This past weekend, Assembly in Norfolk pulsed with the energy of creators, coders, builders, and dreamers. Two standout events—CTRL+ALT+PLAY and 757 Build Weekend—collided in the best possible way, creating a weekend that redefined what’s possible when innovation and collaboration meet.

CTRL+ALT+PLAY: Where Innovation Meets Soul

Saturday’s CTRL+ALT+PLAY experience brought tech, fashion, business, music, art, and culture together under one roof—and across multiple floors. From morning yoga to late-night rooftop afterparty vibes, this wasn’t your typical tech event. It was immersive, intentional, and electric.

  • 1st Floor: Business talks and workshops by @luv_said and Black Brand, vendors showcasing their products, and the hackathon in full swing.
  • 2nd Floor: Curated by @_canfoundation, a living, breathing art gallery of creators at work.
  • Rooftop: Meditation sessions, a community town hall, a fashion show that turned heads, and a final celebration that kept the spirit of collaboration alive well past sundown.

Whether you came to pitch, paint, vibe, or build—the day had a place for you.

757 Build Weekend: Building More Than Just Projects

Running from Friday through Sunday, 757 Build Weekend brought together nearly 100 participants across disciplines, with 16 teams presenting eligible submissions. It wasn’t just about coding. It was about building—new ideas, partnerships, and a culture of creativity.

Workshops on no-code tools, pitching, MVP development, and design helped participants grow skills and form teams. But by Sunday, it was all about execution—and the results impressed everyone.

The winners:

  • 🥇 1st Place: Astroguide – Blending astrology with a clean modern UX, this app uses astrocartography to help users find alignment across the globe.
  • 🥈 2nd Place + Best AI Grant Assistant (Sponsored by Waters Edge Winery): Digital Grant Writing Specialist – Making complex grant writing accessible and AI-powered.
  • 🥉 3rd Place: FYEO (For Your Eyes Only) – A privacy tool that blocks secrets and sensitive information from livestreams in real time.

These projects showcased not only technical ability but deep relevance to real-world needs.

 

 

A Legacy of Building: From Start Norfolk to What’s Next

This weekend wasn’t a one-off. It’s part of a long-standing movement in Hampton Roads to elevate innovation through meaningful collisions.

Looking back to 2011, Start Norfolk was launched to help jumpstart the startup community in the region. Over five events, hundreds of ideas were pitched and thousands of attendees experienced the excitement of launching something new. Shortly after, Start Peninsula began and has continued annually ever since—providing a consistent stage for aspiring founders and community builders. In 2018, it even featured a keynote from Silicon Valley legend Jason Calacanis, proving that national players are taking notice of what’s happening here.

These aren’t just “events.” They are catalysts.

They serendipitously bring people together—people who normally wouldn’t be in the same room. Creators meet coders. Artists meet entrepreneurs. Students meet seasoned investors. And sometimes, that one conversation changes everything.

What’s Next: Startup World Cup Virginia

If this weekend is any indication, Hampton Roads is ready for bigger stages. The next major collision is happening August 21 at the Startup World Cup Virginia Regional Finals in Virginia Beach. This statewide showcase will unite innovators, investors, and ecosystem builders under one roof, with one startup earning the chance to compete globally for $1 million.

Moments like CTRL+ALT+PLAY and 757 Build Weekend set the tone. But events like Startup World Cup amplify it. They let us see—in one place—what’s being built right here in our own backyard at a massive scale.

The Future is Built Together

“This is what can happen when we all work together,” said Lionel Sapp—and he’s right.

What happened this weekend wasn’t just about creativity or code. It was about collaboration. And if Hampton Roads continues to show up like this, the future of our region won’t just be bright—it’ll be unstoppable.

Let’s keep building. Together.