Launch Your Startup! with FounderTrac

Raise capital, learn from a proven curriculum and receive one-on-one mentoring to scale your company. Apply for the 2018 FounderTrac Cohort.

- 50+ Angels at the last Demo Day & Dedicated VC
- Full Curriculum w/ Hands-on Custom Mentoring
- Fractional Access to C-Level Executives
- Alumni Program & MIT Licensed Mentoring

Applications ClosedLearn More

Launch your Startup with FounderTrac!

Premier Accelerator

- Receive 1-on-1 "Sherpa" Mentoring
- Utilize our Company Building Framework
- Gain Access to our Capital Network
- Custom Advice | Tailored Startup Services

Applications closed

* applications are closed for now. Check back soon

Launch yo

November 6th

Join us for an amazing evening of startup demos and networking with founders, investors and business ecosystem supporters

REGISTER NOW
Supporting Orginizations

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

"We are so excited to fund this innovative collaboration between Launch Annapolis, Maryland Tech Council and MCVC Partners to give Maryland companies the training, mentoring and funding they need to be top tier companies. FoundersTrac rocks!"

GEORGE DAVIS
CEO at TEDCO

"FounderTrac was a fantastic learning, growing, and networking experience for FREY, and connected us to an amazing array of experienced people within our community. On top of the education, we walked away with two new close mentors (who joined our advisory board in an official capacity) as well as one of our first investors. Highly recommend FounderTrac!"

LEIF FREY
Cofounder, FREY

"Thank you for the opportunity to be a sherpa. It's one of the coolest and most rewarding things that I've done."

CAROLYN GROOBEY
Sherpa

"As a first-time entrepreneur with an engineering background, FounderTrac was the linchpin to my entrance into the complex world of startups to learn how to form a business, do market research to find a product-market fit, market and sell my product and raise venture capital to accelerate my growth"

MATT DAUE
Cofounder, Iotia Corporation
This program was created by founders for founders
The FounderTrac Company Building Framework was created and is maintained to help founders accelerate the creation and expansion of high-growth companies. FounderTrac sits at the intersection of scholarship and practice by combining today’s prevailing research with the experiential perspective of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders. Each of the the 6 work sessions build upon one another.
Session #1
Financing Your Startup: How to Make your Company Fundable
Evening time
- Complete a Business Model Canvas
- Introduction to the Lean Priority Map
- Assemble your pitch deck & financial projections
Session #2
Product Validation: Creating a Company that Listens to the Market
Evening time
- How to conduct proper market research to move towards Product/ Market Fit
-Identify Huge Opportunities to Disrupt your Market
- Avoid costly product development mistakes by using formal validation processes
Session #3
Strategic Positioning: Aligning your Culture & Product with Problem-based Innovation
Evening time
- Use the Brand Blocks systems to identify powerful improvements to your company's market position
- Learn how to develop a brand and business personality to attract your target audience
Session #3
Startup Branding: How to Position your Company for Success
Tuesday September 11th, 2018 - Evening
- Use the Brand Blocks systems to identify powerful improvements to your company's market position
- Learn how to develop a brand and business personality to attract your target audience
- Develop positioning action plan
Session #3
Startup Branding: How to Position your Company for Success
Tuesday September 11th, 2018 - Evening
- Use the Brand Blocks systems to identify powerful improvements to your company's market position
- Learn how to develop a brand and business personality to attract your target audience
- Develop positioning action plan
Session #3
Startup Branding: How to Position your Company for Success
Tuesday September 11th, 2018 - Evening
- Use the Brand Blocks systems to identify powerful improvements to your company's market position
- Learn how to develop a brand and business personality to attract your target audience
- Develop positioning action plan
Session #4
Go-to-Market Strategy: Build an Integrated Strategy for Growth
Evening time
- Learn how to create a Unique Relatable philosophy to strategically possession our company in the market
- Implement a framework for creating scalable and repeatable revenue systems
- How to build a Growth Team
Session #4
Product Development for Startups: Roadmap to Product/Market Fit
Tuesday September 25th, 2018 - Evening
- Establish your product development strategy and standards
- Learn the Strategy of UX/UI Design & Development that will establish your presence in the market
- Learn how to lead a scalable product development team that delivers with speed and performance
Session #5
Product Strategy: Principals for Customer Success & Business Outcomes
Evening time
- Learn modern principles, mental models and team culture needed to build a world class product
- How to assemble an early product team
Session #6
Path to A-Round: Surviving Success & Demo Day Preperation
Evening time
- Perform a Series-A self evaluation
- Legal Structures and Intellectual property
- Operational Gaps and how to complete your Founding Team
- Establish compatible business systems for M&A
Session #6
Business Building: Creating a Company that can Be Acquired
Tuesday October 23rd, 2018 - Evening
- Legal Structures and Intellectual property 
- Operational Gaps and how to complete your Founding Team
- Establish compatible business systems for M&A
- Introduction to the MIT Licensed Mentoring Program
Session #6
Business Building: Creating a Company that can Be Acquired
Tuesday October 23rd, 2018 - Evening
- Legal Structures and Intellectual property 
- Operational Gaps and how to complete your Founding Team
- Establish compatible business systems for M&A
- Introduction to the MIT Licensed Mentoring Program
FounderTrac is a very limited opportunity. There will only be a handful of startups accepted. Apply now to be a part of the 2018 cohort.
Apply Now

