Startup Weekends will be held in each of the Maritime Provinces on Nov. 18 to 20, coinciding with the Global Startup Weekend.

More than 200 of these events are taking place around the world in the next two weeks, bringing together a total of 15,000 entrepreneurs in such places as Utrecht, Santa Cruz and Bergen. Three of the locations are the Startup Zone in Charlottetown, the Venn Centre in Moncton and The Collider at Dalhousie University’s Killam Library in Halifax.

In previous years, these simultaneous Startup Weekend events have been the beginning of an international competition, with the winners moving on to the international event by submitting videos of their pitches. But the organizers have decided instead to provide resources for the winning teams, so the emphasis is on growing businesses rather than on a drawn-out competition.

“As our community around the world continues to grow and evolve, GSW will provide more value to organizers, attendees, and communities around the world and we believe this shift will do just that,” said the Global Startup Weekend website.

Overseen by a global organization, Startup Weekends bring together teams of budding entrepreneurs to propose business ideas and build companies over two-and-a-half days.

On the Friday night, participants assemble and pitch their ideas in 60 seconds. After a vote, participants form teams around the chosen ideas.

The newly created companies will then work to refine their ideas and design and build products like websites and apps from Friday to Sunday evening. Then, they will present their final pitches, mock ups and minimal viable products to a panel of judges.

One Startup Weekend will be held at the Venn Centre, 735 Main Street, Moncton. You can register here.

At the same time, another will be held at The Collider, Room 2600, Killam Library, Dalhousie University. People can sign up for the Halifax event here. 

And here is the registration tab for the event at the Startup Zone at 31 Queen Street, Charlottetown.