Foundations, an invite-only community of tech startup founders, is proud to announce the launch of our Founder in Residence (FIR) Program. After a successful three-month pilot, we’re excited to introduce an enhanced curriculum, a strengthened mentorship structure, and a variety of recurring events—each designed to help founders quickly accelerate their progress and expand their networks.
Programming
Founder Circles
- Founder circles are private groups for FIRs in similar stages of company building. To join a Founder Circle please ask Root about them in Slack.
- Each founder circle has its own private Slack channel.
- Some founder circles have monthly events (like the fundraising circle w/ pitch clinics) while others schedule meetups ad-hoc or just chat in Slack.
Monthly Show & Tell Event
- A 90-minute Friday session, followed by happy hour, where up to five FIRs demo their products.
- New FIRs pitch their vision and 6-month goals, giving them a platform to attract resources and feedback from the community.
- This event also allows new FIRs and members to meet, build relationships, and identify new potential mentorship relationships.
Weekly Office Hours
- The Foundation’s ops team coordinates well in advance to ensure at least one member or guest mentor is available weekly to hold a three-hour block of office hours. Office hours can be held by founders, functional experts, or investors.
- FIRs can sign up on a first-come, first-served basis for in-depth conversations or brainstorming sessions.
Monthly Pitch Clinic (Optional)
- FIRs can hone their fundraising or sales pitches with our mentors and peers in an intimate workshop format. Pitch clinics are closed to investor members unless they are part of the pitch review panel (which will not always be the case). The Foundation’s ops team coordinates these sessions.
Community Updates
- Our weekly email to members now includes a dedicated FIR Wins/Asks section.
- These highlights come directly from the FIR Slack channel so that the entire community can stay informed, celebrate successes, and offer targeted support.
FAQ