In its fourth year, this free, annual, week-long, entrepreneur-led, volunteer-run, community-focused conference brings together the region’s thinkers, dreamers, doers, makers & entrepreneurs in venues located across downtown Dayton. All experiences are welcome — whether a seasoned entrepreneur or new to the community, there is space to jump in.
“We’re excited to roll out our most community-driven conference yet,” Techstars Startup Week Dayton organizer John Owen said. “You asked and we responded — with new specialized tracks and evening sessions, there’s something for everyone.”
Last year, about 900 people attended 83 sessions & events featuring 88 unique speakers over the course of the week. This year, we’re on track to host more than 125 sessions featuring more than 100 speakers.
Base Camp this year will again be the Steam Plant, located at 617 E. 3rd St. in downtown Dayton.
The Steam Plant will host talks that appeal across industry lines — how-to sessions for entrepreneurs covering marketing, branding, legal business needs, sales & customers, funding & finance, and inspirational founder stories. Breakfast and lunch is provided each day, catered by Dayton food startups and businesses.
But this year, Startup Week will also feature industry-specific talks and workshops held in locations across downtown Dayton.
We put out a speaker call and tapped more than two dozen experts across the region to help organize these special tracks. As a result, food industry entrepreneurs will gather at Second Street Market on Monday afternoon, medtech entrepreneurs will gather at the 444 Innovation Hub on Wednesday, arts & music entrepreneurs will gather at The Brightside Music & Events Venue on Wednesday afternoon, defense entrepreneurs will gather at the 444 Innovation Hub on Thursday, and more.
Friday, June 7, will be the conference’s first community day as businesses along Third Street and Wayne Avenue open their doors to host workshops on niche topics including co-op opportunities, solopreneurship, retail options, social entrepreneurship, founder wellness and leadership.
Can’t get a day off? Techstars Dayton Startup Week has also added evening workshops this year. Topics range from building your business plan to paying yourself in these later workshops, held at Dayton Metro Library and The Brightside.
And don’t forget, Startup Week is all about connecting — our evening social events range from community pitch nights to happy hours to a startup market that will feature products, food and music from our city’s entrepreneurs! We’ll close the week on Friday with a business crawl through Dayton’s Oregon District, with built-in stops to help you build your own picnic basket for Friday night’s free concert at Levitt Pavilion.
Don’t want to wait until Monday, June 3 to start connecting? Catch the 2nd Annual Gem City Entrepreneur Resource Fair, Friday, May 31 from 5:30-8pm at Central State Dayton West, 840 Germantown St.
In December of 2017, eight Dayton young black professionals hosted the first resource fair, described as “one of the most successful community-wide resource/networking events for millennial and minority entrepreneurs,” organizer Ke Daniels said. This year, the resource fair will kick off Techstars Startup Week Dayton 2019!
Techstars Startup Week Dayton 2019 is made possible through support from title sponsors The Entrepreneurs Center and Wright State Research Institute and official media sponsor, Cox Media Group.
Make plans now to attend!
