RampUp Weekend 2024

Actions Panel

RampUp Weekend 2024

Over 50 + hours create, develop, and pitch a business idea for a chance to win $10,000!

By North Forge Technology Exchange

Date and time

Fri, Apr 26, 2024 5:30 PM - Sun, Apr 28, 2024 10:00 PM CDT

Location

100 Innovation Dr

100 Innovation Drive Winnipeg, MB R3T 6A8 Canada

About this event

  • 2 days 4 hours

Innovation starts with an idea—your idea.

RampUp Weekend pulls developers, designers, makers, and entrepreneurs together to take an idea to a minimum viable product (MVP) in just over 50 hours.

This event not only offers an opportunity to launch a business but also provides a platform for building deep, meaningful connections with developers, designers, makers, and entrepreneurs. Together attendees will learn how to create an MVP and take the first steps towards entrepreneurship in Manitoba.

Did we mention that the first-place winner can receive $10,000 in prizes?


How does it work?


FRIDAY: April 26th

5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

  1. The 60-second pitch - Attendees pitch their business ideas (tech-enabled, science-based, or advanced manufacturing).
  2. The selection - The top ideas are selected and move on to the next stage.
  3. Team formations - Teams are formed, and design, development, business, and other roles are assigned.
  4. Brainstorming sessions - Initiate building a minimum viable product (MVP) for the rest of the weekend.

———

SATURDAY: April 27th

8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

  1. Build and plan - business logos, websites, product mock-ups, and prototypes.
  2. Questioning period - Mentors move from team to team, asking tough questions and helping teams survive the ‘pivots’ ahead.

———

SUNDAY: April 28th

8:00 AM - 10:00 PM

  1. The FINAL hours - It’s a race against the clock as teams continue to build their final business pitch.
  2. The FINAL PITCH - Teams will pitch their business in 5 minutes and then withstand a questioning period from the judging panel.
  3. Award announcements - Teams are awarded:
    First Place: $10,000
    Second Place: $5,000
    Fan Favourite: $500

It’s a fun-filled, adrenaline-producing weekend that has jump-started many local businesses.

* The Innovation Hub will remain open until 10:00 p.m. for teams to work. Teams are free to gather elsewhere and continue working on their ideas. Innovation Hub will be closed to non-participating guests.

Organized by

We are North Forge Technology Exchange – a non-profit incubator accelerator that works with startups across Canada in technology, STEM and advanced manufacturing from the ideation stages all the way through to Series A. We fuel Manitoba’s innovation economy, providing founders with experienced mentors, entrepreneurs-in-residence, award-winning growth coaches and a unique, online four-stage Founders program. We have worked with over 280 companies since June 2020 who have created over 1,700 jobs.

Armed with North America’s largest non-profit fabrication lab (FabLab™), we operate out of 35,000 square feet across Innovation Drive and Innovation Alley in Winnipeg, including, a 4,000 sq foot location in Thompson, Manitoba.

Discover North Forge today!

Visit northforge.ca for up-to-date information on our programs and upcoming events.