AUBURN — A pressure-cooker weekend devoted to helping local entrepreneurs get started isn’t only great economic development; it’s also a lot of fun, according to Mamie Ney, one of the organizers.

Ney and a local committee are planning a Startup Weekend for Lewiston-Auburn on Nov. 14-16 at the Auburn Public Library.

“It’s such an exciting and exhausting process,” Ney, director of the Auburn Public Library, said. “I call it a 54-hour adventure. It really is. It’s amazing.”

It’s basically a boot camp for would-be entrepreneurs — they spend the weekend pitching, perfecting and presenting their ideas to local business leaders.

In the end, one idea gets support from the local community.

“It’s a non-cash prize package,” Ney said. “For example, we’ll give them an office space over in the library for a year and they’ll have access to copiers and computers and research assistants. There may be some legal help for them in getting started, some marketing and hopefully some technical support.”

The event will be hosted by the city of Auburn and Auburn Public Library, with support from Blackstone Accelerates Growth, a statewide group created by the Blackstone Foundation to promote entrepreneurship and innovation.

The foundation is the charitable arm of the private equity and investment banking firm Blackstone Group.

Other cities, including Portland, have hosted similar events. Ney said she participated in two of those Portland weekends.

“I did not pitch an idea, but I joined a team,” Ney said. “We didn’t win but it was great. It’s an incredible experience.”

Right now, organizers are looking for participants. Tuition is $75 for entrepreneurs and helpers, which covers the entire weekend, dinner Friday night and three meals each on Saturday and Sunday.

Entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas on Friday and everyone presents votes for their three favorites. Depending on the votes, the top five or seven ideas will get to move forward to the next stage. Helpers and entrepreneurs who didn’t get selected join one of the top groups to provide their expertise, to help write a business plan and refine the pitch.

“When I did it, we spent the entire weekend putting the business plan together,” Ney said. “Then, we have coaches who will come in and you can ask questions or they’ll offer advice. ‘Have you thought about the legal side of this idea, or what the (Federal Communications Commission) might say?'”

The groups spend all of Saturday and most of Sunday working on their ideas, presenting a five-minute pitch to a panel of judges Sunday night.

“The judges are usually local entrepreneurs who have been successful,” she said. “And they pick the one they think will be most successful.”

Organizing committee member Hillary Flynn Dow said she has found about half of the judges and coaches the event needs.

“But we still need more,” she said.

Would be judges, coaches or participants should go to the event’s website, www.up.co/communities/usa/maine/startup-weekend/4159, for more information.

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