The Department of Management in University of Vaasa organizes in co-operation with BusinessFactory The Startup Camp for university students interested in enterprise 31.5–2.6.2012. During the three day event the attendees shared ideas, formed teams, built products and launched startups.
The aim of The Startup Camp was to support attendees to create new business ideas and to develop those ideas viable by using LEAN Startup Methodologies.
– Agile development, quick prototypes, launching the product with minimal resources as well as user-friendly further development are the essential part of the event, tells Charlotta Sirén, the main organizer of the event.
The event began with open pitches on Thursday 31.5. Attendees brought their ideas and inspired others to join their team. Attendees took a real interest in the challenges and it was evident they were truly willing to further develop the ideas.
– It has been great to bring in entrepreneur ideas we have implemented in DC to Finnish culture. Lean Startup guides to action and continuous testing of business idea instead of over planning. This approach has produced several success stories in the United States, tells the host of the Camp, research visitor Kevin May from the George Washington University.
Over Friday 1.6. and Saturday 2.6. the teams focused on customer development, validating team ideas, practicing LEAN Startup Methodologies and building a minimal viable product. On Saturday evening teams presented their prototypes and received valuable feedback from a panel of experts.
Two mentors from BusinessFactory and seven students from Vaasa University of Applied Sciences participated in the Camp.
Photo: Juho Ylimäki