Startup Weekend
What could you build in a weekend?
You don’t need a startup. You just need to show up.
The Experience
What is Startup Weekend?
Startup Weekend, powered by Open Range and Techstars Omaha, is a collaborative experience where ideas turn into something real in just 48 hours.
You’ll pitch ideas, form teams, and start building right away with support from mentors and other participants. Along the way, you’ll test, refine, and push your idea further than you thought possible in a single weekend.
Yes, there’s a final pitch. But this isn’t about competition as much as it is about momentum.
Startup Weekend is 48 hours of building something from scratch, alongside a room full of curious, motivated people.
Some people arrive with ideas. Others show up to help bring them to life. Either way, everyone starts from the same place.
By the end of the weekend, you won’t just have an idea. You’ll have something tangible—and pitchable!
When
June 5, 2026 5:30pm – 10:00pm
June 6, 2026 7:00am – 10:00pm
June 7, 2026 7:00am – 4:30pm
Where
Catalyst Omaha
4601 Catalyst Court, Omaha, NE 68106
Why you should join us
Try the startup experience without needing the perfect plan.
Find your people
Meet collaborators, potential co-founders, and future teammates who are just as curious as you are.
Build something real
Go from idea to prototype to pitch in a single weekend.
Try something new without pressure
No expectations. No perfect plan required. Just a chance to start.
Learn by doing
You’ll move faster in 48 hours than most ideas do in months.
Tickets
Secure Your Spot
Do you have the next billion-dollar dollar startup idea? Get access to skilled individuals, mentors, resources, endless coffee, and meals to fuel your fire.
Student
- Breakfast x2
- Lunch x2
- Dinner (Saturday)
- Unlimited coffee
- Drink tickets*
- Swag bag
- Free mentoring
Builder
- Breakfast x2
- Lunch x2
- Dinner (Saturday)
- Unlimited coffee
- Drink tickets*
- Swag bag
- Free mentoring
Sprint
- Breakfast x2
- Lunch x2
- Dinner (Saturday)
- Unlimited coffee
- Swag bag
- Dedicated space
Corporate
- Breakfast x2
- Lunch x2
- Dinner (Saturday)
- Unlimited coffee
- Swag bag
- Dedicated space
Schedule
The 48-hour sprint
Friday
- 5:30pm 📋 Drinks & check-in
- 6:30pm 🎤 Welcome
- 7:00pm ⚾ Pitches & voting
- 8:00pm 👥 Team formation
- 10:00pm 🚪 Doors lock
Saturday
- 7:00am🧘🏼♀️ Sunrise yoga
- 8:00am 🍳 Breakfast & panel
- 9:00am 🏗️ Team time
- 11:00am 🤝🏼 Mentor meetings
- 12:00pm 🍔 Lunch & panel
- 1:00pm 🤝🏼 Mentor meetings
- 4:00pm 🏗️ Team time
- 5:00pm 🤝🏼 Mentor meetings
- 6:00pm 🍝 Dinner & panel
- 7:00pm 🤝🏼 Mentor meetings
- 8:00pm 🏗️ Team time
- 10:00pm 🚪 Doors lock
Sunday
- 7:00am 💭 Morning meditation
- 8:00am 🍳 Breakfast + panel
- 9:00am 🏗️ Team time
- 12:00pm 🍔 Lunch & pitch tips
- 1:00pm 📢 Pitch prep
- 3:00pm ⚾️ Pitch competition
- 4:00pm 🏆 Awards & wrap-up
Startup Weekend Panelists + Crew
Laurel Oetken
CEO & President | Open Range
Event Co-Lead + Moderator
Jocelyn Stange
Events & Programming | Open Range
Event Lead
Kacie Hughes
Marketing Consultant | Open Range
Marketing + Media
Teresa Friesen
Founder & CEO | SheMate
Venue Manager
Alyssa Cave
Nebraska Startup Academy
Investor Relations
Ravan Charles
Founder & CEO | Griot Labs
Founder Relations
Shelby Strattan
Investment Manager | Invest Nebraska
Investor Relations
Jack Sellwood
Founder & CEO | Grapple
Speaker
Ann Schulte
Founder & CEO | plexus
Founder Relations
Alyssa Kropp
Head of Sales | Strider
Speaker & Mentor
Brittany Wozny
CFO | Ervin & Smith
Speaker
Jodi Kryzuma
Author & Business Coach
Mentor
Kimberly Bailey
VP of Marketing | Alpaca
Speaker & Mentor
Molly Huyck
Founder | SET the Bar
Mentor
Nancy Williams
Managing Partner | Block27 Consulting
Mentor
Ana Lopez Shalla
Workforce Development | UNL
Mentor
Devon Seacrest
Founder & CEO | codebuddy
Speaker
Jean Douchey
Founder & CEO | Think First
Mentor
Joshua Hample
Founder & CEO | Andover Analytics
Speaker
Joe Petsick
Co-Founder & CEO | Arctic
Speaker
Manny Quevedo
Managing Partner | MOVE
Judge
Brooke Lehman
Employee Engagement | Workshop
Mentor
Noni Williams
Chief Data Officer | BCBS
Mentor
Sponsors
Backed by organizations that believe in builders
Startup Weekend is made possible by organizers and partners helping create space, momentum, and opportunity for founders to show up and build.
