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| Team Tip N’ Go. Marcos Castillo is the seventh person from the right. Photo courtesy of FIU. |
St. Thomas University (STU) business student and Vice President of STU’s Student Government Association, Marcos Castillo, along with his team Tip N’ Go stood out in a crowd of business ideas and eager entrepreneurs during Startup Weekend Miami at FIU.
Tip N’ Go – an application that allows users to tip for hotel services electronically – came in second place during the event. The team was comprised of a wide range of majors: computer science, hospitality business, marketing and finance. Within the team, Castillo’s role was that of marketing strategist, researcher, and revenue and cost analyst.
“We only had a weekend, so we all had to work together and wear all sorts of different hats to make our idea come to life,” said Castillo.
Although there was no cash prize given to second and third place winners, the teams were privy to advice and tips from some of South Florida’s best startup investors, business coaches and mentors.
“The opportunity to network was a prize in and of itself,” said Castillo. “We had access to business leaders in key industries who offered amazing guidance and advice.”
In total, 88 participants competing in 16 teams running on unlimited coffee and snacks, brainstormed, crafted business plans and marketing plans, the presented their ideas to a panel of judges and investors.
The winning team, Headliner – an online platform and application which allows users to crowdfund for the bands of their choice to perform locally – took the $500 first prize.
Startup Weekend Miami at FIU is designed to enable developers, designers and entrepreneurs to create, pitch and launch their startup ideas over an intense, 54-hour weekend. The event was held at FIU’s Tech Station, and began Friday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m., and concluded Sunday, Nov. 22 at 9 p.m.
