Location
Choose a city closest to you.
Fall 2010 Brussels
Applications: Sep 03, '10
Sessions: Sep 12, '10 - Dec 09, '10
Vision
Our vision is to Globalize Silicon Valley by creating and fostering local startup ecosystems in promising markets across the globe. We aim to help launch 1,000 technology companies per year in over 50 cities worldwide.
Sponsors
JobsinBrussels is the only website of its kind primarily focused on offering easy access to English speaking jobs, coupled with smart and useful collaborative features to support job seekers (simply mouse over a job listing to experience the power of Web 2.0)
The Microsoft Innovation Center Belgium is a non-profit association dedicated to the local Software Economy Growth. The MIC encourages entrepreneurship and operates on 4 levels, following the cycle of developing an idea into a business.
First, the MIC creates an environment favorable to innovation and entrepreneurship in the IT sector through its events and communications. Second, the MIC promotes knowledge through training, seminars and certifications rewarding achievements and operational skills. The MIC has its own certification center Prometric, which aims to raise 500 certifications in three years.
Third, the MIC encourages testing and prototyping of new projects through the provision of testing software (MIC is a partner of the Microsoft BizSpark Program). Finally, the MIC promotes entrepreneurship through a semi-annual "Entrepreneur Bootcamp", as well as by supporting initiatives like the Founder Institute.
Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is a leading Spanish law firm and has had an office in Brussels since 1985, which has enabled it to acquire a great deal of experience with the EU authorities and to put forward the client’s points of view (companies and public authorities) when directives adopted and decisions taken affect their interests.
From Avenue Louise, the traditional location of major international firms with a presence in Brussels, the lawyers of this office furnish legal assistance in all areas of EU law, including the right of jurisdiction and that of foreign trade, and represent the Firm’s clients vis-à-vis the European Commission and the EU Courts of Justice and First Instance.
The BetaGroup is a group of 2,100 Web Entrepreneurs in Belgium passionate about Internet, Software, Mobile Technology and Online Media.
We aim to connect Entrepreneurs, Creative Thinkers, Software Developers, Digital Marketers, Web Designers, Web Agencies, Advertisers, Publishers, VC's, and Business Angels to innovate together. We want to provide a platform to meet each other, present our projects and foster new collaborations.
ICAB is a technology incubator for entrepreneurs wishing to start a business in the field of ICT or Engineering.
The mission of ICAB is to help grow and develop emerging technology companies. By fostering intellectual synergy and networking, ICAB creates a dynamic climate for creative entrepreneurs, enabling the development of new ideas and successful business operations.
ICAB offers a full range of start-up services as well as flexible workspaces in a state of the art facility in close proximity to the center of Brussels and the main university campuses.
The Westartup community exists to help Belgian entrepreneurs move from dreams to reality. The process is fueled by co-creation, which means that an entrepreneur can put his or her idea online and then get constructive support and criticism from other members of the community. At Westartup, entrepreneurs can also look for co-founders, partners, service providers, and investors.
Webmission is a group of Belgian web tech & mobile entrepreneurs, bloggers, journalists, developers and tech enthusiasts that have voluntarily joined forces to promote abroad the many good ideas and projects that are brewing in the country.
Curriculum
Fall 2010 Brussels
The Founder Institute offers a weekly curriculum of company-building sessions designed to help entrepreneurs think through every aspect of their business, from the core idea to the revenue model. Each weekly session is lead by three startup CEO Mentors, who share their unique and often differing opinions on the topic, and provide our founders with expert feedback and advice. Participating Founders are given assignments to build key aspects of their companies between the sessions that are completed in Working Groups with their peers.
Program Sessions
Startup Basics and Orientation
September 12, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Understand the program and startup life.
What do you need to know to be successful in the Founder Institute? What can you expect from launching a startup? What traits are required to be successful?Vision and Values
September 13, 2010, at 12:00 AM: Develop your vision and values.
What are you passionate about? What is your vision? How do you translate passion and vision into a business idea? How do you brainstorm ideas? What are tools for evaluating your ideas? What are the makings of a good idea versus a bad idea? Should you pursue multiple ideas at once, and when should you focus on one?
Founder & CEO, Tapulous
COO & Co-Founder, Playfish
Startup Research
September 20, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Identify your target market.
