Innovation Weekend
Build a real product. Pitch to real investors. Solve a Real Problem.
Real Problems. Real Buyers. Real Stakes.
Most startup events give you a prompt, a weekend, and a handshake. BŪP Innovation Weekend is built differently. Local Tampa Bay companies bring live operational challenges: real problems tied to revenue, efficiency, and growth. You form a team, pick a problem worth solving, and build a working product over 3 days using AI tools. No coding experience required.
The best teams don't just win prizes. They walk away with a potential pilot customer, up to $100k in investment, and a path into the BŪP INNO post-weekend incubator.
The Companies Come to You.
Tampa Bay businesses pitch their real operational problems on Friday night. You choose the one you want to solve and spend the weekend building with decision makers in the room.
Companies submit real problems
Local businesses bring live operational challenges tied to revenue, efficiency, and growth. Not hypotheticals. These are active problems with budget implications.
You build the solution
Pick a challenge Friday night. Spend 3 days building a working product, with the company's team available for real-time feedback throughout the weekend.
Win prizes and a potential customer
Top solutions are positioned for pilot agreements with the company that submitted the problem. You could leave with your first paying customer alongside your prize.
From Problem to Pitch in 3 Days
Friday to Sunday. Real problem to working product to funded venture, with support at every step.
Pick a problem worth solving
Local companies and organizations pitch their real operational challenges Friday night. You choose the problem you want to solve and spend 3 days building the solution.
Build your team
Find your co-founders Friday night. Every skillset welcome: creative, sales, ops, marketing. AI tools mean anyone can build, no coding required.
Build with mentors & real customers
Industry experts and company operators guide you through build days. Feedback comes from actual decision makers, not theory.
Pitch for investment and a pilot deal
Present to VCs and accelerator judges for up to $100k. Top teams also get a path to pilot agreements with Tampa Bay companies.
Leave With More Than a Trophy.
Over 3 days you'll build a real product, get feedback from real buyers, and pitch for real capital. The best teams continue into the BŪP INNO post-weekend incubator.
Up to $100k
in investment prizes
Real customers
pilot deals with Tampa Bay companies
Working MVP
a real product, not a slide deck
Keep building
top teams enter the post-weekend incubator
Up to $100k
in investment prizes
3 Days to Build Something Tampa Bay Actually Needs.
Team spots are limited. April 10–12 · Tampa Bay Tech Week.
Get TicketsA BŪP INNO program
bupinno.org