Category: Founders Feedback (Page 6 of 11)

Founders Space was exactly what we needed to jump start ShipRiot. The mentorship and level of expertise they brought to the room, as well as their reputation in the start up community, was all of the highest level. We knew going into the program that everything we’d developed around our business plan, product roadmap, and marketing would all be fair game for critique and reconstruction. And that was definitely the case!

They pushed us to have an MVP before demo day (something we thought wasn’t doable in that time period) and we ended up making it happen! They also provided very insightful feedback based on their years in the startup community and pushed us to think how investors are thinking in this current market. When we left Founders Space after demo day, everything we brought into the program was much more polished, defined and developed.

The experience was further enhanced by the other startups we got to know and work with in the program. They were handpicked from all around the world and across the country. We developed a great community, and I don’t doubt we’ve made some lifelong friends in the process. I would recommend Founders Space to anyone who is looking for a focused and driven space to build their tech dream.

Ginny Townsend
Cofounder, ShipRiot.com

Founders Space and it’s program are high-level education for maximum value.

The program was a great experience. Working together with talented mentors day-by-day has changed the way we perceived our business, allowing us to improve and to well define our targets for the near and long term future.

One of the most exciting and intense experience of my life.

So big thanks to the organizers, mentors and especially Captain Hoff for making things happen!

Michael Bruckberger
Founder MIM.365

I found Founders Space incredibly helpful for our B2B startup, Rakuna, in many practical ways.

Before joining the program, we were just Minnesota transplants and had no connections to the Bay Area’s network. The program definitely helped us to extend our network and spread our name to potential investors.

We learned from Captain Hoff how to gauge an investor’s interest and how to close the investment opportunity. Right after graduating the program, we were able to put that learning into action by closing a small seed investment.

Steve Austin taught us sales is the most critical indicator to validate our business. We took it to heart and were able to close the first B2B sale 8 months in advance of our product launch.

My two cents to other fellow founders. If you want to bring the best out of the program, apply immediately what you are taught.
Ask a lot of questions – even dumb ones. Be open and craving for feedback: the good, bad & even ugly ones.

Trong Dong
CEO of Rakuna

Founders Space has been an amazing experience with a great deal to learn. It’s a very extensive one-month program, where day in and day out you’ve got to give your best to your own startup, aided by amazing mentors and and their guidance.

It’s an amazing place for various reasons: One of them being that it has startups from all around the world. Not only do you get feedback on what you’re doing, but you can put that against perceptions and visions of people from all across the globe, which really helps you planning how you’re going to do work on your own startup.

The mentors have been amazing. They practice your pitch with you, help you out on how to sell and what to sell. Some go easy on you, some (read: Steve Austin :p) grind you till you get the answer.

It’s a great place to learn and grow your startup, in the middle of where everything is happening. With all their help, you’ll definitely want to be here.

I was a bit skeptical about participating in the Founder Space Program mainly because I thought that a short program will not provide us with the necessary value to take Outdover to the next level; however, Founders Space proved me wrong.

The program was a wake up call for me. Thanks to their mentors and classes, I soon realizad that we were not quite ready to market our product, which eventually pushed me to change my focus on creating value for our customers before raising capital.

I learned a lot from their mentors, particularly from Steve Austin. They’re not there to complement everything about your company but to point out your flaws and how to improve them.

I would recommend the program particularly for early stage startups.

Roberto Bustillos
[email protected]
CEO & Co-Founder at OutDover, Inc.

Founders Space is not just a turning point for our startup, it’s a life changer.

As a startup, we always seek to be lean by applying the minimum viable product strategy. The ultimate goal for us is to grow and be a network of talented team players, who create wealth for our stakeholders in a competitive environment by reacting quickly and cost-effectively to changing markets. Founders Space applies the same strategy and mindset to its incubator and accelerator model.

From the very first step, which is applying to Founders Space, until the very end, you feel in-touch with the entrepreneurial spirit. Founders Space wastes no time putting you right in the action. Based on Forbes research, Founder Space and other accelerators, such as Y Combinator and 500 Startups, are some of the best accelerators in the world. We experienced that during Founders Space’s short and effective program. We were accelerated in almost 26 days, and we now have full access to Founders Space and its benefits for an entire year, which is impossible to find in any other accelerator/incubator.

Keep in mind, there is no accelerator that will provide you with the magic wand that will make you turn your dream into reality. You, as an entrepreneur, have to be the driver of your startup’s success. If you agree to that, then Founders Space will be the magic wand that will direct you, advise you, connect you, take care of you, and enlighten you.

Our startup does Crowdfunding for property investment. You won’t believe how much the courses, mentoring and connections we received during the Founders Space program have helped us refine, tune and calibrate our business model, pitching, partnerships, and many other aspects of our business. In every respect, the outcome to our business is making us move forward in the right way and recognize our blind spots, so we can avoid large mistakes.

Last but not least, the friendly and likeminded family who join the program with you are a real asset and lifelong brotherhood. I believe that the success of any entrepreneur requires having a strong belief in connecting with likeminded, successful people with the right attitude.

