If you have an idea for a killer app or website, Startup Weekend in New Haven could be your opportunity to form a development and marketing team and have a working product launched by Sunday.

The event kicks off at 6:00 p.m. Friday, November 9 at The Grove, located at 71 Orange Street in New Haven. Following some introductory remarks from SeeClickFix’s Ben Berkowitz, attendees will take the stage to pitch their product ideas in 60 seconds or less. Teams will then form around the best ideas and the race will begin to produce a working product and business by the event’s conclusion on Sunday.

In addition to Berkowitz, the Startup Weekend will have expert coaches present to assist in the product development. Coaches include Paul Hughes, a partner at Wiggin and Dana, Bob Coughlin, a co-founder of a biotech company, and Luke Weinstein, a co-founder of four ventures and the founding director of UConn¹s CCEI/Innovation Accelerator.

Read more about last year’s Startup Weekend Hartford

“We have a great reserve of untapped talent, creativity, and drive right in our own backyard; and if we give aspiring entrepreneurs encouragement and assistance, they can fulfill their dreams of creating a new company and at the same time create jobs for others,” said Mike Roer, a Gateway Community College (GCC) instructor of Entrepreneurship, and one of the organizers of StartupWeekend New Haven.

The event will culminate with presentations and judging at GCC on Sunday, November 11, at 6:00 p.m.

A total of 14 teams were formed at the 2011 New Haven Startup Weekend, with two becoming functioning businesses according to event organizers. One of those companies is Shuga Trak, a mobile phone app allows parents to receive the blood sugar levels of their children with diabetes via text message. The company is headquartered in New Haven.

The event is not limited to those with technical knowledge, as the judging criteria takes into account other key business components as well.

“People who have an idea for a startup and those who have skills they want to contribute: developers, designers, marketers and business types, can all learn a lot and have a great time,” said John Seiffer, a member of the organizing committee and the Business Advisor of CEO Boot Camp.

More information on participating can be found at the event’s website. Tickets cost $99 for the entire weekend, or $20 to watch the presentations Sunday evening at GCC. Food and plenty of coffee will be provided to participants.

Connect with Lon:

Lon Seidman is the host and producer of “Lon.TV,” a consumer technology video show that is on a number of platforms including YouTube and Amazon. He creates in-depth, consumer-friendly product reviews and commentary. His YouTube channel has over 300,000 subscribers and more than 100 million views.

In addition to being a full-time content creator, Lon is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Hartford (his alma mater) where he teaches a course in entrepreneurial content creation.

Prior to becoming a full-time creator, Lon was a partner at The Safety Zone, his family’s business that manufactures gloves and safety equipment. The company has locations around the globe and employs over 200 people worldwide. The Safety Zone was acquired by the Genuine Parts Corporation in 2016.

Lon is also active in public service, serving as the Chairman of the Essex Board of Education, a member of the Region 4 Board of Education, and as the Secretary / Treasurer of the Connecticut Association of Boards of Education. He was endorsed by both Democrats and Republicans for his re-election in 2021.

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