StartupBus Day 1: The Race Begins

With her team of four, the author's task is to create a business in less than 72 hours as she rides from Tampa to Austin, Texas.

It takes a certain kind of crazy to join 20 strangers from across Florida and travel by bus to Austin,Texas. But on a recent morning, that's where I found myself and my team as we started our journey with a send off from Tampa Bay Times Forum that included Red Bull promotion girls (suited up in jet-pack cooler backpacks no less) and the Tampa Bay Lightning's mascot.

Our task: Listen to individuals ideas, choose the one we like best and create a startup company in less than 72 hours with five or fewer people.