What exactly is StartupBus?
StartupBus is an invitation-only community of hackers (coders), hustlers (marketeers) and hipsters (designers) passionate about startups. We are best known for our annual competition where we bring new people into our community, building and selling a product on a bus that’s traveling 60 miles an hour towards Austin, Paris, or other major cities around the globe.
When your next event?
In March 2013, StartupBus will be running several buses in America from different regions, bringing together the best talent from across the Americas (well, the northern Americas at least).
will the buses depart?
The buses will depart from New York City, Tampa Bay, Chicago, San Francisco, and Mexico City. It's possible other cities will be added so please follow our blog for announcements.
Who’s willing to get on a bus like that?
It takes a certain kind of crazy to jump on a bus and hack for 3 days but it happens to be the same kind of crazy that makes startups work. The people who come on the bus are ambitious, think-outside-the-box and are some of the most talented individuals you will ever meet.
I’m that kind of crazy! How do I get on the bus?
Applications are by invitation-only. To be invited, you can reach out to former Buspreneurs or
@TheStartupBus
and convince them that you’re the right kind of awesome or crazy (ideally both). You can also connect on the StartupBus website and make a lot of noise so that we notice and invite you.
I'm under 18. Can I apply?
We don't accept applicants under 18 as we cannot be responsibile for them.
I have a child and/or animal I need to bring on the bus that I am responsibile for
Children that are under 18 and not applicants, we do not believe this environment is appripriate for them so we ask you make other accomodations where they can be looked after if you participate. For the comfort of other buspreneurs, we cannot accept animals as this is a confined space.
When do I need to apply by?
As soon as humanly possible- candidates are chosen on a rolling basis so you should submit your application if you want to secure a spot on the bus.
How much does a StartupBus ticket cost?
Tickets will cost 299 dollars for the actual event. They are non-refundable.
When will this occur?
The buses will be departing from their respective cities on Sunday March 3rd (with launch parties the night before). The buses will transport people to Austin with a final event occurring on on Friday 8th March.
What is a “Buspreneur”?
Those that survive experience. Bus + Entrepreneur = Buspreneur.
What can you accomplish in 3 days on a bus?
We launch – when you mix creativity and talent inside a metal tube on wheels and agitate lightly for 3 days, there’s no telling how much you might produce. Every year, the Buspreneurs prove that you can do more than you ever imagined and that food and sleep are merely biological suggestions. The teams from StartupBus launch fully functional, publicly available products by the time they land at their destination.
Who owns the ideas created on the bus?
Our goal with the StartupBus competition is to develop people, not real companies, so how teams decide on the equity process is part of the learning we hope to inspire. For this reason, we don't take an ownership stake and let the teams decide on their own.
What costs are covered by the StartupBus ticket price?
The StartupBus ticket makes a contribution to the costs of renting buses, hiring venues, and other costs of the event with sponsors subsidies the rest of the costs. Buspreneurs cover the cost of their own food, hotels and motion sickness medication. (Don't worry: the buses will arrange the things as a group, with group packages and discounts.)
What is the cost of the SxSW conference?
We are not affiliated with the conference.
What route do we take?
The production team led by the conductor for each region will determine the route the bus takes so each region will have a unique experience.
Do we stop along the way?
We are legally obligated to let the bus drivers sleep and law requires the bus to stop each day.
What happens once the bus hits Austin?
Insurance, hopefully, if the bus hits an Austin -- that said, the bus may stop moving in Austin but the Buspreneurs don’t. Upon landing in Austin, the buspreneurs hit the ground running- launching and promoting their products, pitching to VCs, connecting with other Buspreneurs and of course, enjoying all the fun Austin has to offer.
I’m a journalist and I want to write/blog/film the journey. Who do I contact?
We’re always looking for a few good journalists- pitch your idea to our
media team
and convince them that you should be on a bus.
I’m a sponsor and want to do a marketing arrangement. Who do I contact?
We wont accept just any sponsorship as it may corrupt the experience, but we always are open to ideas that align with what we do.
You can reach out to us on http://startupbus.com/sponsors
How can I get in touch with the leadership of StartupBus?
You can reach the StartupBus community by tweeting
@TheStartupBus
or emailing
the directors.
