Startup Weekend is coming up fast, so we’ve prepared some helpful tips to help you make the most of it. The weekend will pass by quickly, but as long as you keep a few things in mind, you’ll be in control of your time. Read on for some helpful tips.

1. Come prepared

Make sure you read the F.A.Q page  before the event.

2. Pick Your Idea

If you already have an idea, develop it into something you can actually share with your friends. You want to make sure that your idea is feasible to be implemented in a weekend. Here are a few ideas that have been implemented at previous Startup Weekends:

Metayoo: Finding new connections nearby. A user can open up their LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter profiles to people 300 meters and make new connections.
Flought: Letting people broadcast thoughts anonymously. People use their phones to type in 70 character messages that only people within a 70-foot area can see.
CoRider: A social network of people who want to share rides.
Fanattix: Loyalty program for college sports fans. Fans get points for checking in to college sports venues (bars, arenas, Universities, etc.).
Speed Watch: is an iPhone and iPad app that clearly tells you the speed limit of the road you are currently on, and notifies you when the speed limit changes.
Schedify: A scheduling Web app that takes the hassle out of creating and managing restaurant and other retail employee scheduling.
TaskAve: Easily manage, post and share new tasks

If you don’t have a particular idea, be sure to start reading up on startups in general.

3. Define Your Value Prop and the Business

What is the problem or what value are you adding to the market, what is the solution, how does it work, what is the secret sauce, and who is this for? How many people out there may want your product (market size)?

Think through why someone would take their time to try out your product. It needs to make sense and its value needs to be communicated. You want to make sure you impress Judges and Attendees.

4. Practice The Pitch

Start pitching the idea to the people around you before coming into the event. This will help you shape the idea and your pitch. The more practice you get the more prepared you’ll be with pitching your idea. You can find a few tips on pitches here.

5. Build The Perfect Team

You may already have a team in place, but if you don’t you may want to consider bringing on people with specific skills or people that you know can add value. Make sure the team you come in with is the one you want. Otherwise, there will be time to set up a team on the first day of the event.

6. Map Your Project Plan

Create a plan and stick to it – always push forward and be mindful of the time. Create a realistic plan that can be completed throughout the weekend. You can come into the weekend having prepared a few things in advance (project plan, sketches), but always keep in mind that you have only 54 hours to execute your project. It needs to be in a state where you can successfully showcase it.

8. Put on a show

Your project is complete. Now it’s time to put on a convincing and interesting demo. Don’t be afraid to wow the crowd and get creative. You need to tell everyone exactly why your project is the best, and do it in style.

7. Give it All you’ve got

Startup Weekend is a lot of fun, but also a lot of work. Give it all you’ve got, never give up and always push forward.

9. Make Sure You Meet Everyone

YallaStartup Weekend already has more than a 100 confirmed attendees. Make sure you network with everyone. You never know when you might cross path in the future.

10. Enjoy Your Time and Explore Beirut!