Techstars Startup Weekend Women Dublin
Pitch ideas, form teams, build fast, validate with mentors, and present your startup to judges. Everything you need for the weekend is here.
Event Countdown
Get ready to learn, collaborate, prototype, and pitch.
What is Techstars Startup Weekend?
Techstars Startup Weekend is an immersive entrepreneurial experience where participants pitch ideas, form teams, validate problems, build solutions, and present a final startup concept in just 54 hours.
It is designed to help aspiring founders, creatives, developers, designers, and business minds experience what it really takes to go from idea to venture under real startup conditions.
Pitch
Share an idea and get people excited to join your team.
Build
Create an MVP, landing page, prototype, or demo in record time.
Validate
Test assumptions with mentors, users, and market insight.
Present
Pitch your startup to judges and the wider community.
Event Schedule
A practical guide to how the weekend unfolds from idea pitching to the final showcase.
Idea Pitching & Team Formation
- Registration and check-in
- Welcome remarks and overview
- 60-second idea pitches
- Voting and team formation
- Problem definition and first planning session
Build, Validate & Iterate
- Mentor office hours
- Customer discovery and market validation
- Business model development
- Rapid prototyping with AI tools
- Pitch coaching and team check-ins
Final Pitch & Awards
- Final prototype polish
- Presentation rehearsal
- Final pitches to judges
- Judges’ deliberation
- Awards, networking, and close
Resources You’ll Need During the Weekend
Everything in one place: templates, links, checklists, pitch support, and collaboration resources.
Lean Canvas Template
Capture your problem, solution, customer, unfair advantage, and revenue model.
Download TemplateBusiness Model Canvas
Map customer segments, value proposition, channels, and key activities.
Download TemplatePitch Deck Template
Use a clean startup pitch format to present your venture clearly.
Download TemplateCustomer Interview Template
Validate the real problem by asking better questions and recording insights.
Open TemplateMarket Research Sheet
Document competitors, audience size, market need, and industry insight.
Open Research SheetFinancial Projection Starter
Estimate basic costs, pricing, and possible revenue assumptions.
Download FileValidation Checklist
Make sure your team has evidence for the problem, customer, and solution fit.
View ChecklistHow Teams Will Be Assessed
Judges are looking for a strong problem, validated insight, clear value, and a team that can execute.
| Criteria | Description | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Problem | How relevant, urgent, and meaningful is the problem being solved? | 20% |
| Solution | How strong and appropriate is the proposed solution? | 20% |
| Market | Is there evidence of demand, customers, or market need? | 15% |
| Business Model | Is there a believable pathway to revenue or sustainability? | 15% |
| Execution | Did the team make real progress and show ability to deliver? | 20% |
| Impact | What social, economic, or community value could the startup create? | 10% |
Final Pitch Structure
- Problem
- Solution
- Target Customer
- Market Opportunity
- Demo / Prototype
- Business Model
- Traction or Validation
- Team & Next Steps
Pro Tip
Judges want to see evidence that your team understands the problem, validated the opportunity, and built something meaningful over the weekend.
Keep your pitch clear, visual, and focused on why your startup matters.
Mentors & Judges
Experienced founders, investors, builders, and ecosystem leaders will support and assess teams throughout the weekend.
Aoife Brennan
Startup Mentor · Product Strategy
Michael Byrne
Investor · Early Stage Ventures
Sara Okoye
Founder · Growth & Partnerships
David Walsh
AI Builder · Prototyping Coach
Judges
Experienced founders, investors, builders, and ecosystem leaders will support and assess teams throughout the weekend.
Aoife Brennan
Startup Mentor · Product Strategy
Michael Byrne
Investor · Early Stage Ventures
Sara Okoye
Founder · Growth & Partnerships
David Walsh
AI Builder · Prototyping Coach
Mentors
Experienced founders, investors, builders, and ecosystem leaders will support and assess teams throughout the weekend.
Aoife Brennan
Startup Mentor · Product Strategy
Michael Byrne
Investor · Early Stage Ventures
Sara Okoye
Founder · Growth & Partnerships
David Walsh
AI Builder · Prototyping Coach
Speakers
Experienced founders, investors, builders, and ecosystem leaders will support and assess teams throughout the weekend.
Aoife Brennan
Startup Speakers · Product Strategy
Michael Byrne
Investor · Early Stage Ventures
Sara Okoye
Founder · Growth & Partnerships
David Walsh
AI Builder · Prototyping Coach
Organisers
Experienced founders, investors, builders, and ecosystem leaders will support and assess teams throughout the weekend.
Aoife Brennan
Startup Mentor · Product Strategy
Michael Byrne
Investor · Early Stage Ventures
Sara Okoye
Founder · Growth & Partnerships
David Walsh
AI Builder · Prototyping Coach
Communication Channels
Use the official channels during the event so participants can receive updates, ask questions, and access files easily.
Helpful Startup Learning Links
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a team before arriving?
No. Teams are formed after the idea pitching session.
Do I need technical skills?
No. Great startup teams need different skills including business, design, and storytelling.
Can I pitch an existing idea?
Yes, as long as it is still at a very early stage and not already a fully launched business.
What should I bring?
Your laptop, charger, notebook, curiosity, and readiness to collaborate.
Build something meaningful this weekend.
Use this portal as your home base for templates, schedules, judging criteria, links, and startup support.