USC and Techstars
Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend is a three-day event designed to develop new and researched ideas to build the USC startup community. You will form teams on Friday (pitch ideas and vote for top projects), build businesses on Saturday (meet mentors and develop products), and organize presentations on Sunday (judge pitches and celebrate with networking). Review the agenda and register at https://lu.ma/e93779hf 

The event will run from April 11-13, 2025 at the USC Ginsburg Hall.

Anyone with USC affiliation (faculty, staff, alumni or students) and a curiosity for entrepreneurship can join. This is an inclusive learning space for all levels of experience with startups and tech ventures.

We highly recommend attending all components, since these are invaluable learning and networking opportunities. Please plan to arrive on Friday night before 7pm, when ideas are pitched and voted upon, to decide which team you'd like to work with throughout the weekend. Although we will try to accommodate any barriers, consider updating your Luma registration if you are unable to attend a majority of the event.

There is no charge to participate in this event. Please register in advance and update your registration if you are no longer able to attend the event.

Yes, the venue has accessible parking, entry, restrooms, and pathways. Paid parking is available at Downey Way Parking Structure. Please contact usc-ecodev@techstars.com if you have more specific access needs.

Yes, and please notify us if you have allergies by emailing usc-ecodev@techstars.com. In the case of severe allergies, we encourage you to bring your own food.

No, you do not need to prepare anything in advance. However, we welcome researched ideas from faculty/staff, as well as new startup ideas. To maximize the experience, you must join a team and only participate in one team during Startup Weekend.

If you have an established startup idea that you're currently working on with a team, then please pitch an alternate idea or participate in another team for Startup Weekend; this event is meant to engage new ideas or faculty researched ideas.

The event will focus on startup ideas with tech / digitally enabled solutions, such as DeepTech, Health and BioTech, AI, FinTech, and EdTech. While your business is not restricted to these industries, the solution needs to create or use technology in a novel way.

Statistically, it's very unlikely someone will steal your idea because they don't have the passion, background, experience, etc. to execute on it. Only pitch ideas you are willing to share. Keep in mind: you don't have to pitch your idea, but by sharing your idea with others you'll more likely get the resources you need to execute it.

Yes, we encourage you to invite loved ones and community members to celebrate your hard work! They will need to register for a free ticket at https://lu.ma/0jdktt2f .

Some people join Startup Weekend to learn essential business skills, while others join to begin building the foundations of a startup. We encourage all teams to discuss expectations for working on the startup after the event. Here are examples of scenarios that may arise: 

• One or more team members decide to continue working on the startup after the event. Great, we encourage you to build upon your progress and continue working together by identifying clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations (time commitment, communication, deliverables, etc.). 

• One or more team members don't want to continue working on the startup after the event. No worries, there is no requirement to continue working on the project following Startup Weekend.

• My team worked together on an idea that I pitched. However, I no longer want to work with my team. We encourage your team to consider shared goals, values, and commitment to the startup idea before deciding on the best plan moving forward. Differences in options can be a constructive part of teamwork that presents an opportunity for growth and positive change! If the team decides to split into separate startups, then please discuss what this might look like and agree upon a mutual solution. For example, you may take different business approaches and modify target audiences, business models, and/or technology. 

  • NOTE: Do not participate in Startup Weekend if you intend to use this opportunity as free labor. Please understand that faculty researchers may have academic responsibilities to adhere to.

• I don't want to continue working on the startup, but what if the startup becomes successful based on ideas that I contributed? By participating in Startup Weekend, you agree to provide your insights freely. The event is intended as a collaborative forum for sharing, learning, building, and having fun. We encourage teams to discuss what working on the startup after the event looks like by identifying clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations (time commitment, communication, deliverables, etc.).