{"id":50679,"date":"2018-05-08T00:24:11","date_gmt":"2018-05-08T07:24:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/?p=50679"},"modified":"2026-04-17T10:06:03","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T09:06:03","slug":"blockchain-meets-seattle-tech-at-startup-weekend-blockchain-edition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cryptoslate.com\/blockchain-meets-seattle-tech-at-startup-weekend-blockchain-edition\/","title":{"rendered":"Blockchain Meets Seattle Tech at Startup Weekend Blockchain Edition"},"content":{"rendered":"

With over twenty blockchain startups emerging locally, Seattle has become home to many companies at the forefront of disruptive technology and entrepreneurship. Techstars\u00a0Startup Weekend<\/a> organizes events to push aspiring founders to their creative and operating limits, which is why Seattle made an excellent setting for the very first Startup Weekend Blockchain Edition.<\/p>\n

What is Startup Weekend?<\/h2>\n

Techstars\u00a0Startup Weekend is a three-day event in which event participants form ideas, create teams, and develop a business\u00a0model and an MVP (minimum viable product) all within 54 hours.<\/p>\n

Throughout the process, teams are mentored by local leaders in entrepreneurship to compile their final presentations, which are then judged by VCs, angel investors, and local industry leaders.<\/p>\n

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The Seattle Entrepreneurship Club, a local organization dedicated to promoting startup innovation.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The event was hosted and coordinated by the Seattle Entrepreneurship Club<\/a>, a local organization founded by Chinese engineers and dedicated to creating a network for professionals, promoting innovation and establishing a platform for entrepreneurial endeavors.<\/p>\n

Event coordinator, Man Zheng shared some insight into their organization's goals:<\/p>\n

“One of our main missions of the Seattle Entrepreneruship Club is to encourage people to step up and be an entrepreneur and do their own startup.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The Competition<\/h2>\n

Over the course of three days, twelve teams composed of over a hundred participants took to the drawing board and formed fresh ideas for a blockchain or cryptocurrency-related service or product.<\/p>\n

\"Global
GIX pioneers new forms of teaching and learning by connecting world-class learners and faculty with research-led companies and non-profits to collaborate on solutions to global challenges.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

From the wall-scaping Microsoft surface to the tables covered in leftover catering and laptop cases, the meeting hall of the Global Innovation Exchange<\/a>\u00a0was bustling with technical banter and business proposals.<\/p>\n

By the end of the second day, teams had committed to their product ideas and began developing a working prototype and business model to present on the final day.<\/p>\n

Those with technical skillsets took to their\u00a0laptops, each spewing out code for their prototypes and user interfaces as fast as possible. Those on the business-side were seen pacing back and forth while trying to get in touch with potential customers and partners.<\/p>\n

As dusk drew near, the teams fell into a productive groove \u2013 rushing to complete a comprehensive presentation and demo for their disruptive blockchain-based product or service.<\/p>\n

Final Presentations<\/h2>\n

On Sunday, May 6, presentation day had arrived, and the anticipation was high. From 3:30 pm onward, the twelve teams shuffled in and took their places near the stage to present.<\/p>\n

Jonathan\u00a0Gagliardoni<\/a>, local entrepreneur and co-founder of SHOP, was the MC of the final presentations.<\/p>\n

The judges composed of four industry leaders, including:<\/p>\n