FASPARK and TECHWEEK 2013

By Gerhard Boiciuc, Faspark

What? Did Techweek 2013 already end over a week ago? Really? Wow, time flies.

Better start counting the days to Techweek 2014 then.

I have been asked to write here about our experience at Techweek 2013 and also about being part of  Startup City. Well, let me start by saying that for Faspark, this was a very exciting day. By the way, Startup City was the part of Techweek which was packed with great startups showcasing their amazing services and solutions for one day on Friday, June 28. It was also the busiest and loudest part on that Friday…

The Faspark team showed up at around 9.30am to set up the booth. We were very excited and  determined to have fun while also trying out some new things. You know startups, they always test and try new things out. Speaking of new, here is a Vine clip (my first one!) while having some fun with the Faspark team at our booth at Startup City.

Anyway, around lunchtime it suddenly got very crowded and we started talking to many interested people stopping by our booth and asking many questions about “What does Faspark do?” and “How does it work?” and “Where were you guys last night when I needed you in Lakeview?”…

We answered all these questions while nervously waiting for the judges who were working hard looking for the most promising startups and concepts at Startup City.

Like everybody else, we hoped to be selected to pitch on the main stage. But we knew at the same time that there was only room for five startups on that stage. We also knew also that competition at this year’s Startup City was tough. Long story short, we didn’t make it to the final five and didn’t get the chance to pitch on the main stage.

However, all five teams selected by the judges did a great job pitching. Huge congrats to WeDeliver for a great pitch and for winning the contest. We love you guys! Look forward to bumping into you more often at 1871!

We were very glad to find out however, that we actually made Jeff Segal’s “Top Five Startups that Didn’t Make Techweek’s Final Five” list. Happy here and many thanks, Jeff . Very much appreciated!

Overall, Startup City came for us with TONS of great people and an exciting day of networking and chatting, and finding out more about this vibrant startup community here in Chicago. As a German transplant I have to say…Chicago ROCKS, dude!

At 4pm we had to move most of our booth to the front, closer to the main entrance where we were supposed to showcase as part of 1871’s booth for another two hours. I showed up and started setting up while talking to other 1871 members such as Nihal Advani from Georama or Mujtaba Badat from CaptureProof.

Barely finished setting up when I heard voices and cameras clicking and had just enough time to stand up and notice that Mayor Rahm Emanuel was heading straight to 1871’s booth and straight toward me. He stopped right in front of me, we shook hands and chatted a little about what Faspark does and then  after a little joke about how we should not charge for parking on Sundays, followed by him bumping my chest with his fist, he moved on to shake Nihal’s and also Mujtaba’s hand. Then, off he went! Quick as a flash! I was still speechless at what just happened. Did I just talk to Rahm Emanuel here at Techweek???? Yup!

As a German who only recently moved to Chicago I have a bucket list of things to do while here in the States. The list includes things like snowmobiling, ice fishing, jet skiing, meeting Rahm Emanuel…wait, that one is off my list now. Hmmmm, leaves more room for new things. But I still need my picture with Rahm, though. Maybe I get lucky at Techweek 2014. See you all there!