Startup Weekend Women Columbus is part of a global movement powered by Techstars — uniting 60+ cities and tens of thousands of innovators for International Women’s Day.
Over three days, women founders, builders, designers, engineers, and innovators come together to pitch ideas, form teams, and build real startups in just 54 hours.
This is not a conference. It is a hands-on, high-impact innovation sprint that activates the next generation of women-led companies.
Startup Weekend Women is part of Techstars’ global initiative supporting thousands of early-stage founders across 150+ countries. Techstars has helped launch over 7,000 startups — including Zapier, EasyTaxi, and Carousell — and continues to be one of the most respected accelerators in the world with a portfolio valued at more than $100B.
Columbus now joins 60+ global cities hosting Startup Weekend Women in celebration of International Women’s Day 2026.
All founders get access to Theanna to validate, build, and launch their startup.
Startup Weekend Women is a hands-on, immersive experience where you will:
• Pitch an idea (optional)
• Form a team
• Build a prototype or MVP
• Validate your concept with real customers
• Receive expert mentorship
• Attend workshopsLearn lean startup methodology
• Present to a panel of judges
• Compete for recognition + prizes
No experience needed. No idea required. All backgrounds welcome.
Build Skills. Build Confidence. Build Your Company.
• Learn how to take an idea from concept → prototype
• Gain real entrepreneurial experience
• Meet collaborators, co-founders, and mentors
• Join a global community of women building impactful companies
• Gain access to tools, workshops, and expert coaching
• Use Theanna to guide your weekend and accelerate progress
During the weekend, you’ll learn:
• Lean startup methodology
• Customer discovery
• Problem-solution fit
• Business model fundamentals
• How to build an MVP
• How to prepare a compelling pitch
• Teamwork + rapid execution
• How to use AI tools like Theanna to accelerate
Startup Weekend Women is a fast-paced, immersive experience where you’ll move from idea to prototype in just 54 hours. Over three days, you’ll pitch, build, validate, and present your solution with the support of mentors, workshops, and Theanna — the platform guiding your progress from start to finish.
Full schedule will be released closer to the event.
Join the Columbus tech community for Opening Night, vote on the ideas, and celebrate with us at the final pitches.
Join the Columbus tech community for a full 54-hour sprint to pitch, build, and launch a startup idea using Theanna.
No. Many participants come without an idea.
On Friday night, anyone who wants to pitch will have 60 seconds to share their concept. If you don’t pitch, you can join a team working on an idea that excites you. All ideas selected for the weekend must be pitched by a woman or femme-identifying founder.
No. Teams need all skill sets — design, marketing, operations, research, storytelling, and product strategy.Technical participants are helpful, but not required. Many winning teams are led by non-technical founders.
Yes — men are welcome to participate as teammates, mentors, and supporters. However, only ideas pitched by women or femme-identifying founders will move forward into team formation. This ensures the weekend centers women-led innovation, in alignment with the global Startup Weekend Women format.
Any idea is welcome as long as it is:
• New (not an existing business you’ve already launched)
• Buildable within a weekend
• Led by a woman or femme-identifying founder
Ideas can be:
• Tech startups
• Consumer products
• Marketplaces
• SaaS tools
• Social or impact-driven concepts
• AI-powered tools
• Hardware concepts (as long as you can prototype)
The goal is to explore problems, build quickly, and validate fast — not perfect the final product.
Your registration covers:
• Full 54-hour program
• Participation in all workshops and mentor sessions
• Team formation and collaboration
• Feedback from experts, investors, and industry leaders
• All meals and refreshments throughout the weekend
• Access to Theanna (free for the entire event)
• Pitch coaching
• Final presentation + feedback from judges
Theanna is an AI-powered execution platform used by all teams throughout the weekend. Every participant receives free access for the full event.
Teams use Theanna to:
• Set and track milestones
• Capture customer research and insights
• Organize tasks
• Document progress
• Measure early traction
• Prepare Sunday pitch content
• Receive real-time guidance on what to do next
Think of it as your startup co-pilot for the entire 3-day sprint.
• Laptop + charger
• Notepad or digital notes app
• Comfortable clothes
• An open mind and willingness to collaborate
Optional but helpful:
• Water bottle
• Headphones
• Any design, prototyping, or brainstorming tools you prefer
Everything else will be provided.
Team formation happens on Friday night:
1. Participants pitch ideas (optional).
2. Everyone votes on their favorite concepts.
3. The top ideas move forward.
4. Participants gather around the ideas they want to build.
5. Teams self-organize based on skills, interest, and team fit.
Most teams have 4–8 people.
If your idea is not chosen, you can join another team whose idea inspires you. Many participants end up working on ideas they didn’t pitch — and still gain enormous value.
Many do — and some turn into real startups.
You’ll also receive ongoing resources through Theanna and the greater Techstars community if you choose to keep building.
Yes. Startup Weekend is intentionally immersive — the energy, teamwork, and momentum comes from building together for 54 hours. If you absolutely must miss a portion, coordinate with your team.
We’re looking for partners who believe in our mission and want to see the tech ecosystem transformed with more women building companies, leading innovation, and shaping the future of Ohio’s economy.
As a sponsor, you’ll be a visible champion of women founders and play an active role throughout the weekend — including speaking opportunities, mentorship, judge participation, and connecting directly with the builders shaping tomorrow’s companies.
Your support fuels real economic mobility, real innovation, and real outcomes for women in tech.
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