Startup Weekend Des Moines, a 54-hour event that focuses on constructing a Web-based or mobile application, is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. today. The event, which is open to anyone interested in the local entrepreneurial community, will include speakers Dan Shipton of Bit Method LLC, Ben Milne of Dwolla Corp. and Christian Renaud of Startup City Des Moines. Any new company that launches during Startup Weekend may be eligible for a $500 award. The event ends at 9 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, go to http://dsm.startupweekend.org.