As Boise Startup Week makes its debut for the fourth year in a row, there’s no doubt that the event has earned the title of “Idaho’s largest community-driven, entrepreneur-focused event.” This year, the festival features an immense variety of informational, educational, and entertaining events. With so many events to choose from and only so much time, building your BSW schedule can be a challenge. Of the hundreds of events that will take place during the week of October 7, 2019, here are 10 you DON’T want to miss…
Trailmix: Wednesday, October 9 @ Trailhead Boise | 2:00pm – 5:45pm
Trailmix is an exciting event where companies from throughout the Northwest showcase their new and innovative food products. The bonus? The winner of this food pitch competition will receive a $20,000 cash prize as well as in-store retail placement at Albertsons! The event will kick off at 2:00pm as contestants present their product in a trade show style set up where the public has the ability to vote for their favorites. Following the showcase will be a panel discussion, pitch competition, and keynote session. Finally, winners will be announced at 5:45pm.
$20k Pitch Competition: Wednesday, October 9 @ JUMP Pioneer Room | 5:00pm – 7:00pm
The $20k Pitch competition provides promising young startups the opportunity to get on stage and present their idea. Up to 20 companies will demo during the event and 4 finalists will move on to pitch their plan and take a shot at winning the $20k grand prize! Mark your calendars and stop by to witness the action.
BSW 2019 Dodgeball Tournament: Saturday, October 5 @ Boise State Rec Center | 11:30am – 5:00pm
If you can dodge a ball, you can dodge the beratement of criticism and disapproval, right? On Friday, October 4, BSW is hosting a “Dodgeball” viewing party from 5:00pm-8:00pm at Trailhead Boise. This quick refresher on the 5 “D”s of Dodgeball is the perfect way to mentally prepare for the dodgeball tournament that will occur the following day. Stop by the Boise State Rec Center on Saturday, October 5 from 11:30am-5:00pm to watch local companies battle for the champion title! Ready to join the fun?
Youth Track: Wednesday, October 9 @ JUMP | 9:15am – 2:00pm
A wise man once said, “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” BSW took Franklin D. Roosevelt’s words to heart and developed a series of events that aim to encourage Boise’s up and coming generation of leaders. On Wednesday, October 9, several youth-focused events will take place, including interactive sessions on “Building Your Brand,” “Ethics for the Digital Age,” and “Real World Problem Solving.” These events aim to educate high school students about the endless opportunities that exist in today’s work field. More so, BSW has focused on providing youth attendees with the ability to take part in engaging learning lessons that allow them to develop professional skills.
Capital Connect: Tuesday, October 8 @ JUMP Pioneer Room | 2:00pm – 5:00pm
It’s no doubt that Boise is being transformed by a new wave of innovation. On Tuesday, October 8, Capital Connect will spotlight Boise’s fast-growing, rapidly expanding, booming market through the delivery of three main events: “Early Stage Startups Boise,” “State of the Ecosystem,” and “Startup Success in Boise.” These events will provide attendees with insight into what it takes to build a successful company in Boise. Interested in learning from the pros?
NASA & Boise State University: Friday, October 11 @ JUMP | 1:00pm – 6:30pm
Talk about an “outta this world” opportunity! On Friday, October 11, NASA is hosting a series of futuristic events centered around all things space. If you’re interested in learning about human space exploration, innovative space technology, and how Boise State University is getting involved, this one’s for you.
BSW Block Party: Thursday, October 10 @ JUMP | 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Let’s celebrate, BSW style. There will be dancing, there will be free Chobani samples, and there will be giant lawn games. Still not sold? To top it off, Five Alarm Funk and Juice will be performing live! Sounds like it’s time to start practicing your moves…
Idaho Virtual Reality Council’s VR Bash: Friday, October 11 @ Strange Love | 6:00pm – 10:00pm
This is a party you don’t want to miss! This virtual reality bash will take place in downtown Boise’s happenin’ nightlife scene on Friday, October 11 at Strange Love. Come out to take part in a mixed reality event that blends real-world entertainment with VR offerings.
Idaho Pitch: Elevator Pitch Night: Friday, October 11 @ JUMP 5th Floor | 4:00pm – 6:00pm
All it takes is one revolutionary idea…or maybe just a really, really good one. Not sure if your idea has what it takes? Register for the Idaho Pitch: Elevator Pitch Night to test your idea against 20 judges. Think Shark Tank with training wheels on. This casual event is designed to be less intimidating than getting on the big stage. The best part? Cash prizes will be awarded to the top three participants! All you need to compete in this event an idea you can talk about and yourself or a team.
College Takeover @ BSW: Wednesday, October 9 – Saturday, October 12 @ JUMP
College students are invited to showcase their talents as they network the week away and learn from distinguished business professionals. College oriented events will kick off Wednesday with a “Talent Optimization Workshop” where students will develop strategical business development skills. Students are also encouraged to attend the Talent Track’s Marquee Event, the “Startup Crawl,” which takes place on Friday, October 11 from 10:00am – 1:00pm. The Startup Crawl provides students with the opportunity to tour different companies in downtown Boise and learn more about their culture and job opportunities. Ready to take networking to the next level?