Boise Startup Week 2020 seeks participants, presenters

Dreamers, innovators, entrepreneurs and community members alike are invited to be part of Boise Startup Week 2020. The free event promoting local startups and entrepreneurs is seeking topic talks, business pitches and product ideas, from technology to business to social impact to food.

Applications are open now through Sept. 15 for Boise Startup Week’s two pitch competitions, one of which, Trailmix, is focused around food products and connections to local retail.

“Trailmix, in terms of attendance and excitement, is probably the most popular event at Boise Startup Week,” said Tiam Rastegar, co-chairman of the event and executive director at Trailhead.

Rastegar said that Trailmix was born from an experience between a member of Trailhead who produced keto ice cream and a former vice president of Albertsons. The two were at a fundraising event for Trailhead, a nonprofit launched collaboratively with the city of Boise and corporate partners like Albertsons. The former VP sampled Louis Armstrong’s keto ice cream and immediately wanted to offer it at Albertsons.

Since then, Trailhead and Albertsons, among others, have partnered through Trailmix to connect local food entrepreneurs to local retail and showcase Idaho food producers. First-place winners of each pitch competition receive $20,000 toward the product, in-kind support such as advertising assistance and space on shelves of the Albertsons Broadway (Avenue) store, which, if the product does well, could lead to space on the shelves of stores throughout the valley and the nation.

Second place, people’s choice and other prizes are also awarded to pitch competition participants.

When asked what advice he would give to someone who has never participated before and is indecisive about participating in either competition, Rastegar said “do it,” as the pitch competitions are designed to help entrepreneurs solidify their idea or product’s story, how it could be financed and how to present it.

“We’re going to get ahold of you and help fill those gaps,” Rastegar said. “At the end of the day, it all comes down to the product.”

Boise Startup Week also features nine topic “tracks” that host panel discussions, individual talks and other information around the topics: “start,” “grow,” “talent,” “youth,” “health” and more. New this year is the “art, media and design” track (in partnership with Treefort) to help “connect with the Gem State’s creative class.”

“We want to hear local stories, things people can learn,” Nick Crabbs, co-chairman of Boise Startup Week and partner at Vynyl, said. “The more people who are energized to do these the better. We love being surprised.”

The 2020 “theme” of Boise Startup Week is B. Resilient, which, Rastegar said, means not running away from adversity but rather using it to fuel creativity and innovation.

Community members are encouraged to submit their presentation ideas for individual talks or panel discussions by contacting Boise Startup Week through the website until Sept. 15. Roughly 80 to 90 talks will be scheduled and the majority of them will be from local participants.

“Almost everyone (so far) has taken the spin, ‘What does this mean in the new reality?’” Crabbs said. “I’d say the most important thing is, whatever you’re going to propose, make it very relevant.”

Boise Startup Week is going to be a bit different this year due to COVID-19. The event, which regularly draws thousands of people, will now be on virtual platforms. Youth will still have opportunities to participate, both through watching the virtual presentations and the youth innovation challenge; applications for that open Sept. 1.

“We’re very thankful,” Crabbs said about being able to hold Boise Startup Week 2020. “I think Boise has been on such a cool trajectory within (the local entrepreneurship) ecosystem.

“We think this is a very special place, and that’s why we do it,” he added. “It’s a reflection of us, (for us) to learn from each other and blast that message out.”

To connect with Boise Startup Week, visit boisestartupweek.org.