CSU hosts Startup Vikes and Global Legal Hackathon

The fifth annual Startup Vikes event was held in tandem with the  inaugural Global Legal Hackathon Friday, February 23^rd through Sunday, February 25th in the Student Center on the Cleveland State University campus. Startup Vikes awarded the top three companies created during the weekend prizes and cash infusion packages. In addition, the Global Legal Hackathon selected team Inco-herent to move forward to the international competition to be held in New York on March 11^th.

The winning Startup Vikes businesses were: ReCap ($2,000), Garage Founder ($1,000) and InSpirit ($500).

In addition, three Startup Vikes teams were awarded with workspace at Cleveland Co-Labs: Bloom Clothing Company, Mindful CLE and You2Better.

“We are very proud of all of the businesses developed during Startup Vikes and of our Global Legal Hackathon teams,” said Colette Hart, senior director for the Centers of Outreach and Engagement. “The entire weekend provided pathways for entrepreneurship – which we hope that all of our teams will pursue after the event.”

“The Global Legal Hackathon participants worked in teams with law and computer science students and professionals from event sponsor Baker Hostetler to develop a technical solution to a law or legal-industry related problem,” added Brian Ray, Cleveland Marshall College of Law professor and director of the C|M||Law Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection. “Thanks to BakerHostetler and Startup Vikes for partnering to make Cleveland one of only 40 hackathon locations worldwide. I’m incredibly proud of all of the students who participated and excited to have three Cleveland-Marshall students on the team going to the international competition in New York.”

“Cleveland State University has been playing a larger role in Cleveland’s entrepreneurship ecosystem,” said Katie Van Dyke, Director of the Cleveland State University Small Business Development Center and facilitator of Startup Vikes. “It is exciting to see students from different disciplines with complementary skill sets form teams and help each other to advance their ideas and make connections that can help them continue to advance their business ideas.”

Among Startup Vikes 160-plus participants were students from Cleveland State University, students from four other universities and numerous community members. 28 business ideas were pitched and 14 teams formed on Friday night. The inaugural Global Legal Hackathon featured 50-plus participants included students and professionals from the legal community.

Over 50 mentors and presenters provided help, guidance and resources throughout the weekend ranging from strategy, branding, marketing, sales, financial, legal, design services and manufacturing to name a few.

“The level of participation from Cleveland State students, alumni, faculty and staff for both events was fantastic and helped make for a great weekend,” added Ray. “The entire weekend demonstrates Cleveland State University’s commitment to deeply practical learning opportunities that engage and enrich the business, technology and legal communities in Northeast Ohio.”

“For the winners and the teams formed, now the real work begins,” added Van Dyke. “Most of the businesses and individuals who participated will now begin refining their business models, either at the SBDC or at other sponsor accelerators including Cleveland Co-Labs, Start Mart, FlashStarts, JumpStart and LaunchHouse.”

Community sponsors of Startup Vikes included the main funder, Burton D. Morgan Foundation, Cleveland Co-Labs, Flashstarts, PickFu, Aladdin’s Eatery, Pepsi, Jumpstart, Inc., Cleveland Urban Winery, Ohio Small Business Development Centers and LaunchHouse.

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