August 18, 2011

Startup job fair to run riot through Seattle

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For entrepreneurial-minded people, perhaps nothing else in the English language gets the heart beating faster than the word "startup." (OK, maybe "profit" ranks a bit higher.) For those looking for fame and fortune, few places are as exciting as a startup company, where ideas are fresh, risks are high, enthusiasm soars and details are tightly guarded.

Many job seekers looking for a taste of the action have found it especially difficult to find openings in this mercurial sector, given the secrecy that often veils new startups. Next week, however, Seattle is being offered a rare glimpse into some of the newest high-tech ventures in the Puget Sound region via a unique two-day event called the Startup Riot. Launched in 2008 in Atlanta, the Startup Riot is an annual gathering that pairs up-and-coming startup companies with a pre-screened set of dynamic job seekers who have the proven skill sets to thrive in a fast-paced entrepreneurial environment.

Next week, Seattle will be the site of the first-ever Startup Riot outside of Atlanta, starting with a free Career Fair on Tues., Aug. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Showbox SoDo. This conventional four-hour career fair will enable qualified job seekers and recruiters to meet and mingle with the principals at participating startup companies.

The following day, Wed., Aug. 24, the real wheeling and dealing begins with a full day of presentations, pitches, keynote addresses and networking events for job seekers and potential investors. Admission fees for the Aug. 24 networking/pitch event at the Showbox, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., will be $30 for entrepreneurs and job seekers; $50 for academic, non-profit and governmental attendees; and $70 for potential investors.

According to Sanjay Parekh, founder of Startup Riot, the event will not accept just anyone off the street (this is, after all, a civilized riot). To ensure the highest caliber of job seekers for the 150 mostly internet- and software-related positions and internships being offered, all potential attendees must be vetted first by the Startup Riot staff. Officially, the event is by "invitation only," Parekh said, but those interested in coming to the event will have until about 5 p.m. this Saturday to apply for registration.

"By doing a pre-screening, the startups can spend less time on the intro stuff and more time on the 'fit' stuff," Parekh explained to me. "If [job seekers] aren't invited, there's a good reason. I would much rather that someone who I know doesn't fit with the event spend their time elsewhere getting a job than coming to our event and being disappointed."

Parekh, who calls himself a "Startup Daredevil" on his LinkedIn page, began Startup Riot after he had sold his previous startup (tech firm Digital Envoy) in 2007 and "wanted to give back to other entrepreneurs." After his successful run of Riots in Atlanta, Parekh expanded the networking events earlier this year with separate career fairs. He also has tentative plans to extend the Startup Riot tour to other cities, such as Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, New York and Boston.

Time is running out, so act now if you want to get your invitation. But if you don't make the cut this year, fear not -- Parekh said there are plans to come back to Seattle at least one more time in 2012. "But if there is demand and need, we may do an additional career fair on a six-month cycle from this event," he added.

Randy Woods writes about job-search tools, networking techniques and other tips to help you land your dream job.

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entrepreneur, job fair, startups