3 Day Startup Program Information Doc

DAY STARTUP
How Students Get Started

3 Day Startup (3DS) teaches entrepreneurial skills to

university students in an extreme hands-on environment.
This proven program provides students the tools they need
to start successful companies. Over 5000+ 3DS alumni from 100 programs
across 5 continentsincluding programs at Harvard, MIT, Technion and Peking
Universityhave started more than 71 companies that have collectively
raised $18 million in investor capital. The 3DS program creates a living
entrepreneurship laboratory on university campuses bringing together
students ranging from freshmen to freshly-minted PhDs; backgrounds include
computer science, business, engineering, law, design, and others. Participants
gain experience in cross-disciplinary collaboration, brainstorming and
ideation, group productivity, ad-hoc leadership and decision-making under
severe time constraints.
3 Day Startup | Austin Technology Incubator 3925 W Braker Ln Austin, TX 78759 | www.3daystartup.org
3 Day Startup is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

HISTORY

In January 2008, a group of graduate students founded 3 Day Startup at The University of Texas at Austin,
which is the home of the flagship 3DS program. The program has spread from semester programs at the
University of Texas at Austin to schools throughout the United States. Outside of the United States, 3 Day
Startup operates successful programs in China, Thailand, Singapore, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana,
Israel, Qatar, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, France, and Portugal.

PROGRAM GOALS

3 Day Startup is designed with two specific goals in mind: kick-start new student-run companies and build
entrepreneurial capabilities in students and their university communities.

BEFORE THE 3 DAYS: RECRUITING AND WORKSHOPS

Before the 3 day program begins, the organizers of 3DS solicit applications from across the university,
often receiving 200 applications from 25+ different majors. After reviewing applications and conducting
interviews, the top 45 students are invited to participate in the program. Two weeks prior, 3DS organizers
host workshops on how to recognize opportunities in the marketplace, how opportunities differ from
solutions, and how to execute the customer-focused 3DS model. 3 Day Startup alumni have succeeded
precisely because they have applied a relentless focus on making products and services based on actual
customer needs.

THE 3 DAYS BEGIN

On the first day, the participants arrive at the 3DS program site motivated to start new companies:
students bring pre-built prototypes or simply an idea for a startup. These projects are usually at early stages;
feasibility and business models are unproven. In the first few hours, participants discuss and evaluate their
business ideas in smaller groups. During this analysis phase, mentors from around the community provide
their insights. Later that evening, participants vote on which ideas (usually 5-7) will become the focus
of the remaining time. 3DS facilitators then lead students through a process where students form teams
around the remaining ideas. These self-directed program components (idea voting, team formation) ensure
that students feel a sense of buy-in and commitment for the ideas they work on.

3 Day Startup | Austin Technology Incubator 3925 W Braker Ln Austin, TX 78759 | www.3daystartup.org
3 Day Startup is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

PRACTICING INNOVATION AND TALKING TO CUSTOMERS

Fueled by free food and caffeine, participants convert their abstract notions of entrepreneurship into the
actual practice of innovation late on the evening of day one. With help from mentors, business students
model revenue sources and test marketing strategies, computer science students build prototypes, and
designers create branding and user interfaces. On the second day, everyone engages potential customers on
the streets and over the phones to better understand the need their venture addresses. Day two and three are
packed with actionthese days are a microcosm of startup life, with the highs of completing prototypes and
the lows of discovering better-positioned competitors.

FINAL PITCHES AND PROTOTYPE DEMOS

The ideas that have survived thus far are revealed at the pitches and prototype demos on the final day.
A panel of venture capitalists, angel investors, and accomplished entrepreneurs offers feedback. The
presentations include functioning prototypes, beta customer responses, and teams comprised of highly
skilled and motivated students. The feedback is constructive and extensive: panelists ask tough questions,
identify strengths and weaknesses, and give candid advice for the road ahead.

VALUE BEYOND THE 3 DAYS: SUCCESS KIT + GLOBAL NETWORK

Students leave their 3DS experience with the skills, vision, and products and services necessary to accelerate
the growth of their businesses. The benefit to participants and their communities is ongoing. 3DS provides
access to a world-class network of mentors that can provide guidance in areas such as venture capital,
product design, and scaling new ventures. 3DS alumni receive the 3DS Success Kit: a package of services
vital to an early stage startup including free hosting from Rackspace, the Microsoft BizSpark/DreamSpark
suite, deeply discounted incorporation packages from DLA Piper, Ash Mauryas Running Lean, the FluidUI
prototyping tool, and more.

3 Day Startup | Austin Technology Incubator 3925 W Braker Ln Austin, TX 78759 | www.3daystartup.org
3 Day Startup is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

3 DAY STARTUP GLOBAL BY THE NUMBERS

100 programs across five continents, 71 startups collectively raising $18 MM
investment, 27 3DS-originated companies accepted to accelerator/incubator programs,
5000+ 3DS alumni from 40+ different majors.
UNIVERSITY ENTREPRENEURSHIP ECOSYSTEM NETWORKS

Beyond relationships with students at dozens of college campuses, 3 Day Startup maintains deep ongoing
ties to organizations important to the national and global student entrepreneurship community. 3DS
partners with academic institutions (business, computer science, design, law, and other university
departments), investors (VC firms, angel groups), incubators/accelerators, and student entrepreneurship
organizations. For example, in Austin we regularly engage the Austin Technology Incubator, The Central
Texas Angel Network, the McCombs School of Business, the Computer Science Department of the
University of Texas, and the UT Technology Entrepreneurship Society. 3DS runs programs and cultivates
similar relationships with students and analogous organizations at schools such as the following:

MEDIA COVERAGE

3 Day Startup receives greater and greater media coverage each year. 3DS and 3DS alumni companies
have been featured in campus and national newspapers like the Financial Times, radio stations, and
noteworthy blogs such as Mashable, TechCrunch, and VentureBeat. 3DS was recently featured in Forbes
Magazine in a piece on student entrepreneurship.

3 Day Startup | Austin Technology Incubator 3925 W Braker Ln Austin, TX 78759 | www.3daystartup.org
3 Day Startup is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.