A three day hustle
at the Startup Weekend
In just 54 hours, the goal was to take an idea from concept to a business plan during Startup Weekend, a global event where aspiring entrepreneurs build and pitch their projects. The challenge was to create a unique solution that would stand out in a highly competitive environment and address the need for spontaneous, meaningful social connections.
I was one of the main drivers to start the idea, pitching it firstly to all the participants to convince them to join my group.
This project was awarded with the 🏆 Public Prize at that competition, and we were granted the opportunity to develop it further with some support of the Impact Hub Bern, which also became our place to work and meet for the next 6 months from then.
My role and impact
From ideation through launch, I played an integral role in shaping the entire development cycle of Sponties. My responsibilities included:
- Rapid Prototyping: I led the rapid prototyping efforts, translating initial concepts into functional designs within a very limited timeframe. This allowed us to quickly validate ideas and iterate on feedback.
- User Testing & Validation: Even with very limited time we did our best to do a lean design thinking process. I worked closely with the team to incorporate user feedback, ensuring that our solution was resonating all we have learnt so far.
- Pitching & Presentation: I played a key role in crafting and delivering the pitch for Sponties, ensuring the value proposition was clear and compelling. This contributed to the team winning the Public Prize, a testament to the project’s impact and popularity.
Challenge
In just 54 hours, the goal was to take an idea from concept to a functional startup plan during Startup Weekend, a global event where aspiring entrepreneurs build and pitch their projects. The challenge was to create a unique solution that would stand out in a highly competitive environment and address the need for spontaneous, meaningful social connections.
Outcome
We developed Sponties, Switzerland’s first one-to-one platform that connects people with like-minded individuals for shared activities. The platform enables users to find compatible partners quickly and spontaneously, offering a streamlined way to enjoy favorite hobbies with others.
Our efforts were recognized with the Public Prize at Startup Weekend, making Sponties the most popular project among voters. By the end of the event, we had refined the idea and created a compelling pitch deck.
I also believe that the team that got together in that weekend played an enormous role in the success of this idea, big kudos to them.
The idea didn’t
stop there
We continued developing the idea we started at Startup Weekend for another six months. We created a proof of concept (POC) using existing tools and coordinated meetings through a WhatsApp group. At our peak, we had around 200 users actively chatting and connecting for various activities all across Switzerland.
The idea gained some buzz, and I even had the chance to discuss it on a podcast: