Lu Doan is heading out in search of risk and opportunity with 24 strangers. Of course, this is not your usual road trip. These 25 people are looking for the opportunity to pitch their business idea to investors, reports NaplesNews.com. What is the catch? Well, no one gets on the bus with their own ideas. They are using this trip to collaborate and develop business plans within 48 hours.
StartupBus launched last year with one bus driving from San Francisco to Austin’s South by Southwest music, film and interactive conference. Teams presented their ideas to investors, who picked a couple of companies to fund.
Another participant expanded an idea into a company that he later sold for $5 million, said Steve Repetti, a sponsor in last year’s inaugural StartupBus.
Repetti signed on this year to lead the Miami bus, which pulled entrepreneurs from across the southern United States.
He will act as an adviser. There are few ground rules.
Once the bus has rolled out Tuesday morning, anyone can pitch an idea. Riders will whittle them down to six ventures. They will form teams based on skill sets and negotiate for a spot in the company.
The bus, full of business people, finance experts, graphic artists and Web and application developers, will be hooked up with power and Internet capabilities.
“We’re going to be a rolling factory of startups,” Repetti said.
Photo by Mark Hillary