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This article was published on October 28, 2015

Are you innovative enough?


Are you innovative enough?

Global Startup Battle (GSB) may be one of the best party hosts in the world and the best part is you and your big ideas, just begging to be built, are invited.

Without ever having to blow up balloons or stock the bar, GSB has already invited more than 30,000 entrepreneurs and the talented teams to help bring the idea to life together. Centered around the spirit of fostering the creativity and the “think big” mentality, GSB will once again host Startup Weekend competitions in over 250 cities across more than 100 countries on the weekends bookending Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW), November 13-23.

GEW, founded in 2007, has grown in international scope, but never wavered in intention to celebrate all the innovators, job creators and startup founders who invigorate life with ideas, push for progressive economic growth and expand the reach of human welfare.

All attendees who show up to the Startup Weekend events will compete first against other teams in their cities. The top three teams are eligible to compete in one of two regional rounds. Two regional winners from the six regions will then face off in a bracket against other regional champs producing the top team as GSB Champ.

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But, with that many teams and that many brilliant ideas, the competition is stiff. This is where GSB’s Tracks come in.

.CO, often considered THE domain for innovators and entrepreneurs building the “next big thing” online, is sponsoring “The Innovators” track, open to all Startup Week participating teams. The winning prize is the opportunity to attend, demo and pitch at the 11th annual TNW Conference in May 2016 in Amsterdam. Plus, with a $13,000 travel budget, the trip won’t require a penny of your startup’s budget! The stakes are high for the big stage. The prize package also includes:

.CO is much more than just another domain extension. The .CO Membership Program offers anyone building on a .CO domain free access to exclusive perks and benefits aimed at helping startups be successful. These perks include everything from passes to the world’s biggest tech events to co-working space and software discounts.  With such a strong emphasis on community .CO is initially a great platform to build your big idea online and even better with all the prizes from the Global Startup Battle.

The rules of the Innovators Track are as straightforward as it comes: build your Startup Weekend company or product on a .CO domain name. That’s it.

All eligible entries will be judged regardless if they win or lose at Startup Weekend. Such judgment comes via great minds including:

Judging is based on criteria essential to any strong product or service and incorporates the tools of the .CO platform. Meaning building teams will want to consider how their webpage looks and feels. Is it easy and intuitive? How about engaging?

Winners of this year’s track will join Ontario-based 2014 winner Loop Lab, whose idea of replacing current home vent register covers with the mobile-controlled smart Loop Vent results in saved energy and a piece of the increasingly implementable “smart home.” Loop Lab is currently taking pre-orders on their minimalist white and turquoise .CO website for the product and working heavily with 3D printing technology.

What are you waiting for? Find a Startup Weekend event in a city near you, apply to the .CO Innovators Track, and begin plotting the points of how to build beyond your limitations; Amsterdam awaits!

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