This year’s Startup Weekend DC is partnering with Grow with Google

Grow with Google is teaming up with Techstars’ Startup Weekend DC for the first time as the title sponsor for this fall’s event. Unlike typical Startup Weekends, tickets are comped with this partnership to bring in a wider demographic of attendees, according to John Beadle, director of Techstars Startup Weekend.

The 54-hour entrepreneurial competition taking place Sept. 21–23, will be hosted at WeWork, 80 M Street SE. This is the first time Grow with Google is partnering with Startup Weekend DC through a Grow with Google scholarship.

Google For Entrepreneurs has been Techstars Startup Weekend’s title partner since 2011. Grow with Google is an initiative under Google For Entrepreneurs that offers free trainings, events and tools to help grow businesses.

“With GFE’s support we’ve been able to scale Startup Weekend to communities across the globe. As the Grow with Google initiative came together, it felt like a natural fit to collaborate on a series of Startup Weekends to make the world of entrepreneurship more inclusive,” Beadle told Technical.ly DC.

During the duration of the 54-hour bonanza, entrepreneurs will be paired up by interest areas where they then work with mentors and receive tools to launch new products and services. At the conclusion of Startup Weekend DC, each group will present to a panel of judges for a chance to win prizes.

Steven Rodriguez, Startup Weekend’s local organizer, says more than 250 people have already registered for the event. He said the goal is to have multiple teams of six to eight people at the event this weekend.

Beyond this upcoming Startup Weekend DC, Techstars and Grow with Google have partnered to put together 15 Startup Weekends across the U.S. in an effort to make startup education more accessible to a larger audience of potential entrepreneurs. Beadle said he hopes this partnership will draw more entrepreneurs to attend future events.