Content provided by StartupBus, Rui DaCosta.

You may not have heard of the StartupBus but that shouldn’t stop you from getting on it. The annual competition has grown from a friendly trip to an international phenomenon and the premise is simple: build a startup in just 3 days…on a bus.

It might sound crazy until you’ve done it and then you’re hooked. It’s not so much just the thrill of building something in a time crunch; it’s the whole community and the culture around it. StartupBus alums are everywhere and they love to help each other. Whether that’s helping with a job search or offering a couch to sleep on while traveling; the community is there to help.

I know what you’re thinking, “But Rui, how do you know so much about this thing that I’ve never heard of?” I’m a former buspreneur myself (NYC 2013, Seattle/Toronto 2014). I won’t say that either of my trips were easy, but I will say that the bus did two things for me. It showed me that I can build something from nothing, very quickly and it introduced me to some of the most amazing people I have ever met.

This year we’re doing things a little differently; each bus has a theme and I am very proud to be conducting a new bus leaving from Vancouver with the theme of Social Impact. If you want to know more, drop me a line vancouver@startupbus.com or just apply at http://northamerica.startupbus.com/apply (invite code: OCANADA)

StartupBus North America will take place from May 15th – 19th and will feature buses from 7 cities and 200 buspreneurs who will converge at Boulder Startup Week, where finalists will be selected and featured on the Techstars stage.