Startup Weekend is an intense 54 hour event which focuses on building a web or mobile application which could form the basis of a credible business over the course of a weekend.
The weekend brings together people with different skillsets – primarily software developers, graphics designers and business people – to build applications and develop a commercial case around them.
The 2011 Dublin Startup Weekend took place between Feb 25th to Feb 27th. 21 ideas were pitches, the crowd voted for their favourite eight app ideas. 8 teams were formed to build out propositions.
Exsibit.com, a platform for private galleries to publish information on exhibitions and paintings, emerged as the ultimate prize winner. Exsibit.com intends to target the London marketplace, as the city has so many high-end private galleries that tend to exhibit emerging artists.
The 8 teams included:
# MyWebText: a solution for integration of facebook messaging and webtext
# SalesMate: a solution for road warrior salesman which is an iPad brochure which integrates with a purchasing system
# Gift It: a system which can enable a gifter to give multiple options in a tasteful way to a giftee, reducing the likelihood that the giftee would receive an unwanted gift
# Netocracy: a system to enable citizens to measure the performance of their government
# Doorstep Diary: a solution for people to easily record information from the doorstep (people who call out to homes for jobs, canvassers, etc)
# Eater.ie: a restaurant focused service which can enable restaurants to offer attractive deals to loyal customers
# Change.me: a simple mobile app which enables a person to track their bad habits (smoking, drinking, carousing with women, etc) so they can improve their behaviour
# Exsibit.com: a platform for galleries to publish exhibitions, art lovers to find specific paintings, learn what exhibitions are taking place around them, experience the exhibition online