| NOTE: Online Registration has now closed. On-site registration is available beginning Friday, Feb. 20th at 5:30pm.
Startup Weekend is a global, 54-hour event where entrepreneurs, developers, designers, and other professionals collaborate to turn an idea into a startup over a single weekend. Perfect for emerging executives developing an entrepreneurial mindset. February 20 – 22, 2026
In this three-day program aspiring entrepreneurs experience startup life. It is a creative and collaborative educational event over a Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Open to the public, anyone can develop and pitch new startup ideas. From executive product owners to independent inventors, all are welcome.
Techstars Techstars is a global investment business that provides access to capital, one-on-one mentorship, a worldwide network, and customized programming for early-stage entrepreneurs. •Techstars has invested in 3,700 early-stage startups. •Venture portfolio with a market capitalization of $8.1 billion. •Startup Weekends have been held over 7000 times in over 150 countries. •Attracting 19,000 community leaders and reaching over 428,000 entrepreneurs. •Engaging an array of stakeholders – government agencies, universities, and nonprofits
Community engagement and experiential learning are vital to the mission of the University of Richmond. This collaboration is a part of our broader effort to “enhance and grow meaningful opportunities for engagement in our city, region and the world.”
Innovation and entrepreneurship are vital aspects of both student learning and our regional economy. Advancing this public event demonstrates our continued commitment to product development, business growth, job creation, income mobility, and cooperation across the agencies and organizations supporting entrepreneurs.
About Techstars Startup Weekend Learn how to think, work and build like a startup, in 54 thrilling hours. Techstars Startup Weekend is an exciting and immersive foray into the world of startups. Over an action-packed three days, you’ll meet the very best mentors, investors, co-founders, and sponsors to show you how to get more done faster -- and, maybe even start that business.
Techstars Startup Weekend - Changemakers Richmond will include:
- Startup Weekend Q&A | Wednesday, February 18 from 7 pm - 8:30 pm
- Friday, February 20 at 6 pm to 9 pm
- Saturday, February 21 from 10am to 7:30pm
- Sunday, February 22 from 10am to 7:30pm (including final team presentations and celebratory reception)
All events will be hosted at the Robins School of Business at University of Richmond.
The full detailed weekend agenda will be released at a later date. Stay tuned.
Registration Options
- Pitch Leader. Share your idea in 30 seconds on Friday evening, and build a team of students and other members of the community. Build your venture over the weekend. This includes full registration for all event sessions Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Teammate. Come on Friday evening, hear the pitches, select a team of community members and students to join. This includes full registration for all event sessions Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
- Mentor or Workshop Facilitator. Individuals who will serve as a mentor or facilitator should register for their Saturday participation. This will include a Saturday commitment, and workshop schedules will be circulated separately. Mentors should plan on attending February 21st 3pm – 5pm.
- General Admission. There are a limited number of seats available for those wishing to observe. Please register only for those sessions you wish to attend.
- The Friday evening open pitches, 6pm – 9pm
- Keynote Speaker, Join Dr. Joel Mier on Saturday, Feb. 21st, 1pm – 2:30pm for this discussion on Entrepreneurial Mindset.
- Startup Weekend Competition, Sun. 22nd 5pm – 7:30pm
Featured Speakers & Mentors Keynote Speaker - Join Dr. Joel Mier on Saturday, Feb. 21st, 1pm – 2:30pm for a discussion on Entrepreneurial Mindset.
Joel Mier is a proud Bay Area native who has spent his career helping organizations grow through greater knowledge of the customer. He has held leadership positions in B2B and B2C environments, from start-ups to Fortune 200 firms, from technology to entertainment to financial services.
Mier will cover his work at Netflix to explore how a company can achieve long-term success by continually reinventing itself, a process akin to "creative destruction." He will highlight three key themes that enabled Netflix to transform from a late-1990s startup to a global entertainment leader: •Organizational ambidexterity, balancing current business exploitation with future-focused exploration •Scaling up while preserving an entrepreneurial mindset •Unrelenting customer centricity. Learn about how to best embracing calculated risk-taking, empowering employees to make decisions, democratizing data, and constantly testing new ideas, which all contribute to a culture of constant evolution and innovation.
Sponsorship Opportunities The Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond will host Techstars Startup Weekend along with the Delivery Partners listed below. These partners are critical to ensure that entrepreneurs and innovators can participate in Techstars Startup Weekend for free.
The Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond is pleased to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Richmond and beyond. Organizations wishing to provide monetary donations for Techstars Startup Weekend should connect with Emily Griffey Ewees (egriffey@richmond.edu). Donations will support the Dean’s Impact Fund of the Robins School of Business.
Prize Sponsors for Winners Organizations wishing to donate non-cash prizes for participants should connect with Dale Fickett. Prizes will be offered to the top-performing individuals and teams as selected by the judges.
Recognition Financial and In-Kind Sponsors will be recognized with their logo on event materials. Financial sponsors will be invited to address participants during Startup Weekend.
Global Sponsors Brex Techstars |
