Wakanda Forever

Program Schedule

Our flagship 'FI Core' program combines structured sprints with constant feedback to help you reach the milestones needed for investment and growth.

Aug 18

Early Application Deadline

Sep 22

Final Application Deadline

Jul 25 06:00 pm week 1

Accelerator Kickoff

During the Accelerator Kickoff, you will meet the Local Leaders and your cohort of Founders, and establish how your startup will use the program to push your business forward.

Date
Jul 25, 2024
Time
09:00pm EDT

Sprints

Your cohort will be split up into the "Validate Track", "Launch Track" or "Growth Track", depending on each Founder's stage and existing progress.

The below deliverables are in addition to any custom "Epic Sprints" you may receive based on your specific challenges, and are just high-level previews of the 10-15 deliverables you'll complete through Working Groups and Office Hours:

Deliverables

Validate Track
  1. Introductions - Prepare concise introductions on your background, skillset, and goals in FI to share with the cohort.
  2. Office Hours - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
Launch Track
  1. Office Hours - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
  2. Hotseat Pitch - Prepare a one sentence verbal pitch for the weekly "Founder Hotseat", where you present to Mentors during the Feedback Sessions.
Traction track
  1. Hotseat Pitch - Book your first Office Hours with Local Leaders and Mentors to get guidance on the next steps for your business.
  2. Vision Statement - Create a 3-5 sentence "Why Statement" that tells a cohesive story about why your company exists, in preparation for Mentor Feedback during the next session.
Sprints
Research
Aug 06 12:00 am week 2

Vision & Mission

Aug 08 12:00 am week 3

Customer Development

Dec 12 05:00 pm week 21

Founder Hotseat: Pitch Your Startup to Wakanda Investors & Advisors

Mar 11 05:30 am week 33

Pitch Practice for Startups Entering the U.S. Market, featuring SelectUSA

Aug 19

Refund Deadline

Aug 19 12:00 am week 56

Revenue & Business Models

Sep 02 12:00 am week 58

Pitch Mastery

Sep 09 12:00 am week 59

Mentor Idea Review

Sep 16 12:00 am week 60

Legal & Equity

Sep 23 12:00 am week 61

Go-to-Market & Scale

Oct 07 12:00 am week 63

Product Development

Oct 14 12:00 am week 64

Investor Progress Review

Oct 21 12:00 am week 65

Co-Founders & Team

Oct 28 12:00 am week 66

Growth

Nov 04 12:00 am week 67

Funding

Nov 11 12:00 am week 68

Graduation

week 69+

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Join the world's largest pre-seed startup accelerator

The Founder Institute is the world’s most proven network to turn ideas into fundable startups, and startups into global businesses. Since 2009, our structured accelerator programs have helped over 7,500 entrepreneurs raise over $1.85BN in funding. Based in Silicon Valley and with chapters across 100 countries, our mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated people to build impactful technology companies worldwide.


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