Student, staff on winning startup team

March 10, 2015

Brennen Hicklin ’15 and Rebecca Sullens ’09, associate director of the Berry Center for Economics, Business and Public Policy, were on the winning team at Startup Weekend Cedar Rapids, which was held March 6-8.

Brennen Hicklin ’15 (left) and Rebecca Sullens ’09, associate director of the Berry Center, during Startup Weekend-Cedar Rapids. The pair was on the team that won first prize.
Brennen Hicklin ’15 (left) and Rebecca Sullens ’09, associate director of the Berry Center (second from left), during Startup Weekend Cedar Rapids. The pair was on the team that won first prize.

The pair, along with Trevor Hazen ’15 and Leon Tabak, professor of computer science and faculty director of the Berry Center, participated in Startup Weekend, which is part of an ongoing, international program that hosts events where teams brainstorm, plan, and pitch startup ideas. Hicklin and Sullens were on a team that pitched an idea they called  “DateBrew,” which was software that would help a couple plan a perfect evening out.

From the Startup Weekend site:

Startup Weekend is a 54 hour event that brings together designers, developers, entrepreneurs, and experts from all domains to do amazing things.

All Startup Weekend events follow the same basic model: anyone is welcome to pitch their startup idea and receive feedback from their peers. Teams form around the top ideas (as determined by popular vote) and embark on a three-day frenzy of business model creation, coding, designing, and market validation. The weekend culminates with presentations in front of local entrepreneurial leaders with another opportunity for critical feedback!

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