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CO+HOOTS FOUNDATION TO HOLD, ORGANIZE FIRST YOUTH STARTUP WEEKEND IN SOUTHWEST
50 Phoenix youth to create own startup companies, then pitch to judges and investors Aug. 26-28.
CO+HOOTS Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Phoenix coworking community CO+HOOTS, is organizing Startup Weekend Phoenix for youth, the first such event held in the Southwest. The one-weekend event, which will be held at CO+HOOTS (221 E. Indianola Ave. Phoenix) from Aug. 26-28, will offer 50 local middle school-to-high school age students a glimpse to what it takes to build a company and a product from scratch.
Building on the nationally recognized Startup Weekend model, the Foundation is bringing together business professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders to help student participants pitch their own startup ideas and form their own startup teams as well as learn skills for coding, design, leadership, team building and critical thinking. The coaches and volunteers who are working throughout the weekend all have unique skills and talents to share along with an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative vision.
“While the end product of the weekend for the student participants will be a final, polished pitch, our hope is that the opportunity to connect with working professionals will inspire them to take a risk and build something new,” CO+HOOTS Foundation Interim Director Meg Taylor. “We were blown away by the amount of coaches, speakers and leaders who have volunteered. We are welcoming team members from Infusionsoft, Nextiva, Consolidated Knowledge and CO+HOOTS.”
Major event sponsor APS funded several scholarships for students to attend the event. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, another major event sponsor, allowed the Foundation to reach students across the City of Phoenix.
WHAT: Youth Startup Weekend Phoenix
WHEN: Friday, Aug. 26-Sunday, Aug. 28
WHERE: CO+HOOTS, 221 E. Indianola Ave. Phoenix 85012
WHO: 50 Phoenix youth and business professionals
URL for tickets and volunteers: cohoots.com/youthswphx/
Images courtesy of CO+HOOTS Foundation.
