Founders Fast Track

Founders Fast Track: Sprint to Success

Accelerate your business in 6 weeks 

Innovation Factory’s Founders Fast Track is an intensive training program designed to equip your start-up as you embark on your first fundraise with the essential tools, resources, and skills you need to succeed.

Apply to participate in this unique and interactive 6-week training cohort. Founders Fast Track features a comprehensive curriculum at no cost and covers critical topics such as customer development, pitch preparation, funding strategies, and market trends. Eligible start-ups will have access to mentorship, network-building activities, and educational workshops. 

Founders Fast Track culminates in a speed pitching event where your company will have the opportunity to connect and pitch to a minimum of three angel or preseed/seed stage investors. 

The top 10 best-performing start-ups will be offered an exclusive invitation to pitch for cash prizes and more at Innovation Factory’s flagship competition, LiONS LAIR, in front of an audience of 300+ people. 

APPLY NOW

6 WEEK BREAKDOWN 

WEEK 1 – KICK OFF 

Meet and greet and program run down. 

WEEK 2 –  PERFECT YOUR PITCH 

Learn the do’s and dont’s of pitching, build your 5-minute pitch, and more. 

WEEK 3 – GROWTH MINDSET

Everything sales and marketing! 

WEEK 4 – PANEL SESSION 

Moving the Needle: From one founder to another

WEEK 5 – Investment Readiness

Everything you need to feel ready to take on investment. 

WEEK 6 – Protect your idea

Learn the in’s and outs of IP 

INVESTOR SPEED PITCHING DAY

At the end of the cohort training, each company will have the opportunity to pitch to three early-stage investor groups in our network.

*Please see the application form for the current cohort program session dates.

YOU SHOULD APPLY TO FOUNDERS FAST TRACK IF YOUR BUSINESS:

  • Is past proof of concept
  • Is in start-up to SME stages of business
  • Is an innovative and scalable technology
  • Falls within one of the following sectors: Life science, ICT, advanced manufacturing, smart transportation, cleantech, and social innovation
  • Is ready to engage with our training sessions and expert mentors
  • Is able to participate and engage with us at our Hamilton office location

APPLICATIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL APRIL 9th, 2023

APPLY NOW

*Attendance is mandatory unless otherwise communicated with the Venture Growth team. Failure to meet program requirements will impact your eligibility for the Lions Lair pitch competition. 

Want to receive notifications when applications for the next cohort are open? Complete this quick form:

SIGN UP FOR NOTIFICATIONS

LiONS LAIR is an annual competition presented by Innovation Factory in partnership with the City of Hamilton Economic Development office, which brings together the entrepreneurship and innovation community in Hamilton. The competition gives innovators the opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of our city’s top business experts – the “Lions” – for a chance to win big prizes.