weekend and caters food and drinks, all while bringing together ~45 student participants and dozens of successful
entrepreneurs and investors. On day 1, the participants select the best startup ideas during a brainstorming session, and
then work throughout the weekend to deliver a prototype and pitch to investors on Sunday evening. With a focus on
learning-by-doing, 3DS encourages interdisciplinary teams to talk with real customers, and act in the microcosm of what
the startup world actually feels like.
Below is an example of a 3DS Startup weekend itinerary:
Friday:
2pm: meet & greet, split up into brainstorming groups
7pm: dinner & pitch ideas
Decide on best idea(s), start working!
Saturday:
Customer interaction, coding, market validation, business plans, logos, etc.
Sunday:
6pm: dinner & meet panelists
7pm: pitch startup(s) to panel
Launch prototype, elect board
Note on equity:
3DS non-profit organization will receive 0.5% of dilutable equity in any companies that are formed based around ideas
presented during the final pitches, if a patent is sought and the company adheres to the structures of the FCC laws. T
he purpose of this is to protect ideas and founders by establishing a clear chain of legal ownership for the ideas. The 3DS
organizers never profits from any pf the work you do!
In addition to the Startup Weekend events held globally, 3 Day Startup annually hosts a 1- 2 week
Entrepreneurship Exchange program. This year’s 3DS Exchange is being held in Austin, Texas and features
dozens of esteemed speakers and opportunities to connect with mentors, investors, teachers, and other
entrepreneurs. Aside from top-notch educational material, the 3DS Exchange provides students with global
networking opportunities and the chance to meet potential venture startup investors.
Host a Startup weekend at your Campus
- To begin planning a 3DS Startup weekend at your campus, please contact 3DS directly to receive
guidance and instruction throughout the process. Online forms to request an event partnership or
sponsorship are availableat: http://3daystartup.org/contact-us/2 - 3 Months of organization time is
required to plan a successful event!
3DS offers a grant program- apply to subsidize the costs and receive potential funding!
To secure your event- "Unlock" your university by having 50 interested people sign up
3DS will contact you and provide a 3DS mentor to help organize the event.
Begin planning the actual Startup weekend by securing a date and venue.
Secure sponsorships to cover costs of food, t-shirts, and any other expenses.
Recruit applicants - this should be occurring throughout the entire process!
Find mentors and panelists to serve at the actual event.
Host the event, and be thankful you’re so well prepared!
Contact Information
Madeline Vu, Program Manager - madeline@3daystartup.org
Cam Houser, CEO - cam@3daystartup.org
