Announcing StartupBus North America 2015

2015 is an important year for us — not just because it’s a milestone: it’s been five years on the dot since we announced ourselves to the world. Since then, we’ve added ~1200 people our community across four continents in StartupBus competitions. It’s been a long, strange trip — and we’re ready to go bigger than we have before in the year ahead. There will be several major announcements made in 2015 to mark this coming of age that started with the announcement of the community councils. Today, we’re making a key announcement that shapes the rest of the year:

StartupBus North America 2015

After considering many locations, we discovered an opportunity in Music City USA. We’re excited to head to Nashville, TN June 4–8 for the 36/86 Conference in conjunction with LaunchTN.

Elias, myself and the North American Directors recommended to the North America community council that it was time to move the North American competition away from Austin and the SxSW conference — for many of reasons — chief among them was the timing and the disconnect between the value and the cost for everyone involved.

After considering many locations, we discovered an opportunity in Music City USA. We’re excited to head to Nashville, TN June 4–8 for the 36/86 Conference in conjunction with LaunchTN. Nashville has welcomed StartupBus with open arms and cultivated a strong alumni network over the years. With recent news like Google Fiber coming to Nashville, you know there’s something brewing there. Nashville will play host in 2015 with the Grand Finals as part of the opening event of 36/86 — as well as new activities to be announced soon…

The most meaningful relationships that come out of StartupBus form by sharing a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the crazy people who are part of this truly unique community. This year in Nashville, we look forward to providing a new way for the alumni community and the general public to meet the newest members and be part of the activities that facilitate those relationships.

Applications will be opening soon — if you are not alumni, we don’t make it easy to get an invite — not impossible, just not easy. The easiest way to get considered is to pre-apply now. Once applications open, this option will be gone… We will be announcing the opening of applications shortly as well.

2015 is going to be an incredible year — are you ready?