54 hours
$5,000 prize pool
50 founders
APRIL 10-12, 2026
APRIL 10-12, 2026
APRIL 10-12, 2026
Build
Build a startup from scratch in one weekend
Pitch
Pitch your startup to top industry mentors
Learn
Get feedback from experienced entrepreneurs
Validate
Test your idea with real users
54
54
hours to shape the future.
hours to shape the future.
Chicago Startup Weekend, powered by Future Founders, is a 54-hour hackathon bringing together entrepreneurs of all experience levels to transform groundbreaking ideas into reality.
Participants will engage in pitching, business model creation, prototyping, designing, and market validation—all within a supportive team environment and with guidance from successful entrepreneurs and top industry leaders.
Chicago Startup Weekend, powered by Future Founders, is a 54-hour hackathon bringing together entrepreneurs of all experience levels to transform groundbreaking ideas into reality.
Participants will engage in pitching, business model creation, prototyping, designing, and market validation—all within a supportive team environment and with guidance from successful entrepreneurs and top industry leaders.
Agenda
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
5:30pm - 6:30pm
📝
Registration + Networking Dinner
6:30pm - 6:45pm
🎤
Welcome Speech
6:45pm - 7:00pm
🎤
Speaker
7:00pm - 8:00pm
⚾️
Pitch your Idea!
8:00pm - 8:30pm
🗳️
Voting for Ideas
8:30pm - 9:00pm
🛠️
Team Planning & First Brainstorm
9:00pm - 11:00pm
💫
Work Time
11:00pm
🚪
Doors Lock
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
5:30pm - 6:30pm
📝
Registration + Networking Dinner
6:30pm - 6:45pm
🎤
Welcome Speech
6:45pm - 7:00pm
🎤
Speaker
7:00pm - 8:00pm
⚾️
Pitch your Idea!
8:00pm - 8:30pm
🗳️
Voting for Ideas
8:30pm - 9:00pm
🛠️
Team Planning & First Brainstorm
9:00pm - 11:00pm
💫
Work Time
11:00pm
🚪
Doors Lock
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
5:30pm - 6:30pm
📝
Registration + Networking Dinner
6:30pm - 6:45pm
🎤
Welcome Speech
6:45pm - 7:00pm
🎤
Speaker
7:00pm - 8:00pm
⚾️
Pitch your Idea!
8:00pm - 8:30pm
🗳️
Voting for Ideas
8:30pm - 9:00pm
🛠️
Team Planning & First Brainstorm
9:00pm - 11:00pm
💫
Work Time
11:00pm
🚪
Doors Lock
tickets + attendance
tickets + attendance
only 50 spots
only 50 spots
submit application by march 1st (11:59pm cst)
hear your acceptance by march 3rd (11:59pm cst)
confirm your spot with a ticket between 4th and 11th
Organizers
Meet the team
Meet the team
Recruitment
Chair
Mayank Mehta
Marketing
Chair
Nathan Goswick
Testimonials
NeuroKind is an AI-powered neurodivergence screener for ADHD, autism, OCD, dyslexia, and more.
NeuroKind is an AI-powered neurodivergence screener for ADHD, autism, OCD, dyslexia, and more.
Startup Weekend was a turning point for me. I’m applying to Techstars because you helped me see this wasn’t just a weekend project; it could be a real company with real impact. I’m grateful for the inspiration and the nudge in the right direction. It meant more than you know.
Alysha K., Founder, Neurokind AI
Zentry Pass helps small and mid-sized businesses offer flexible workspace access as a competitive employee benefit.
Zentry Pass helps small and mid-sized businesses offer flexible workspace access as a competitive employee benefit.
Zentry Pass helps small and mid-sized businesses offer flexible workspace access as a competitive employee benefit.
Chicago Startup Weekend was a fun, high-impact experience. Mentors at the event packed a ton of startup insight into a short amount of time & the founder community was amazing to connect with. We pitched our startup there, and since then we’ve grown from a local pilot into a national brand that’s still scaling.
Karly Lamm, CEO, Zentry Pass
Chicago Startup Weekend was a fun, high-impact experience. Mentors at the event packed a ton of startup insight into a short amount of time & the founder community was amazing to connect with. We pitched our startup there, and since then we’ve grown from a local pilot into a national brand that’s still scaling.
Karly Lamm, CEO, Zentry Pass
Chicago Startup Weekend was a fun, high-impact experience. Mentors at the event packed a ton of startup insight into a short amount of time & the founder community was amazing to connect with. We pitched our startup there, and since then we’ve grown from a local pilot into a national brand that’s still scaling.
Karly Lamm, CEO, Zentry Pass
Onboard AI is an onboarding assistant that helps new hires get up to speed more efficiently.
Onboard AI is an onboarding assistant that helps new hires get up to speed more efficiently.
Onboard AI is an onboarding assistant that helps new hires get up to speed more efficiently.
Want to know more?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this event for me?
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, the answer is most likely yes! Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or still new to the startup scene, you’ll find value in this opportunity to build a startup and network with fellow founder-minded folks. Our aim is to create a collaborative and inclusive space for sharing, learning, building, and having fun.
Is this event for me?
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, the answer is most likely yes! Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or still new to the startup scene, you’ll find value in this opportunity to build a startup and network with fellow founder-minded folks. Our aim is to create a collaborative and inclusive space for sharing, learning, building, and having fun.
