The first edition of Startup Playground is on! From 8-10 November, Graz will be the hotspot for startups. Promising a great weekend, this event is aimed at individuals with creative ideas that will benefit from mentoring and networking with experts. Of course, the road to success is paved with hard work, but let’s not forget to include some entertainment on the way – the organisers at Ideentriebwerk Graz have made sure to have a social event every evening, from quiet dinners to parties, so participants stay engaged.
Startup Playground
In case the format of Startup Playground reminds you of the 54-hour Startup Weekend/Startup Live events, you’re not far off. “We hosted a Startup Live last year, which was awesome,” Lisa Fassl, head of Ideentriebwerk, told inventures.eu. “That’s why we wanted to host another event of this kind. But as those Startup Live events got more and more rare, we came up with the idea of creating our brand, which perfectly fits in our portfolio.”
Earlier this month, Fassl and her team also co-hosted the local kick-off event of the Founders Battle. “[After] we co-hosted [the event], we decided that it would make a lot of sense to promote each other and make participants aware of both events.” As a result, Stefan Perkmann-Berger, project leader of the Founders Battle, will take part in Startup Playground as a mentor.
Connecting people
The one main goal of this event is to connect the right people with each other, both Austrians and foreigners. Fassl said that “the perfect mix” will be created from bringing together individuals with ideas, such that have the skills to implement them and international mentors, who’ll be sharing their knowledge.
The event will surely add value to the startup scene in Graz and IdeenTriebwerk wants to offer the kind of experience that the locals are not so familiar with. “We’re really trying to expand the local factor, and to get people from all around Austria and bordering countries,” said Fassl.
What will startups get out of it?
Startup Playground will create the proper environment to work on business ideas, which will include three days of workshops, mentorship by Austrian and international experts and pitching sessions followed by feedback. Not only that, but experience-sharing and networking will prove that “learning by doing” is the key to achieving your goals.
So far, the organising team has received 35 registrations. Fassl said that “most of the registered people are coming to present their business ideas [either] alone or in a group of up to two people.” However, if you are not planning to launch your own startup, you are more than welcome to contribute towards developing early-business drafts and boosting ideas, she said – and who knows, perhaps find your future team members.
So if you’re in the area, stop by and join the Playground!
