My Experience at a Startup Weekend

Article originally published on LinkedIn.

Last weekend I joined a Startup Weekend in Seville with a wonderful group of people—a long‑overdue goal since I missed the one in Caracas years ago. Here are a few reflections.

Trust

Standing up in front of strangers and saying “I see this and I believe in it” is not common—especially for engineers. The event makes it a game, so everyone participates without fear.

Communicate

There’s wisdom in remembering there are many chances to be misunderstood between intention and reception. In Startup Weekend, communication is about effectiveness: content and storytelling must work together.

Listen

Great mentors don’t give answers—they ask the right questions so you find your own. The mentors approached each team with humility and posed precise questions, then feedback that helped us improve.