Bayleigh Rodgers (left) and Stephanie Leonard (right) of Bulu Box compete in Monday’s Startup Olympics.
Those who attended the inaugural Lincoln Startup Week last year will remember the breathless excitement that surrounded it. Organizers and attendees alike seemed a bit awestruck whenever they talked about how the week had rather spontaneously come together.
“It just sort of happened,” said Social Assurance‘s Ben Pankonin while presenting Startup Weekend Lincoln prizes on Sunday night.
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In its sophomore turn, the week has grown up a bit, expanding to 17 events spread over nine days, including Monday night’s Startup Olympics.
Organizer Nathan Fryzek said the idea was “loaned” by the startup community in Austin, Texas, via Bart Dillashaw. The week’s planners wanted to incorporate a family-friendly social event to Startup Week, and the games fit the bill.
Teams of three competed in three events—bowling, miniature golf and a 10-minute startup quiz—at Lincoln’s Champions Fun Center. Bonus points were awarded to teams with members from more than one startup and to teams with all members wearing startup tees. Competitors included NMotion, FUSE Coworking, Hudl, Bulu Box and GolfStatus.
Teams Raptors in the Kitchen and The Steez-Bots finished in a tie, so the first-place trophy will be decided by tiebreaker: a left-handed arm wrestling match to be held this week at FUSE Coworking.
According to the rules, the second-place team must wear the winning team’s startup T-shirts for the duration of Startup Week. However, five of the six individuals on the two teams were from Bulu Box.
Lincoln Startup Week continues through Friday. See a complete schedule on the Lincoln Startup Week website.
Credits: Photos by Patti Vannoy.
