First Bilingual Startup Weekend

For the first time in the country, businesses in Santa Maria, launched the first bilingual Startup Weekend series.

Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement helping entrepreneurs turn their ideas into reality.

The non-profit organization is headquartered in Seattle, Washington but Startup Weekend organizers and facilitators can be found in more than 100 countries.

If you have an idea, Startup Weekend is the perfect place to see it come to life.

Mario Alonso of Santa Maria, said “My thinking was, to help the fieldworkers, to protect their skin.” Alonso and his team are working on a mask prototype for fieldworkers.

Roque Ballesteros and Arroyo Grande teacher wanted to make a life size game of chess to engage students and teach life skills.

Startup events can be found in more than 100 countries, but Santa Maria is taking the aspiring entrepreneur program one step further.

The community asked for it and got it, both English and Spanish were spoken at the event, that’s a first for the United States.

Teams form, and the ideas flow, with people of all professional backgrounds.

Guillermo Chavez, said, “I came up with an idea two years in the first Startup weekend in Santa Maria.”

Chaves, the former Startup winner is a successful mentor at this year’s Startup event.

Chavez said, “Now I have a corporation I have a business.”.”

The model allows anyone to pitch their Startup idea, and with help they’ll learn how to start a business.

Carlos Hernandez, a journalist from Santa Barbara, said “There are different aspects for example the legal aspects that can be very complex.”

Mentors are available to guide entrepreneurs with their Startup questions.

At the end of the 54 hours everyone should leave with a better understanding on how to navigate the world of start ups.