WNY48 Startup In A Weekend

Buffalo Startup in a Weekend, presented by WNY48, is a fast-paced, beginner-friendly 48-hour event where designers, developers, students, creatives, and aspiring entrepreneurs come together to pitch ideas, form teams, and build real products or prototypes with expert mentorship and support.

No startup experience? No problem. Come solo or with friends: just bring curiosity and energy. You’ll learn by doing, gain practical skills, meet great collaborators, and leave with new confidence, connections, and momentum.

The weekend ends with team demos and feedback, all designed to help you grow and contribute to Western New York’s rising innovation community.

You should attend! WNY48 is for anyone curious about building something new. Developers, designers, students, marketers, product thinkers, creatives, and aspiring entrepreneurs are all welcome.

You don’t need startup experience, just curiosity, energy, and a willingness to collaborate.

Whether you come with an idea or just want to join a team and contribute your skills, there’s a place for you.

Sign up today! Spots are limited to keep teams small and mentorship high.

Over the course of the weekend you’ll:

• Pitch ideas or join one that excites you
• Form teams with people from different backgrounds
• Talk to potential users and refine your concept
• Build a prototype or MVP
• Get feedback from experienced mentors
• Present your work during the final demo session

You’ll go from idea → prototype → demo in just 48 hours.

By the end of the weekend you’ll leave with:

• A prototype or MVP you helped create
• New practical skills in building and launching ideas
• Feedback from mentors and experienced founders
• A network of collaborators in the WNY startup community
• Confidence that you can turn ideas into real things

Many participants arrive without an idea, and that’s perfectly fine.

Some of the best teams form when people simply join a project they’re excited about and contribute their skills.

Just show up ready to collaborate.

Most participants attend solo. Teams form organically after the idea pitches, and the event is designed to help people quickly connect and collaborate.

You’ll meet people with different skills and backgrounds, which is exactly what makes the weekend exciting.

You Don’t Need to Be Technical
Many participants have never built a product before. Teams need researchers, organizers, presenters, marketers, designers, and problem-solvers, not just developers. If you’re curious and collaborative, you’ll fit right in.

Western New York has a growing community of builders, founders, and innovators. WNY48 exists to help more people take the first step: turning curiosity and ideas into real projects.

This weekend is about trying, learning, building, and meeting the people who might become your future collaborators.

Info: Arrive at the venue and get checked in

Info: Eat food, share ideas, practice pitches, get to know fellow participants

Info: Review agenda for the weekend and introduce speakers, coaches, and community leaders

Info: Optionally line up to give your pitch

Info: Attendees vote for the top pitches

Info: Start to formalize teams and take an inventory of skills. Be honest, and direct about what resources and skills are needed for the weekend. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow

Info: Arrive, simple breakfast & coffee

Info: Teams formed and setting up workspace for the weekend

Info: After-lunch check-in, status reports, call for help

Info: Coaches help teams one-on-one. They are here to help!

Info: Finished for the day. You may stay and work as late as the venue will allow

Info: Coaches arrive. Final opportunity to ask questions

Info: Coaches arrive… ASK QUESTIONS

Info: Final hours of worktime should be focused on perfecting your presentation, tech-check for final presentations also takes place

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Center of Excellence Bioinformatics Life Sciences (NYS) - University at Buffalo, 701 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, United States

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