Is this event for me?
If you are interested in entrepreneurship, the answer is most likely yes! Whether you're an experienced entrepreneur or still new to the startup scene, you’ll find value in this opportunity to build a startup and network with fellow founder-minded folks. Our aim is to create a collaborative and inclusive space for sharing, learning, building, and having fun.
Does my residence need to be in Illinois to attend?
No! You are welcome to come from anywhere, as long as you are in-person in Chicago during the event.
Does my residence need to be in Illinois to attend?
No! You are welcome to come from anywhere, as long as you are in-person in Chicago during the event.
Does my residence need to be in Illinois to attend?
No! You are welcome to come from anywhere, as long as you are in-person in Chicago during the event.
Do I have to participate all three days?
Yes, participants are expected to attend all three days of the event to maximize your experience and minimize disruptions for your team. Please only register if you are available for the entire duration of the startup weekend.
Do I have to participate all three days?
Yes, participants are expected to attend all three days of the event to maximize your experience and minimize disruptions for your team. Please only register if you are available for the entire duration of the startup weekend.
Do I have to participate all three days?
Yes, participants are expected to attend all three days of the event to maximize your experience and minimize disruptions for your team. Please only register if you are available for the entire duration of the startup weekend.
Am I expected to work 54 hours?
No, but your team may choose to work late into the night to polish up your MVP or pitch presentation. The more effort you put into the startup weekend, the more you’ll get out–BUT our focus is on productivity, not exhaustion.
Am I expected to work 54 hours?
No, but your team may choose to work late into the night to polish up your MVP or pitch presentation. The more effort you put into the startup weekend, the more you’ll get out–BUT our focus is on productivity, not exhaustion.
Am I expected to work 54 hours?
No, but your team may choose to work late into the night to polish up your MVP or pitch presentation. The more effort you put into the startup weekend, the more you’ll get out–BUT our focus is on productivity, not exhaustion.
Do I have to pitch an idea to attend?
No, but pitching is encouraged! You can pitch something you’ve thought about in preparation for the event or anything that comes to you spontaneously during the initial pitch session. Pre-developed ideas with extensive planning are discouraged.
Do I have to pitch an idea to attend?
No, but pitching is encouraged! You can pitch something you’ve thought about in preparation for the event or anything that comes to you spontaneously during the initial pitch session. Pre-developed ideas with extensive planning are discouraged.
Do I have to pitch an idea to attend?
No, but pitching is encouraged! You can pitch something you’ve thought about in preparation for the event or anything that comes to you spontaneously during the initial pitch session. Pre-developed ideas with extensive planning are discouraged.
Can I pitch my existing business?
No. Chicago Startup Weekend is intended for ideation and building new businesses from scratch. Existing businesses will be disqualified.
Can I pitch my existing business?
No. Chicago Startup Weekend is intended for ideation and building new businesses from scratch. Existing businesses will be disqualified.
Can I pitch my existing business?
No. Chicago Startup Weekend is intended for ideation and building new businesses from scratch. Existing businesses will be disqualified.
How do I prepare?
In preparation for the event, we encourage you to come with a 60-second pitch in mind for a solution you are interested in building. You can also familiarize yourself with frameworks like Lean Canvas or BMC to help you plan and digital tools like Notion, Figma, and other tools listed in this startup toolkit, to assist you during the event. If you’re coming from out of town please be sure to secure your place to stay prior to the weekend. Contestants traveling in for the event will not be paired with others needing housing that weekend. Housing is not provided for the weekend. Most importantly, make sure to rest up so you can bring your full energy! All you’ll need during the weekend itself is a laptop, charger, an idea, and yourself!
How do I prepare?
In preparation for the event, we encourage you to come with a 60-second pitch in mind for a solution you are interested in building. You can also familiarize yourself with frameworks like Lean Canvas or BMC to help you plan and digital tools like Notion, Figma, and other tools listed in this startup toolkit, to assist you during the event. If you’re coming from out of town please be sure to secure your place to stay prior to the weekend. Contestants traveling in for the event will not be paired with others needing housing that weekend. Housing is not provided for the weekend. Most importantly, make sure to rest up so you can bring your full energy! All you’ll need during the weekend itself is a laptop, charger, an idea, and yourself!
How do I prepare?
In preparation for the event, we encourage you to come with a 60-second pitch in mind for a solution you are interested in building. You can also familiarize yourself with frameworks like Lean Canvas or BMC to help you plan and digital tools like Notion, Figma, and other tools listed in this startup toolkit, to assist you during the event. If you’re coming from out of town please be sure to secure your place to stay prior to the weekend. Contestants traveling in for the event will not be paired with others needing housing that weekend. Housing is not provided for the weekend. Most importantly, make sure to rest up so you can bring your full energy! All you’ll need during the weekend itself is a laptop, charger, an idea, and yourself!
What should be accomplished by Sunday?
By the end of the weekend, we expect teams to have validated their idea with real users, built a functional MVP, and developed a business model for future growth.
What should be accomplished by Sunday?
By the end of the weekend, we expect teams to have validated their idea with real users, built a functional MVP, and developed a business model for future growth.
What should be accomplished by Sunday?
By the end of the weekend, we expect teams to have validated their idea with real users, built a functional MVP, and developed a business model for future growth.
