Techstars Startup Weekend Tuscaloosa

Techstars Startup Weekend offers a 54-hour immersive experience for aspiring entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into tangible projects. Over the course of three days, participants have the opportunity to pitch their concepts, form teams, create prototypes, validate their ideas, engage in workshops, and present to a panel of judges. This collaborative event fosters connections among students, developers, creatives, mentors, and future founders, providing valuable skills and networking opportunities.

Regardless of whether a project evolves into a business, participants will enhance their entrepreneurial journey through this experience.

Event Schedule

Friday, January 23, 2026

• 05:00 PM: Arrival & Check-in
• 06:00 PM: Welcome, Overview & Dinner
• 07:00 PM: Idea Pitches
• 08:00 PM: Voting & Team Formation
• 08:30 PM: Team Working Sessions

Saturday, January 24, 2026

• Full-day collaboration, workshops, and mentorship

Sunday, January 25, 2026

• Ongoing teamwork and final pitch preparation
• Evening: Final Pitches & Judging

The event primarily requires commitment on Friday evening, most of Saturday, and Sunday afternoon/evening. Participants will be actively engaged without being confined for the entire weekend.

Organizer Team

• DeCarri Wells – Program Manager
• Hunter Stepanovich – Operations Coordinator

Judges

• Dr. Theresa Welbourne
• Douglas Watson
• Matt Jaeh
• Olu Aladebumoye

Facilitator

• Roger Osorio

Mentors

• Sophie Schaffer
• Ben Bickerstaff
• Brittney Gray
• Nikki Johnson
• Teasha Cable
• Virginia Szepietowski
• Chris Braithwaite

Sponsors

Local Partners

• Tuscaloosa County Economic Development Authority
• The University of Alabama
• Alabama Entrepreneurship Institute

Global Sponsors

• Google for Startups
• Brex
• HSBC Innovation Banking
• Mercury
• Deel