Can a group of 150 geeks, MBAs, marketing gurus, lawyers and others really build a functioning business in less than 72 hours? We'll find out in the next few days as Seattle Startup Weekend kicks off at Google's Fremont office in about 45 minutes. 

I'll be attending tonight, with updates on the initial brainstorming sessions. Of course, startup companies are inherently hard to build, even more so when the timer is on. Maybe that's why the last project to emerge from Seattle Startup Weekend was closed down due to legal complications. Nonetheless, these sorts of communal experiences can be educational. And with the economy in the dumps and a lot of people out of work, maybe a new entrepreneurial model can emerge this weekend.

I'll be watching and posting occasionally on the developments. You've got to be a little whacked to give a up a weekend to try to build a new company. But most entrepreneurial types are slightly crazy. And if you think this sounds completely boring. Consider this blog post from the organizers yesterday: "We finally managed to score some beer for our weekend." A strong winter ale or two should make for some interesting entrepreneurial conversations.