Organizers
Disruptor
Innovator
Accelerator
FAQ
Everything you need to know before Startup Weekend
Whether you’re coming with an idea, joining a team, or just curious what to expect, here are the answers to the most common questions.
Before the Weekend
Nope. Some people come with ideas, others come to help build them. Everyone starts from scratch.
Not at all. You’ll meet people and form teams at the start of the weekend. Teams should have diverse skill sets to develop a strong minimum viable product by Sunday.
Startup Weekend is designed for a mix of people, including:
- Founders and aspiring founders
- Designers, developers, and marketers
- Students and career switchers
- Anyone curious about building something
If you’re even a little interested, you’ll fit right in.
You’ll pitch ideas, form teams, and spend 48 hours building something real. At the end, teams present what they’ve created.
No, but pitching is encouraged. You can pitch a brand-new idea or one you’ve just thought of at the event. Pre-developed ideas are discouraged.
Yes. Participants are expected to attend all three days to ensure a complete experience and minimize disruptions for their team.
We recommend purchasing your ticket in advance so the team can plan food, coffee, supplies, and swag for the weekend.
Participants are responsible for their own accommodations and transportation. Email jocelyn.stange@openrange.org if you need recommendations.
- Laptop and charger
- Notepad and pen
- Business cards
- Phone for photos and networking
- An open mind and a give-first attitude
- Lots of energy
- Research the problem you want to solve
- Practice your 60-second pitch
- Learn what goes into building a startup
All sales are final and no refund will be issued.
During the Weekend
- All meals throughout the weekend
- Unlimited coffee
- WiFi and workspace
- Mentorship and guidance
- Swag
- A real idea or early prototype
- New collaborators, maybe even a co-founder
- Hands-on experience building quickly
- A better sense of what you can create
Friday: Networking, icebreaker, speaker, 60-second pitches, and team formation.
Saturday: Teamwork, mentor sessions, and short workshops.
Sunday: Final preparations, pitch practice, and presentations to judges.
There is a final pitch, and one team will receive:
- Non-dilutive cash and potential investment opportunities
- In-kind services to help grow the business
- PR through media and partner platforms
All business ideas and industries are welcome. The event is tech-oriented, so having a tech-related deliverable like a website or app is recommended.
Participants own whatever they individually create, but because there are no confidentiality or non-compete agreements, you should treat all work and ideas as being in the public domain.
To avoid future legal “muddiness,” teams intending to launch should either form a formal legal entity or simply start their development from scratch after the event.
No. Startup Weekend is for building new businesses from scratch. Existing businesses will be disqualified.
- Business Model: feasibility, scalability, and revenue generation
- Customer Validation: market research and user interviews
- Execution and Design: MVP development and usability
After the Weekend
Continuing the project is entirely up to you and your team.
- Join the Startup Weekend planning committee
- Share your story on social media and tag Open Range and Techstars Omaha
- Apply for the Techstars Founder Catalyst Program
Contact jocelyn.stange@openrange.org.