Cambridge Startup Weekend unearths new generation of talent
The inaugural Cambridge Startup Weekend was an incredible success. Over 90 delegates attended and 45 ideas were pitched, of which 17 went forward to be worked on over the 54 hours.
Such was the standard that six teams were short-listed and an additional prize (for Social Enterprise was added by the judging panel).
The winners were:
– Overall: Lessonista an online application that allows English literature teachers to share resources with their colleagues across the country simply and easily
– Health (sponsored by Cambridge Healthcare): Rosedene, an online video application that links trained nurses to patients across the world, without them needing to go into hospital
– Mobile / Wireless (sponsored by Business Weekly): CPR Volunteers. A mobile application, it uses ambulance dispatch data to alert registered, trained CPR volunteers when someone near them calls in with a cardiopulmonary emergency through an app on their phone. The app also shows them where the nearest equipment (such as defibrillators) is, and aims to save lives.
- Social Enterprise: Belongingsfinder.org. A humanitarian app created in response to the Japanese earthquake, it aims to re-unite victims with their cherished possessions. Finders simply photograph and upload items that they find into a searchable database. In Japan handing in lost property is central to life and culture (in one year over $21m in cash is handed into Tokyo lost property offices) and this app (in Japanese and English) aims to help by putting the process online.
- Wildcard prize: Sonnet. A delightful iphone application, it allows you to compose and send love letters that will delight your loved ones. It has been submitted to the iTunes App Store and should be on sale shortly.
UPDATE – Want to find out about all of the 17 teams that presented? Check out this great summary article by our media partner, CaBuMe.
Just to testify the huge success of the event, here is a quote from Neil Davidson:
“Myself and the other judges were incredibly impressed with the strength and range of ideas displayed at the first ever Cambridge Startup Weekend,” said Neil Davidson, co-founder of Red Gate Software and chair of judges, Cambridge Startup Weekend. “Covering everything from healthcare to education, the energy, thought and enthusiasm that had gone into each and every one was stunning – particularly given they were created in such a short time. It demonstrated the real strength of the Cambridge tech cluster and while it is early days the winning ideas stand a great chance of making it as fully fledged companies or products. I look forward to watching their progress and success.”
Thanks to everyone that attended – judges, speakers, mentors, sponsors and (most of all) attendees. Keep in touch and here’s to the next one!
PS – If you couldn’t make it to the awards on Sunday, watch the final awards on the video below. Courtesy of our Video Partner, PepperRafferty.
First Videos from the Weekend
We have not 1 but 2 great videos already made to record the people and the buzz of the event.
The first video is from our media partner, Pepper Rafferty (@pepperrafferty).
The second one is a great effort from one of our very own participants (@annkur).
All the videos from the weekend can be viewed on the Cambridge StartupWeekend You Tube channel – http://www.youtube.com/user/SWcambridge
Startups due to present on Sunday!
- Travel with Options
- Growington
- Belongingsfinder.com
- EatDrinkPlan
- unhab.it
- Sonnet
- WikiLearner
- auraScape
- SocializR
- Rosedene Video Care
- Carpool.com
- Lessonista
- CPR Volunteers
- TimeToDine
- ConstructiveDiscussion
- touch paperwork
- Attachments
The teams will change throughout the weekend, so we will keep you updated 
If you want to drop in on us – check out www.livestream.com/swCamb
We have now sold out!!!
Just before the clock struck 12, the last remaining ticket has been snatched out of our hands!
If you have not done so already – check out the programme
(this is the new fancy up-to-date iPad loving version!)
So, now there is nothing left for you to do apart from getting those thinking caps on with what you could bring to #swCamb that will innovate and shock the world? No small task.
See you all on Friday at 17:30!
Cambridge Startup Weekend set to find next generation of tech success stories
Tickets are close to selling out for the first ever Cambridge Startup Weekend, which takes place this coming weekend, beginning on Friday 11th March 2011. An intensive 54 hour event, it will bring together software developers, web and graphics designers, marketers, business people and students to learn, build applications, develop a commercial case around them and have fun while doing it. At the end of the process, a high level judging panel will choose a winning project which will be eligible for further mentoring, coaching and the chance to pitch for funding.
Happening at the St John’s Innovation Centre, it is set to be an incredibly successful event, with:
- The winning team receiving the chance to be coached by, and pitch to, the London branch of international angel investment network, the Keiretsu Forum
- Special awards for exciting and innovative projects in the healthcare and wireless sectors
- World class speakers including Professor Alan Barrell and Dr Shailendra Vyakarnam, and successful entrepreneurs Billy Boyle and Jamie Urquhart.
- A prestigious judging panel, chaired by Neil Davidson, co-founder of Red Gate Software
- 15 experienced mentors on hand to share their expertise and skills in the areas of mobile, marketing, web, digital and business development
- The opportunity to network with attendees from as far afield as Helsinki, Amsterdam and Edinburgh, Berlin, Poland and India.
- For the first time, a share of the proceeds from the event will remain in Cambridge to be used as a legacy to support local startups
Currently 70 attendees have signed up for the event, with limited space for more to bring both their ideas and skills to unleash the next generation of Cambridge success. But don’t delay – book now as tickets are close to selling out – with Wednesday 9th March the last day they will be on sale.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive reaction to the first ever Cambridge Startup Weekend, with speakers, mentors, sponsors and judges all clamouring to be part of the event,” said Mauro Ciaccio, co-organiser of the Cambridge Startup Weekend. “There’s still space for attendees to sign up – so whether you are a programmer, designer, marketer, business person or student get on and buy your ticket before it is too late. It promises to be an epic weekend and a chance to have fun and be involved in taking incredibly interesting ideas to the next level.”
