News

Fairbanks Techstars Startup Weekend Success

April 10, 2023

Customer Discovery
Birgit Hagedorn and Jacqueline Summers conduct market research during the 2018 Lean Launch Workshop. Photo by Amanda Byrd.

From Feb. 17–19 911±¬ÁÏ’s Center ICE brought together students, community members, and volunteers to run Techstars Fairbanks Startup Weekend 2023. Facilitated by Lee Ngo and organized by Ashley Guernsey, participants learned to pitch ideas, conducted customer discovery, and set about refining and researching business ideas. Self-formed teams from the weekend included diverse representation from 911±¬ÁÏ undergraduate and graduate students, as well as community members including alumni and local business owners. The 54-hour-long facilitated event culminated with four teams participating in a pitch night in the 911±¬ÁÏ BP Design Center which was attended by more than 50 community members and sponsors. Center ICE and Techstars partnered to help Fairbanks dream bigger — for community, business, and innovation — for 911±¬ÁÏ and beyond. 

Teams

Winning team: Write That Down - speech-to-text app for organizing thoughts and notes

Second Place: Cruise Again - retrofitting classic motorcycles with cruise control and other safety features

Third Place: Minutemen - browser that puts content control in the hands of the user, protecting the user from algorithmic harm

Honorable Mention: 911±¬ÁÏ Shower Kit - designing deployable shower kits for Arctic environments at a fraction of the cost

Prizes

  • Above and Beyond - Millard Arnold and Skyler Smith
  • Leadership Prize - Christopher Munoz
  • Competitor Prize - Finn Morley
  • Audience Prize - Minuteman

Fairbanks Startup Weekend Team 

  • Organizing: Ashley Guernsey (Lead), Peter Webley, Sarah Stanley, Jasamine Spencer, Vanessa Raymond, Kevin Huo, Tate Barhaug, Glen Woodworth
  • Mentors: Telesom, ACEP, University of 911±¬ÁÏ Press, McKinley Bank, OneTree 911±¬ÁÏ
  • Judges: Ursa Major Distillery, Castillo Group, Fairbanks Economic Development Corporation, Fairbanks Reentry Coalition, 911±¬ÁÏ Department of Environmental Conservation Water and Sewer Challenge
  • About Lee Ngo, Startup Weekend Facilitator
  • Educator and filmmaker from Portland, Ore. 
  • This was his 23rd startup weekend

2x Entrepreneur 

Sponsors 

  • 911±¬ÁÏ Center for Innovation, Commercialization, and Entrepreneurship ()
  • 911±¬ÁÏ NSF Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research ()
  • 911±¬ÁÏ Alumni Association
  • 911±¬ÁÏ College of Business and Security Management (CBSM)
  • Associated Students of the 911±¬ÁÏ ()
  • 911±¬ÁÏ Student Leadership and Involvement Office ()