Have you got some smart business ideas, or skills to make them happen? The call is going out for entrepreneurs, programmers, designers and ‘doers' to get behind the inaugural Tauranga Startup Weekend.

Tauranga Startup Weekend organiser Sheldon Nesdale is hoping some great iPad apps and businesses will be developed at the inaugural event in September. Photo by Tracy Hardy.

The event, which is part of the non-profit global Startup Weekend movement that has helped create hundreds of businesses around the world, on September 14-16 is to encourage smart business startups says organiser Sheldon Nesdale.

Sheldon decided to bring the weekend-long business startup marathon to Tauranga after being inspired when he took part in the event in Auckland last year. He believes the region can become a hub of business innovation and entrepreneurship and hopes the event will promote this.

'I feel like Tauranga's day as $10 Tauranga have gone. We can be so much more than a place that depends on growing food and being a great place to retire. I believe there is great potential here as a centre of innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity – that's where our future is.”

Sheldon believes it is good timing in launching Tauranga Startup Weekend, saying it fits 'with a lot that is going on in the area at the moment. I think the timing is perfect”.

The event has a strong focus on developing iPad or iPhone apps because of the fast turnaround speed from concept to completed product – but Sheldon is happy to hear all business ideas.

The weekend begins with people pitching their business proposals, then teams form around ideas they like and race to build the app or business during the weekend. On Sunday night the judges will provide feedback to the teams, with the top team winning ongoing support.

'You could walk into the room with an idea scribbled on a paper napkin and walk out 54 hours later with a start-up company. How cool is that!”

Previous New Zealand winners have included Tweaky.com, TranscribeMe.com and Usnap.us which have gone on to build thriving businesses.

Sheldon says with 25 per cent of all startups continuing on after the weekend across the globe, the event offers the chance to foster more business and encourage innovation in the region.

Among those supporting the weekend is Tauranga-based angel investment fund Enterprise Angels, which has invested $4 million in startup businesses in the past six months. Executive director Bill Murphy says the event, which it is sponsoring, will help encourage innovation in the region.

Sheldon encourages anyone interested to take part, saying along with offering chance to setup your business idea everyone will expand their network and learn from the experience. Earlybird ticket discounts close Saturday 10am. Details: www.tauranga.startupweekend.org