Who Can Apply to Co-Founders?
Co-Founders is a programme for everyone.
We are looking for people who are interested in creating a start-up. Both the people who have skills they could bring to a start-up team, as well as people who already have a great idea or have come up with a problem space, but need a team of skilled people to make it happen. We are also open to teams that have already formed.
Our programme brings together a wide range of people from diverse backgrounds, allowing you to meet potential collaborators you wouldn’t even know existed, and through our learning workshops, mentors, events and networking - help you to try out creating a start-up in a safe, risk-free environment.
Every year we see a full array of outcomes. Ideas succeeding and failing. New ideas developing.
At the programme’s core, Co-Founders is about connecting our community, regardless of background, to develop new ideas and solutions, and accelerate their own personal development.
You don’t need formal qualifications.
You don’t need to be an ‘experienced entrepreneur’ who already knows it all.
You only need to be interested in starting a business.
Our Types of Applicants:
Ideas
People who have an idea for an innovative new product or service
We are looking for ideas that have high-growth potential.
You don’t need to have developed this idea yet or started putting anything into motion – Co-Founders will help you find skilled people to join you as you begin the process of understanding your problem and developing your solution.
Skills
People who have the skills and experience that a start-up needs
Every start-up needs the right co-founders with the skills and experience to get an idea off the ground.
Whether you have skills in software engineering, experience in construction, are a student learning new skills, or you’re great at building relationships with people, there is a start-up idea that needs your skillset. We welcome people from all backgrounds and sectors of the community.
Teams
Preformed Teams
We allow teams of up to 4 people into the programme.
You may have already started fleshing out an idea and want to get a better understanding of design thinking, or maybe you need another co-founder with a specific skillset to join your team; whatever the case, we welcome you to apply and enter the programme together.
Problem Space
Problem Space
We are looking for people that have identified a problem space – it could be something you have personally experienced or something you have seen in your community or globally.
You may not even have a solution or know where to start but Co-Founders can help you to explore the problem space and find skilled people who share your passion and help to bring the start-up alive.
Selection Criteria
For those that apply with ideas, or as a pre-formed team working on an idea, we are simply looking to see that your idea has ‘high growth potential’.
We do not do a deep dive assessment of your idea - that’s for you to do on the programme. We are simply looking to see that the idea is capable of becoming the next big global business or idea.
When you apply with your skillset, we want to get a feel for the type of teammates you’d be looking for, idea spaces that could be of interest, and to get a feel for your mindset.
When you apply with a problem space, we would like to get some information as to why you have chosen this area. What would be the potential global impact? What is your own experience? What kind of teammates you might be looking for?
Interview Process
We take a light touch approach to interviewing. Interviews are done in waves, and we give you 20 mins to talk about your skills and if you have an idea.
We don’t expect you to prepare anything in advance other than having read through what the programme is all about. Questions will be around your background, your skills, your idea or problem space (again, only if you have one) and your mindset. This is the same structure we use for interviews with pre-formed teams as well.