I came to Startup Weekend because I liked the concept. It’s an event that takes place worldwide where ideas and people who can make them come together. Developers, designers, entrepeneurs all come together in one place. Those with an idea had 60 seconds to explain their idea on stage. A few took stage to talk about business start ups like Dr.Naif.
Soon after that everyone with an idea stood in a selected area holding a big banner with the name of his idea. He would then be approached by people to join his team. I initially came to take a look but got so excited I was already in a team with an idea I liked before I knew it. Thought I might as well have a productive weekend.
Every group had the weekend to come develop a presentation of the full roll-out of how each group is going to make an idea a business. We kept getting approached by coaches, each giving us advice in a different category be it finance, marketing, design etc. What I loved about this whole concept is it teaches you how to make a business while you make one, not in a classroom where learning is one thing and applying is a whole different scenario.
I was the designer in our group, worked on the logo and layout of the application. The idea is to make an application where it lets you select the diet your on and the restaurant you’re in, then it selects which dishes are best for you based on your diet. MyDiet is the temporarily name of the application while we come up with something else, ideas?
At around 6p.m on Saturday it was time to present the idea with a presentation and preferably a prototype which we worked hard on. The judges rated the ideas on whether they would work or not, make money or not and how well they do against competitors. There were 11 groups in total each with a unique idea hoping to become a business.
We got 2nd place which I’m very happy with (Prize: 1st place: KD 1000, 2nd KD 750, KD 400). MeBlogging was actually part of the team who won 1st place with her concept Cameralized. It’s an online directory of all the photographers in Kuwait and their work, additionally if you like a photographers work you can book him online.
I have learned so much in so little time about starting a small business, how to maintain it and how to market it from this event. I recommend everyone with any skill to take part on their next event, even if you only have an idea. We’re going to continue with MyDiet app and we’re estimating a the launch to the app on Android an iOS in 3 months time.[Website]