By being in an environment where you can work, receive mentoring everyday, and build a relationship with local American and foreign entrepreneurs from all over the globe is a precious added value that is hard to find. We were lucky to be part of it. I thank Captain Hoffman and Naomi Kokubo for their continuous support to us during the journey and in the days to come. I totally recommend that any foreign or local startup apply to Founders Space to get plugged into Silicon Valley, hone their skills, and accelerate their growth as a global market player.

I also want to thank all the mentors who we’re still in touch with. And I want to thank all the VCs and angel investors who we met and are still in touch with. The value of this network will move you forward in every way. Just ask us. We evolved and are still evolving rapidly. In Founders Space, you will earn, learn and grow your game.

Best of luck to all of you entrepreneurs out there, your success is our success. Keep it up!

Thank you, Shukran, in Arabic 🙂

Ali Ashkanani
Cofounder of iProperty Network

Founders Space is a truly international educational experience. It is not just an accelerator. It condenses all of the knowledge required to build a company in today’s GLOBAL era down into one month. Then, provides continued follow-on support for an additional 11 months.

The knowledge and network you gain is not just limited to the current company you start, but is something you take with you throughout your entrepreneurial journey. This way, it maximizes your chances of success in the multiple ventures that you will hopefully be a part of.

This knowledge is not just about fundraising. You learn how to build a startup business. Through the multiple hour-long workshops that you can be a part of, you learn from experts in the field, ranging from SEO, marketing, sales, idea generation, validation, bootstrapping, and storytelling. And you learn together with other founders from around the world.

As part of our cohort, I have met fellow entrepreneurs from Austria, Germany, Italy, Chile, Taiwan, UK, India, and more. The knowledge you gain at Founders Space really helps you stand out in the hyper competitive Bay Area ecosystem. Now that is something!

Yatit Thakker
CEO of Omninox

I’m from Korea, and I can tell you that Founders Space’s accelerator program has made my startup, HICS Company, more attractive than before.

Two weeks after completing the program, I’m getting strong interest from potential investors.

Also, Founders Space’s program has helped me not only create a perfect story for introducing our technology to investors, but has also developed my ability to execute on my vision.

I want to thank my mentors: Nathan Schor, Steve Austin and Steve Hoffman, along with the excellent lectures from others. They provided great lectures for me, such as marketing, financials, IP strategy etc. These lectures taught me how to survive in Silicon Valley.

Don’t hesitate to join Founders Space’s Accelerator Program.

This program will you open your eyes on how to find new opportunities in Silicon Valley.

Gabe Seo
CTO & Co-founders of HICS Company

I am proud that OneSoft Connect was selected and accepted as one of Founders Space’s startups. As a top accelerator, Founders Space carefully chooses its participants. We did not know that Founders Space was in the Top Ten Bay Area Accelerators. That fact has greatly heightened our pride.

I have thought that 17 years of my experience as a business consultant working for top-tier companies was enough, but I was wrong. There is always a lot more to learn, and the program here convinced us of this. We have learned, we have stimulated new ideas, and we have pivoted old ones during on-site intensive lessons, mentoring, coaching or pure feedback. I especially love more than 70 video lessons with Steve, which we have access to.

But, above all, is the opportunity to stay in the heart of Silicon Valley – to feel the spirit is something that is worth it. Being in such a vibrant environment always brings a lot of new ideas and inspirations. It can help to change your mindset and enables you to look at your product from a different perspective. To see your own pitches, presentation and the whole product from different angles helps to pivot, or at least reconsider, your strategy. These beliefs derive mainly from the outcomes from lessons with Scott Gray, Steve Austin … and from talks with captain Hoff.

You get immediate and honest feedback. Sometimes cruel (words you don’t want to hear), but genuine. And this is the real mirror. Every single word pushes you forward.

The value which cannot be accomplished “from home” can be done through networking in the bay area. Accelerator helped us to network in the Bay area ecosystem. If you want to be quickly introduced to the ecosystem, there is no faster way. You may never achieve it on your own.

Founders Space is an accelerator (I feel it more as an accelerator than incubator) in all aspects, and it is what creates the value of the service. It really accelerates companies, ideas, networking – all you need to ramp-up your business. Moreover, it has the perfect location – the proximity of Caltrain station makes it accessible both for commuters and those accommodated in San Francisco.

Captain Hoff leads his own ship well. In tandem with Naomi Kokubo, they skillfully maneuver in the waters of the Bay Area. It is incredible how fast Founders Space has developed itself as being on of the Top Ten Silicon Valley Accelerators.

It is one of selective clubs, and we are proud to be part of it.

David Melichar
Founder of OneSoft Connect

We are all in the startup “business” – to learn, build, ship and scale before it’s too late for the market or we get bored and move on to the next thing.

Founders Space and Captain Hoff get that, and this is why they are a perfect fit for everyone that is looking to get things done fast.

Their team is smart, experienced, connected; and they’re all just a bunch of nice people.

Founders Space will change the way you think about your startup.

It’s a pleasure working with everyone at Founders Space. They’ve introduced me to lots of investors and helped me perfect my pitch and strategy.

Thanks guys!

Alex Pelin
CEO of Xspaced & StepOne