Austin Startup Week

The purpose of Austin Startup Week is trifold: to showcase what Austin has to offer start-ups; to schedule panels and discussions pertaining to issues that concern upstart companies; and to schmooze, schmooze, schmooze. The week is filled with helpful tips, peers, and business opportunities, but like most everything in the world of start-ups, it is what you make it. Get your shaking hand ready and your elevator pitch perfected and kickstart your start-up.

We've chosen some of the most promising ASW events for your perusal. The majority of them are free and open to the public. Events do require that you RSVP online, with some filling up fast.

Austin Startup Week
October 6-10, www.austinstartupweek.com

Local Love

Built in Austin Startup Career Fair
Monday, Oct. 6, 3-6pm
Mohawk, 912 Red River

No fireworks at this practical event. Just local tech start-ups looking for students, grads, or other savvy candidates to hire. Last year had about 60 employers and 500 job-seekers, so polish up that résumé.

Food + Tech Meetup: Disrupting Food Access in Austin
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 5-6:30pm
Techstars, 412 Congress #200

Why would you want to disrupt food access!? Oh, they're talking about changing the way we here in Austin acquire food. Phew. Start-ups like Favor and Burpy discuss how technology and food can get along.

Money Talks

PR Over Coffee: How to Meet & Pitch Tech Writers
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 10-11:30am
Techstars, 412 Congress #200

Local writers help you understand how they decide what gets coverage and what doesn't. Personal pet peeve: press releases that are all buzzwords and no content. Those get deleted with prejudice.

Leveraging SXSW Interactive: Take Your Company to the Next Level in 2015
Thursday, Oct. 9, 3:30-5pm
Box Inc., 600 Congress, 24th floor

SXSW Interactive is like Austin Startup Week times 1,000. Not sure how to get your company or idea into the Fest? SXSW Interactive's Hugh Forrest and Chris Valentine will be there to help.

Put in Work

Free Coworking
Monday-Friday, Oct. 6-10, 9am-6pm
Chicon Collective, 301 Chicon

Need a break from networking and just want to catch up on your backlogged email or get some work done? Chicon Collective has fast wi-fi, desks, chairs, and caffeine. What more do you need?

The Capital Conundrum: Capital Access Issues, Equity Preservation, and Funding Strategy Design for Early Stage Ventures
Thursday, Oct. 9, 1-2pm
Venue TBD

We're not entirely sure what this one is about, but they use phrases like "funding inflections" and "non-dilutive capital sources" in the event description, so we assume they can make you some money.

Political Points

Patent Reform Update and Lunch with Sen. John Cornyn
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 11:30am-1pm
Capital Factory, 701 Brazos #1601

The update: Patent trolls are winning. However, Sen. Cornyn is still educating Washington about the money suck that defending your intellectual property can be. Let him give you the lowdown over lunch.

Feminist Hack ATX Open Coffee
Wednesday, Oct. 8, 8:30-10:30am
Dominican Joe's, 515 S. Congress

Calling all men and women who support gender equality. Let's get together and talk about how we can ensure a supportive climate for women in the Austin start-up scene and beyond.

Eat, Drink, Schmooze

ATX Startup Crawl
Thursday, Oct. 9, 5-10pm

How many local start-ups can you visit in five hours? Does that number change if you know most of them will be offering alcohol? Stop by the offices of BlackLocus, Ordoro, Square Root, MakerSquare, and other places with vaguely evocative names. Drop in and find out more. Register to get the map.

20x2
Tuesday, Oct. 7, 7-10pm
Elysium, 705 Red River

Twenty writers, musicians, comedians, and, of course, entrepreneurs have two minutes each to answer the question, "What were you thinking?" Quick and dirty, just how we like it.