Conceptualized by MassVentures in collaboration with Anzu Partners, the Founders School is a pre-accelerator program designed for underrepresented deep tech founders with a focus on empowering early-stage Massachusetts deep tech founders, as well as founders curious about moving and building their business in Massachusetts.
The hybrid program will launch in October 2024 and combines a two-week initial period of exercises, followed by a series of modules and activities. Throughout the three-month core curriculum, founders will learn more about “Why Massachusetts”, and why now is the optimal time to build a high-growth potential business in the Commonwealth. Special emphasis will be placed on guiding founders that are often overlooked by traditional funding sources with specific strategies to overcome commonly faced hurdles.
With the support of key partners that include the Massachusetts Founders Network and ven^x (the first deep tech venture capital collaborative), the Founders School seeks to provide each founder with robust preparation for competitive accelerator programs, as well as guide them through the intricacies of raising money in the early stages.
The MassVentures team will serve a key role throughout the program in educating fellows on the plethora of resources available in the Commonwealth as well as assist them in understanding the many entities - both public and private - that are seeking to work with a wider scope of founders throughout Massachusetts.
Key Dates:
In addition to workshops scheduled from October - December 2024, the inaugural cohort of founders will be expected to attend an event held on Tuesday, October 7th with a day of programming hosted by VenX.
Applications for this fall’s cohort closed on September 10th, 2024. Finalists will be invited for an interview and asked to complete an additional set of questions for consideration to be admitted to the inaugural cohort.