The idea behind Build Week was simple: startups often lack access to the funding, resources, and creative firepower that established brands have. We saw an opportunity to bridge this gap—bringing top agency talent together with underrepresented entrepreneurs to drive meaningful change.
In 2024, we partnered with Vanport Studio to launch Build Week, a three-day, hackathon-style event that reimagines pro bono work and accelerates growth for BIPOC-owned businesses in Portland.
Our goals were to deliver critical cost relief and top-tier creative output that would increase the velocity and quality of product launches, while also setting founders up for long-term success—fueling brand awareness, driving sales conversions, unlocking new revenue streams, and accelerating client acquisition.
What sets Build Week apart isn’t just what we build—it’s how we build it. This three-day, in-person sprint fosters deep, hands-on collaboration by bringing creatives, strategists, technologists, and founders into the same room. Everyone shares the same space, the same urgency, and the same mission.
The structure breaks down traditional hierarchies, removes approval bottlenecks, and encourages real-time problem solving. Ideas are shaped on the spot—not slowed by silos or stretched timelines. The result is a potent mix of creativity, urgency, and purpose, designed to deliver strategic impact in just days.
Our plan began with partnership. Together with Vanport Studio, we identified Portland-area founders best positioned to benefit from Build Week: BIPOC-owned businesses at pivotal moments in their growth. Each founder brought a unique challenge, and our teams delivered tailored solutions designed to meet them where they were—and propel them forward.
From there, we assembled multidisciplinary teams from across Instrument—bringing talent together in person from across the U.S. to form squads with diverse skills, perspectives, and lived experiences. Each team was intentionally matched to the unique needs of its founder partner, ensuring the right mix of expertise and empathy to drive meaningful progress.
After just two Build Week installments, the results speak for themselves: greater reach, deeper meaning, and real outcomes. We’ve seen consistent success across all key impact areas—cost relief for founders, accelerated launches, stronger brand visibility, increased sales conversions, and expanded revenue streams.
Founder Outcomes
“Simply put: BUILD WEEK didn’t just give us a product—it unlocked a new customer journey and revenue stream that continues to grow.” — Rashad Frazier, Camp Yoshi
Beyond the individual wins, Build Week scaled Instrument’s pro bono reach by 400% year-over-year. But this isn’t just another social impact initiative—it’s a new delivery model. It proves that rapid collaboration, deep engagement, and bold thinking under pressure don’t just feel good—they drive measurable business results.
With Build Week, we’re not just building brands—we’re building momentum, forging new paths, unlocking potential, and shaping a future where innovation is a force for good.
