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Founders School Application

The MassVentures’ Founders School is an opportunity for early-stage founders in the deep-tech space seeking to refine their business model, prepare for competitive accelerator programs, and jump-start their business to becoming investment ready. 

 

We invite underrepresented founders, both based in Massachusetts or seeking to relocate to Massachusetts, who are interested in engaging in a robust six-month hybrid program focused on the intersection of research, technology, and the creation of real-world solutions.

The Spring 2025 Cohort will consist of up to 10 founders.

 

Launching in late March 2024, the program will combine an initial three-month period of needs assessments with a series of modules, expert-led workshops, and curated mentorship. Founders will then be matched with individual coaching teams who will work with them for the summer months. The core program will conclude in September 2025, and select founders will then be invited for an additional six months of coaching that will be focused on fundraising and commercialization. 

 

The program will provide founders with the opportunity to hear from and interact with investors, industry leaders and entrepreneurs who have achieved success in their fields. Both group and individual sessions will provide an invaluable opportunity for founders to interact with each other and the MassVentures and ven^x teams.

Key Areas of Focus:

  • The Massachusetts Landscape: Navigating State Resources
  • Raising Money in Today’s Funding Climate
  • Non-Dilutive v. Dilutive Funding
  • Start-Up Equity & Cap Table Essentials
  • Challenges Facing Diverse Founders
  • Translating Your Technology for an Investor Audience
  • Technical Validation & Feasibility
  • Business Model Development – GTM Strategy
  • Product Development & Commercialization
  • Founder Wellness & Team Development
  • Defining Your Financial & Business Case
  • Closing the Deal – CEO Strategy

Applications for the spring cohort closes on February 28th, 2025 at 5:00PM EST. Finalists will be invited to interview with the selection team for consideration to join the spring cohort.

Personal Information

First name *
Last name *
Email *
Phone *
LinkedIn Profile (if available) *
City and State: *

Company Information

Startup Name: *
Website (if available):
Industry Focus: *
Other *
Are you a first-time founder?: *
How much money have you raised to date, if any?:

Screening Questions

A. Business: Please describe your business in 10 words or less.

B. Team: Tell us more about you and your existing team. Are you working on your business full-time? If not, what other commitments do you presently have? Who else is working with you on your venture (i.e. co-founders, team members, advisors, board members)?

C. Advisors: Let’s think of what’s holding you back and what resources you need to grow. You have to choose 3 (real or imagined) advisors for your business. Share the profile of each advisor. Please go into detail about the problems they will help you solve in the business - and how.

D. Scenario: You receive a $200,000 investment to accelerate your startup. How would you allocate this funding to maximize its impact over the next 12 months? Please break down your allocation and explain the reasoning behind each decision. Be specific.

E. Impact: How will participation in the MassVentures Founders School contribute to your growth as a founder and the evolution of your business? Tell us what you hope to gain by being a part of this program and part of the MV network.

F. Video Pitch: Tell us in a short video (2-3 minutes) why we should invest money, time, and resources into you. Please help us better understand your vision, team, and innovation.

Please submit a link to your video pitch, and make sure it's shareable. Youtube is recommended.

*All applicants will be added to the Massachusetts Founders Network newsletter.

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MFN Deal Rooms are stored on MFN/Lever Google Workspace. Only the following people will have access to your Deal Room:

 

  1. You and any members of your team that you designate. You will have editing privileges, and can add others with editing privileges at your discretion.
  2. MFN/ Lever staff will have administrative access, but we will not give access to any third parties without your consent.
  3. Investors that you select.

 

Your Deal Room will have all of the security protections provided by Google.

Founders are everywhere, but resources aren’t.

That’s a shame, because the next big idea could come from anywhere.

 

The Massachusetts Founder Network aims to bridge the gap, giving startup founders equitable access to resources that will help their companies grow.

 

We support MA founders no matter where they come from, their company’s stage, or their business sector. We want to democratize access to the resources that will help them accelerate—and excel. All founders are welcome to find resources and community at MFN while creating connections, expanding their networks, and learning from one another.

About MFN

The Massachusetts Founders Network is a central hub for all things startups, fostering innovation and collaboration across the state. MFN offers valuable networking, resources, mentorship, and community for startup founders in Massachusetts. 

 

MFN is produced by Lever, a startup accelerator based in North Adams. Our work is supported by funding from and collaboration with the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, based in Westborough.

 

We’ve been advising and connecting with entrepreneurs for years, and we’re using that knowledge and network to launch something new, with the help of an advisory board of successful founders and major players in the startup ecosystem. 

We plan to launch the Massachusetts Founders Network in summer 2023. Sign up for our newsletter to get alerts about our launch, new features, and MFN events!