The second Startup Weekend Havana, taking place in Havana Aug 5-7, has secured more sponsors.
The current sponsors are:
.CO @dotCO
Dell @dell
EngageCuba @Engage_Cuba
HealthX Ventures @HealthXVentures
Gener8tor @gener8tor
CubaOutsource @CubaOutsource
Merchise Startup Circle, the Havana-based group organizing the event, has secured a prime venue at the recently-re-branded Sheraton 5th Ave. The Sheraton announced last month that it is taking over management the Gaviota-owned hotel, effective immediately. The Cuba Journal is returning again this year as a media sponsor.
According to Alex Medina, a Merchise member, the event is expected to attract 50-80 Cubans who will form teams the first night of the event and then develop their concepts over the weekend – often working in all-night sessions.
US-based Stripe announced in March that it will expand its Atlas product, giving Cuban entrepreneurs access to its startup tools including a US bank account and business entity, and formed a partnership with Merchise for its Cuban expansion.
Merchise has a long history in the small but growing Cuban tech startup scene. Some group members are among the original crew that developed around coding and gaming in the 1990s.
Startup Weekend organizes high-impact, experiential events that foster entrepreneurship and community building in every corner of the world. As of last year, the organization hosted 200,00 budding entrepreneurs at 2,900 Startup Weekend events, in 501 cities, and in 150 countries. The organization’s 54-hour event is where designers, developers, marketers, and startup enthusiasts come together to share ideas, form teams, and launch startups.
From the 1st Startup Weekend Havana:
The Startup Weekend Havana events developed from two “digital meetups” early last year that explored the appetite for a Cuban tech/entrepreneur event in Havana. Turns out, there is a great deal of interest in the topic, as evidenced by the fact that attendance for last year’s first Startup Weekend Havana was over capacity.
The .CO domain is returning as one of the event sponsors.
Event Details
FRIDAY 5th
6:30pm Registration
7:00pm Dinner & Networking
7:30pm Welcome & Speakers
8:00pm Pitches Starts
9:00pm Forming Teams
10:00pm Begin Work
SATURDAY 6th
9:00am Breakfast / Opening
9:30am Begin Work
11:00am Team Check-In / Requests for Help
12:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Coaches Arrive & Meet with Teams
6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Continue Work
SUNDAY 7th
9:00am Breakfast / Opening
10:00am Team Check-In
12:00pm Lunch
1:00pm Coaches Arrive & Meet with Teams
3:00pm Presentation Pre & Tech Check
5:00pm Final Presentations
7:30pm Judging & Awards
10:00pm Closing Moments
