The future of the Bay area was all in one room this weekend at this year's Startup Weekend Tampa Bay.
Participants from the area came together at Hillsborough Community College to trade ideas and eventually make those concepts a reality.
Some of the 54 hour crash course included an idea to create an app to make it easier for people to approach strangers at bars.
“The idea is, you create a profile," said participant Evan Miles. "On my phone I actually can go in and if the person is on the application, they’ll be able to see that I’m on it and I can offer them a drink.”
Another idea would help young people find jobs by using an app.
“This application allows people who in their everyday lives see a help wanted sign," participant and HCC professor Andy Gold said. "They launch the application, they take a picture of the help wanted sign, upload it to our application and immediately people who are seeking jobs can see where the hot jobs are located.”
Some pretty cool ideas. These inventors say they’re hoping these new apps they create will take off and eventually create some revenue.
Organizer Ryan Sullivan said they’ve got plenty of success stories and this year will be no different.
“That’s ultimately great because if they’re able to create a product and build a business, they’ve learned something and they can inspire other people on how to do that process,” Sullivan said.
Startup Weekend is a global grassroots movement that teaches people the basics of how to launch a successful startup company.