Waterloo Winter 2017

Program Schedule

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

Oct 09

Early Application Deadline

Jan 08

Final Application Deadline

Jan 10 06:30 pm week 1

Orientation

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
Jan 10, 2017
Time
05:30pm EST

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
Jan 11 06:30 pm week 1

Vision and Ideas

Jan 17

Refund Deadline

Jan 17 06:30 pm week 2

Research and Customer Development

Jan 24 06:30 pm week 3

Revenue Models

Jan 31 06:30 pm week 4

Naming and Positioning

Feb 07 06:30 pm week 5

Mentor Idea Review

Feb 14 06:30 pm week 6

Startup Legal and IP

Feb 21 06:30 pm week 7

Team and Advisors

Feb 28 06:30 pm week 8

Product Development

Mar 14 06:30 pm week 10

Mentor Progress Review

Mar 21 06:30 pm week 11

Sales and Traction

Mar 28 06:30 pm week 12

Branding and Marketing

Apr 04 06:30 pm week 13

Bootstrapping and Fundraising

Apr 25 06:30 pm week 16

Graduation

week 17+

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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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