Absolutely nothing! Joining our program and walking away with a shiny new prototype costs you zero equity — zip, zilch, nada. We're here to help you bring your concept to life without taking a bite out of your company.

Now, if you decide to accept funding from us afterward, we'll chat about equity then, but that's totally up to you! Feel free to take your prototype, validate your value proposition, impress design partners and industry experts, and even use it to raise funds elsewhere. And guess what? We won't feel bad if you get funded by someone else — we'll be cheering you on all the way!

Absolutely! We're here to supercharge your journey from concept to reality. Here's the scoop on what we offer:

• Prototype power-up: We help you refine your idea and develop a minimum sellable prototype that'll turn heads. With our expert design resources, your inspiring vision comes to life in no time!
• Networking nirvana: Along the way, we'll introduce you to industry experts and insiders within our extensive network. If we know them, you'll get to know them too!
• Expert guidance: While you know your market best, we're by your side with product research, competitive analysis, and top-notch design support. We help you reach your own conclusions and make your product shine.
• Funding fuel: At the end of the program, we're ready to invest up to $250,000 in your venture. If we're blown away by your product (and we think we will be), we'll also bring other lead investors on board.

So yes—mentorship, funding, networking—you get it all! Ready to bring your big idea to life?

We're on the lookout for passionate founders, who have unique insights into the problems they're aiming to solve. If you and your cofounders eat, sleep, and breathe your vision, you're already halfway there! Here's what we're looking for:

• Passion and Vision: You have a burning passion for your idea and can sell your vision like no one else. We expect you to take the minimum sellable experience we help you create, gather feedback, and sign up initial design partners. Your ability to champion your vision is key, and we'll be cheering you on every step of the way!
• Feedback and hustling skills: You're not just a thinker — you love engaging with real humans! We value founders who can test their ideas with actual users, gather invaluable feedback, and get in front of decision-makers. Your knack for connecting with people and refining your product based on real-world interactions is a big plus.
• Enterprise/B2B Focus: We specialize in enterprise and B2B ideas. If your concept is a straight-up consumer play, this program isn't the best fit for you. But if you're solving big problems for businesses, we're all ears!
• Early-Stage Concepts: While we do invest in later-stage startups, this program is all about nurturing early-stage ideas. If your idea is in the concept stage and you're ready to bring it to life, that's perfect.

Great question! So, at what stage should your startup be to join us?


Well, we do invest in companies that are already bringing in revenue — so if that's you, don't hesitate to shoot us an email or reach out!

But this program? It's all about the early birds. Think stages -1 or 0! We're talking about the riskiest, most exciting part of the entrepreneurial journey, where founders need real help to turn big ideas into reality. We're here to provide execution support, not just sprinkle around some advice.

So, the short answer: as early as it gets! And hey, if you've already made some progress and are ready to start selling with an amazing experience, we've got you covered too.

No matter where you are in your early-stage adventure, we're ready to jump in and help make your vision come to life!

Our program is a dynamic 4-week adventure conducted virtually, so you can join us from anywhere. If you're in the Bay Area or Dallas, you'll also have access to our office spaces — but no worries if you're not! Here's the scoop:

• Own a sizzling sellable prototype: We'll help you craft a sellable experience that brings your vision to life. Get market ready.
• Engage with real humans: Get out there and demonstrate your product to early adopters and decision-makers, gathering invaluable feedback.
• Refine and fine-tune: Use these insights to polish your product to perfection later.
• Showcase to investors: At the end, you'll present your masterpiece to us at Shift Left Ventures and other investors we've lined up.

• Concept and problem statement: Clearly define the problem your product addresses.
• Target buyer: Describe who your ideal customer is, and the market you're aiming to serve.
• Solution hypothesis: Present your proposed solution, and how it uniquely solves the problem.