ORANGE, Calif. – Chapman University in Orange, CA, is hosting Startup Weekend Orange County for budding entrepreneurs November 22 through 23, 2013. This is the fifth Startup Weekend Orange County hosted by Chapman with the three-day event selling out each time.

Startup Weekend is an intense 54 hour event that focuses on building a web or mobile application which could form the basis of a credible business over the course of a weekend. The experience brings together people with different skillsets – primarily software developers, graphics designers and business people – to build applications and develop a commercial case around them.

Participants from all age groups and backgrounds come with ideas for a new product and are “locked in” for 54 hours, in which time they must create teams across such disciplines as designers, engineers, and marketers; formulate a business plan, and create a pitch for their product. Throughout the weekend, coaches and mentors are available to help.

“Participants arrive Friday night and by Sunday evening, they must pitch their idea to venture capitalists and angel investors,” said Richard Sudek, Ph.D., director of Chapman’s Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Business Ethics, and also chairman emeritus Tech Coast Angels. “Participants may walk away with a lead on investment money for their idea, however, more importantly, people will engage in a transformational entrepreneurial process that that is unlike anything they have experienced,” said Sudek who is also a mentor and judge for Startup Weekend Orange County.

The event has exceeded more than 100 participants the previous four times and event organizers expect this event to fill up too.

“I am excited for Startup Weekend to be holding its 5th event here in Orange County,” said Nicole Provansal, event organizer. “The entrepreneurial community in OC is really beginning to thrive and Startup Weekend will only continue to bring the community together.”

Startup Weekend Orange County takes place November 22 – 24, at Chapman University’s Sandhu Conference Center, Orange, CA, 92866. More information can be found by clicking:  http://orangecounty.startupweekend.org/

About Startup Weekend

Startup Weekend™ in a non-profit organization that supports the development and expansion of entrepreneurship through events worldwide that educate aspiring entrepreneurs by immersing them in the process of moving an idea to market. Startup Weekend has built a network of more than 100,000 alumni, thousands of volunteer organizers and 100 trained facilitators spread across more than 400 cities in more than 100 countries. Original founder Marc Nager is also a Chapman alumnus and is now based out of Seattle. Kauffman Foundation, Gates Foundation, Google For Entrepreneurs and Microsoft are sponsors. For more information, visit www.startupweekend.org

About the Ralph W. Leatherby Center for Entrepreneurship and Ethics

Established in 1995, Chapman University’s Leatherby Center offers one of the nation’s most respected programs for entrepreneurial young men and women.  The center aims to prepare and inspire principled, dynamic entrepreneurs whose ideas improve lives and solve important problems.  Through innovative courses and real-world leadership, the center provides students with access to a range of resources, including professional mentoring, entrepreneurial internships, a multi-university network, community resources, events, speakers, research, professional groups, competitions and boot camps. Ranked as the #13 Undergraduate Entrepreneurship Program by Business Week, the Leatherby Center is unique in its approach to connecting students with inventors, investors and real-world entrepreneurs. For more information, visit www.chapman.edu/launch

Consistently ranked among the top universities in the West, Chapman University provides a uniquely personalized and interdisciplinary educational experience to highly qualified students. Our programs encourage innovation, creativity and collaboration, and focus on developing global citizen-leaders who are distinctively prepared to improve their community and their world.

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