Techstars Startup Weekend Boston
Join us for Techstars Startup Weekend Boston 2026 — a 54-hour sprint where ideas become startups. Over one weekend, you’ll pitch, form a team, build a prototype, and showcase your progress to seasoned judges.
This year we return to the original spirit of Startup Weekend: more simplicity, more science, less bloat. Just five judges and fifteen mentors will guide participants, ensuring focus, clarity, and deeper mentorship. At the center is Shweta Agrawal’s One Stop Shop framework, where product, customer, and communication labs are woven into a complete founder journey.
Whether you’re a first-time founder, a technologist, a creative, or simply curious, Startup Weekend is where you’ll find your team, test your ideas, and experience the thrill of building in real time. With Boston’s vibrant startup community around you — and steady leadership from Steve Vilkas alongside Shweta, Marsh Sutherland, and Sergio Ferreira — Startup Weekend 2026 promises to be our most intentional, founder-first edition yet.
54 hours. One team. One idea. One chance to launch your startup.
What To Expect:
A fast-paced, hands-on weekend where you form teams, validate real problems, build working prototypes, and pitch to experienced judges in just 54 hours.
Friday, May 1 — Ignition Night
Form teams, find focus, start building
5:00 PM — Doors Open & Registration
Check in, grab your badge, and meet fellow builders.
5:30 PM — Welcome & Event Overview
A brief introduction to the Startup Weekend format, rules, and flow.
5:45 PM — Dinner & Networking
Food is served. Connect naturally and start exchanging ideas.
6:30 PM — Pitch Rally (Round 1)
60-second idea pitches. No slides, just the problem and vision.
7:15 PM — Pitch Rally (Round 2)
Second chance to pitch. New ideas welcome.
7:45 PM — Idea Voting
Dot voting to select the top ideas moving forward.
8:00 PM — Team Formation
Idea owners recruit teammates. Teams form organically.
9:00 PM — Teams Lock & Early Planning
Teams align, set direction, and prepare for build day.
Saturday, May 2 — Build Day
Code, create, validate — repeat
8:00 AM — Doors Open & Coffee
Caffeine is on. Teams arrive and get settled.
8:30 AM — All-Hands Check-In
Quick logistics and reminders.
8:35 AM — Get Out of the Building
Customer interviews, market research, and validation begin.
12:00 PM — Lunch
Working lunch encouraged.
12:45 PM — Back to Building
MVP development continues across all teams.
3:00 PM — Mentor Sessions
Optional rapid feedback with experienced founders and operators.
3:30 PM — Build Sprint Continues
Iterate, test, and refine.
6:00 PM — Dinner
Refuel for the evening push.
6:45 PM onward — Build Late
Focused execution time. Teams work as long as they like.
Sunday, May 3 — Showcase Sunday
Finish strong, pitch hard, win or learn
8:00 AM — Doors Open
Final build and prep begins.
8:15 AM — Morning Announcements
Pitch order, judging criteria, and final logistics.
8:30 AM — Final Sprint
Last chance to build, refine, and rehearse.
12:00 PM — Submissions Due
All demos, code, and presentations locked.
12:15 PM — Lunch & Setup
Prepare presentation materials and spaces.
1:00 PM — Pitch Practice
Practice pitches with mentor feedback.
2:00 PM — Final Pitch Prep
Polish delivery and get ready.
2:30 PM — Judges & VIP Arrival
Investors and community leaders arrive.
3:00 PM — Final Presentations
Each team presents: 3 minutes pitch + 2 minutes Q&A.
4:30 PM — Awards & Closing
Winners announced and celebration.