What market are you pursuing? Is the target market big enough? Is it growing or shrinking? What are the other characteristics of your market, and why do you care? How do you find data on your market? How do you define your competitors? What are inexpensive tactics to do custom market research, such as surveys? How can you determine if you can win in your target market, and when do you decide to walk away?
Co-Founder & CEO, Oxynade
Co-founder, Ostrovok.ru
Naming and Branding
September 27, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Name and brand your business.
What is a brand? Is it you? Is it your vision? How do you determine what you stand for, and then how do you come up with a good company name? What are the characteristics of a good company name? What do you need to do to protect your name?
CEO, JamesList
CEO, Fusebox Inc
CEO, OLPC
Startup Legal and Incorporation
October 04, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Build a legal strategy and incorporate.
Why incorporate? What are the basic legal concepts that you need to know to run a successful company? What are the key legal terms that you need to care about in contracts, with your team, and with your Board? What are common legal mistakes in startups? What are the key legal documents that a startup needs to operate? When do you need to use a lawyer, and when can you handle things on your own? How do you manage a law firm efficiently to get the best work?
Founder, Incubaid
Revenues, Costs and Profits
October 11, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Determine your business model.
How does your business make and spend money? What is the best mix of revenues, or is one revenue stream the right approach? How do you build a realistic financial model? How do you create realistic assumptions for your model? What are ways to check that your assumptions are right? How do you know if your business model is viable?
Digital Engagement Strategy, Mandell Enterprises
Co-Founder & CEO, Oxynade
Co-Founder, mixcloud.com
Hiring, Firing and Cofounders
October 18, 2010, at 06:30 PM: How to find the best people.
What are the right mix of skills that you need to launch a world-class technology company? Should you be looking for cofounders, team members, freelancers or interns? When should you plan to bring on people to help? How do you recruit and interview to find the best resources? What are the compensation guidelines in the beginning for cofounders and other various roles? How do you set expectations, measure results and remove or fire under performing resources?
Founder, Skynet
Co-Founder and CEO , SonicAngel
Founder, SpartaNova
Product and Service Development
November 01, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Develop a plan to build your idea.
How do you get from an idea to an offering? How do you build an offering? What tactics should you use to ensure success? What is the plan to develop your offering? What are tips and tricks to make that plan accurate? What are common mistakes that every founder makes? What are the best practices? How do you navigate competition, and how do you win?
Co-Founder, mixcloud.com
Investor/LP, Fortify Ventures
Founder, Mobile Vikings
Outsourcing, Partners and Suppliers
November 08, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Select key vendors.
What should you outsource, and what do you need to do in-house? What is the core competency of your team, and what should it to be? What vendors do you need? How do you select the best vendors for your business on the best terms? How do you evaluate the economics? What are some horror stories to avoid?
Founder & CEO, Q-layer
Co-Founder, Attentio
Intellectual Property
November 15, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Develop your IP strategy
What is the intellectual property of your business? What types of protections are available, and what are the costs? How do you manage your intellectual property using confidentiality, copyrights, and patents? What can and what should you do on your own, and what do you need a lawyer for? What are common intellectual property problems, and how do you deal with them cost effectively?
Co-Founder, OQO
Marketing and Sales
November 22, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Create a message that resonates.
Who are your customers? What audience are you trying to reach? How do you tell the story of your company? How do you create the right messages? What are the best tactics for your outreach: publicity, guerrilla marketing, advertising? How much should you spend on outreach? How do you measure success?
CEO, Why5Research
CEO, Nimbuzz
CEO, OLPC
Presentation and Publicity
November 29, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Get the world to take notice.
How do you get the world to take notice of your company? What tools and materials do you need to start doing outreach? How do you identify media to write about your company? What are newsworthy stories? How do you craft a story? What are effective tactics to get social media, blog and press coverage? What tactics should be avoided?
Co-Founder, Porthus
Editor , The Next Web
Author, Speaker, Advisor, Gamification Co
Fundraising
December 09, 2010, at 06:30 PM: Plan to raise your first round.
What is the right amount of money to raise from investors? How do you raise capital for a brand new company? How do you identify angels and other seed-stage investors? What do investors expect from the company? What are typical investment structures and deal terms for seed-stage financings? How do you negotiate terms?
CEO, EUnet
Chief Strategy, Agyx (and other organisations)
