Program Information

Program Expectations

The purpose of Founder Forward is to be a resource facilitator and targeted, accelerated solutions generator for founders who would like support to reach their next stage of growth. This is not a full accelerator or incubator program. A typical cohort engagement runs for 6-8 weeks.

  • Founders receive unrestricted capital grants to use for start-up and scaling costs

  • Founders are matched with skilled professionals who help them solve key 1-3 business challenges and produce tangible deliverables

  • Founders build a long-term growth support network and amplify their narratives through collective storytelling

Given the accelerated nature of the program, participants are expected to:

  • Attend all meetings and advising sessions

  • Have no major conflicts for the duration of their cohort

  • Participate in community and peer to peer networking opportunities, etc 

Application Requirements

We accept all applications, but are intentional about supporting Black, Brown, and Indigenous founders and other underrepresented groups. Business should be equal or majority owned by individuals who identify with these groups. 

  • Entity must be for profit.

  • We support emerging and early stage founders as defined by: 

    • Business must have a viable proof of concept. We do not accept founders in the ideation stage.  

    • Business will likely be engaged in the following activities: 

      • Building and deploying a product with early customers 

      • Demonstrating market fit for your product

      • Proving out the sales dynamics that will support efficient growth

    • Business is pre to early revenue. Eligible businesses should not be in the stage of raising a Series A or above funding round.

    • Business has a viable proof of concept.

  • Founders/ businesses must have clearly defined challenges in their operations and processes that can be solved with the help of a professional advisor. Advising categories include but are not limited to Operations, Talent, Communications and Marketing, Strategy and Vision, Investments and Pitching, Product Design, UX/UI, Growth and Scaling, Finance, and Business Models, and Customer Acquisition.

  • Businesses should either have a social impact, wellness, or justice component, fill a representational gap in their industry, solve a community/group need, or create greater equity, opportunity, and learning. 

  • Our preference is to support businesses in “middle” markets (e.g., smaller cities, rural communities etc.).

  • Willingness to grow and learn and participate in program activities and in our community. 

  • Willingness to report impact metrics post-program annually up to 2-3 years. 

  • Willingness  to be featured as a grant recipient on all Founder Forward’s marketing materials

  • Businesses in the following industries will be excluded from consideration: Multi-level marketing; Gambling; Lottery equipment and products; Cigarettes and nicotine; Speculative activities including real estate and lending for investments; Sale and/or production of pornographic materials; Sale and/or manufacture of explosives or firearms; Check-cashing or any predatory lending operations; Liquor stores.