Session 1 - Assessing Your Bright Idea: From Concept to Opportunity

In our first Founders Month workshop, participants mastered techniques to systematically test assumptions, refine their hypotheses, and transform an inspired concept into a compelling value proposition. This session was specifically designed to equip aspiring entrepreneurs with the practical frameworks and methodologies needed to evaluate, validate, and transform seedling startup ideas into viable business opportunities.

Key takeaways included:

💡 Lean canvas methodology

💡 Identifying target customers

💡 Honing the value proposition

Session 2 - Bring Your Startup Idea to Life

Rapidly build, measure and learn using hands-on frameworks to iterate your MVP and explore product-market fit. Building on Session 1, this session focused on helping participants to design, test and launch their minimum viable product (MVP). In addition, participants learned about designing a business model using the Business Model Canvas (BMC), and workshopped their product roadmap and go-to-market strategy.

Key takeaways included:

💡 Lean and agile philosophies

💡 Prototyping techniques

💡 Designing your business using BMC

Session 3 - Pitch Perfect: Securing Customers and Investors

Our third workshop focused on teaching our Founders Month cohort how to craft a compelling startup narrative and tailor their pitches in order to close deals, acquire customers, and boost funding through strategic storytelling. Through hands-on coaching and practice led by speaker extraordinaire Jacqueline Nagle, participants learnt to deliver bold pitches highlighting your startup’s vision, traction, and value.

Key takeaways included:

💡 Pitching techniques

💡 Sales, marketing and customer growth

💡 How to approach investors and funding strategies

Session 4 - Assembling a World-Class Startup Team

You have an innovative product and a vision – now you need the talent to match your ambition!

Our final Founders Month workshop focused on helping participants to understand the chemistry behind high-performing early-stage teams. Special guest Annie Luu, Global VP of Marlee (Fingerprint 4 Success), walked participants through self-assessment of their personalities, work drivers and skills, offering a strategic toolkit to serve as a foundation for their future hiring needs.

Armed with their new skills and knowledge, this final session concluded with participants delivering their own stellar pitches to their cohort, and an esteemed panel of guest judges, after which they were provided with invaluable feedback and ideas for next steps.

Key takeaways include:

💡 Ingredients of high-performing teams

💡 Entrepreneur focus and productivity

💡 Clarity on next steps