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Founders Academy

2 men and a woman sitting around a round table, laughing.
United States - Virtual
4 months

A four-month, virtual program for promising Black, Latinx, and veteran-led tech startups based in the US. We will accept applications until January 10th.

2 men and a woman sitting around a round table, laughing.
United States - Virtual
4 months

Applications are now closed.

About the program

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Woman chatting with a man, smiling.

About the program

The Google for Startups Founders Academy is a four-month, equity-free virtual program for pre-seed / seed stage startups across the US that is designed to help founders grow their revenues and obtain access to capital. Selected founders will participate in a series of cohort-based workshops and receive customized hands-on support across a wide range of topics including sales, product, strategy, and fundraising. Applications close January 10, 2022 and the next cohort will begin on February 10, 2022.

Key benefits

  • Equity-free Support

    Four months of equity-free programming and community offerings

  • Mentorship

    Every participant is matched with a Googler

  • Mental Health Therapy

    Mental health and business coaches provided at no cost

  • Investor in Residence

    Dedicated investor office hours to help prepare you for your fundraiser

  • Sales and Pitch Coaching

    Refine your sales approach for partners and customers

  • Access to Additional Workshops

    Optional topics on Google products, UX/UI, and leadership

Frequently asked questions

When will the program run?

The Google for Startups Founders Academy: United States will begin in February and conclude in May. The cohort will consist of ~40 startups from across the United States.

Is this a virtual program?

Yes, this is a virtual immersive program. All sessions will be live and will be recorded for reference. The expectation is for founders to join the majority of the sessions live.

What are the eligibility requirements for the program?

The business must be a registered entity within the United States. Founders must have at least 4 hours a week to attend each weekly session for 4 months (February - May).

What is the format of the program?

Founders Academy: United States runs for a period of four months with digital workshops, programming, and mentorship taking place each week. Selected founders will participate in a series of cohort-based workshops and receive customized hands-on support from Googlers, industry experts and across a wide range of topics including sales, strategy, hiring and fundraising.

Do startups need revenue to participate?

Revenues have varied widely across past participating startups; many have entered the program pre-revenue and others were generating profit before starting. We expect most participants will generate less than $1M/year. With or without revenue, we will consider the business' traction (users, growth metrics, industry, etc).

How much have typical participants fundraised?

Funding amounts of past participants have varied widely. Many startups had not raised capital prior to the program while others had raised up to $1M before joining the Founders Academy. Part of our program is designed to help participants craft their pitch and better understand investment avenues if fundraising is right for them.

How many employees does a typical participant have?

The average participating startup had 3-4 employees before participating in the Founders Academy.