Elevator Pitch Sesssion - Startupday 2015
Top entrepreneurs get to pitch investors in the Demo Zone.

We’ve got a huge crowd and a great lineup in store for the seventh annual Startup Day event, taking place Friday, Feb. 12 at Meydenbauer Center in Bellevue from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

More than 600 people are expected to attend, and we have inspirational talks planned by entrepreneurial vets such as Henry Albrecht of Limeade; Liz Pearce of LiquidPlanner and Nick Huzar of OfferUp.

Startup-Day-2016-300x250 (1)We’re also excited to welcome wireless pioneer and Microsoft board member John Stanton for a fireside chat, talking about his own startup voyage in building companies such as McCaw Cellular, Western Wireless, VoiceStream Wireless (Now T-Mobile). And the day will end with a talk about teamwork from Russell Okung, the All-Pro offensive lineman from the Seattle Seahawks.

Here’s what you need to know if you’re coming to this one-of-a-kind entrepreneurial bootcamp, presented by our great partners at The City of Bellevue.

When: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12.

Location: Meydenbauer Center is located at 11100 NE 6th St. in Bellevue, adjacent to Interstate 405 at NE 6th Street and 112th Avenue NE.

Screen Shot 2016-02-11 at 9.41.34 AMParking: All-day parking is available at the Meydenbauer Center garage at a cost of $14. We encourage attendees to bus, bike or ride-share to the venue. Parking and directions here.

Tickets: No need to bring your printed tickets. If you’re signed up, we will have your badge ready to go at registration.

Can I still buy tickets? We are sold out for Startup Day, but make sure to get your tickets for the GeekWire 5th Anniversary Bash and Ping Pong/Foosball tourney on March 24th.

Registration and coffee: We will open the doors at 8 a.m. After picking up your name badge, our friendly events team will help you get situated. Check in, get yourself caffeinated, and fasten your seatbelts — as the main attraction starts at 8:55 a.m. with a startup welcome from Bellevue Mayor John Stokes and Bellevue City Councilmember Lynne Robinson.

Agenda: Check out the full schedule here or visit the main event page and look under the agenda tab. We have a fantastic lineup of startup veterans delivering a series of talks aimed at mastering key steps of the startup process, plus panels and more special surprises.

Video thumbnail for youtube video Meet AtomOrbit: The winning pitch from our Startup Demo Zone competition
A Demo Zone startup pitches to the VC panel at the 2013 Startup Day

Internet: We will have free WiFi. Network is GeekWire, and password is StartupDay.

Startup Demo Zone: Back by popular demand, check out the 20 companies in the Startup Demo Zone, listening to their ideas and presentations. The Demo Zone will be located in Hall A of Meydenbauer. Demo Zone companies receive a one-on-one meetings with a top VC or angel investor, and three of the companies will earn the chance to go on stage after lunch and pitch to our all-star VC panel. See a list of Demo Zone companies here.

People’s Choice Award: All attendees will receive a ticket in their registration badge to vote for their favorite startup in the Demo Zone. Present this paper vote to your favorite Demo Zone company throughout the day, and they may be crowned as the “People’s Choice” award winner, earning two tickets to the GeekWire 5th Anniversary Bash & Ping Pong Tourney on March 24th.

Twitter: The hashtag is #gwstartupday.

Expert Advice in the Resource Center: Good news for all attendees: Everyone is welcome to meet with an expert in the Startup Resource Room, located in Hall A. Come with your burning questions in business, financing, HR, marketing, PR, legal and design. The Resource Room will be open from 10:30 am to 1 p.m. This is a great chance to get one-on-one advice from the likes of venture capitalist Jason Stoffer; PR pro Bob Silver; recruiting experts Shannon Swift, Shauna Swerland and Mikaela Kiner; and technologists Kate Matsudaira, Jeff Dance and Jon Gleasman.

Refreshments and food: We’ll have plenty of breaks and refreshments throughout the day; a light breakfast, boxed lunch, two breaks and the afternoon reception all included with your registration. We will keep you fueled up and provide plenty of time to connect with your fellow entrepreneurs.

Networking badges: Attached to each University of Washington TMMBA sponsored name badge will be a LiGo device — an event networking technology created locally that helps you meet the right people. Simply download the LiGo app, enter your info and identify who you want to meet, and the wearable devices will glow when a match occurs near by. Make sure to download the mobile app here for Android users and here for iPhone users in order for LiGo to work its magic.

Questions? Email Cara Kuhlman at cara@geekwire.com and we’ll get them answered.

See everyone tomorrow for Startup Day.

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