FounderTrac Mentors

As a member of the 2018 FounderTrac Cohort you will have access to the following mentors and organizations to help you launch your startup.
Tami Howie
Partner at DLA Piper, Attorney
Jeffrey C. Mund
Founder @ MCVC Partners
Beau Oliver
CEO, Innovation & Leadership
Ryan Sears
Blockchain, Serial Entrepreneur
Prof. Dr. Timothy C. Summers
Hacker, Cybersecurity, Entrepreneur
Carolyn Groobey
FinTech, Payments, Coder
Lori Kavle
Biz Dev, Raising Capital
Phil Robertson
Biz Dev, Raising Capital
Nisha Desai
Investor, Ops Restructuring, ESG Alpha
Julianne Hemingway
Angel Investor, B2B/B2C, Biz Dev
Adam Bixler
Cybersecurity, Entrepreneur, Product
Kathleen Booth
Inbound Marketing, Scalable Sales
Tricia Dyer
Brand Strategist & Design
Ermis Sfakiyanudis
Raising Capital, Growth, Cybersecurity
Bryant Lee
Startup IP Attorney
Bill Carey
B2C, Customer Acquisition
Lauren McFerrin
Ecommerce, Merchandising
Greg Stone
IP Attorney
Dean Papadopoulos
Company Formation, Data Analytics
LaToya Staten
Pitch Coach, Cybersecurity

How it Works

12 Week Program
‍
Accepted applicants will be taken through a 12 week program that includes 6 small-group work sessions led by founders that provide the guidance on utilizing our Company building Framework and tools needed to grow your company. Throughout the program you will also be building a pitch deck and practicing your investor pitch. You will receive feedback from VCs and entrepreneurs that have raised capital.

You will also be connected with a “Sherpa” that will work with you individually to create a customized plan to help your company reach its goals. Sherpas are experienced and successful entrepreneurs and executives dedicated to having a significant positive impact on your business in the short term.

The program is capped with a Demo Day public event attended by investors, press, entrepreneurs and other members of the startup community. This will be an amazing opportunity to get exposure and attract the resources that you need to take your company to the next level! A founder/cofounder from your team must attend and pitch at this event in order to graduate from FounderTrac.

Investment Opportunity
‍
FounderTrac cohort members have an opportunity to meet investors during the program and at the conclusion of the program at a privately hosted Demo Day. FounderTrac's last Demo Day had 250+ attendees including 75+ Angels and VCs. FounderTrac is supported by the venture firm MCVC Partners. In support of FounderTrac they have committed to attracting great companies to Maryland and to supporting the graduates of FounderTrac. From our broad investor group, the last FounderTrac cohort raised 5M+ from the inception of the program up until Demo Day, and they raised additional money following Demo Day.

Ongoing Support
‍
After the 12 Week educational curriculum and demo day, the experience does not end. You will continue to have access to the FounderTrac virtual platform (FounderTrac Alumni) to connect with the ever growing mentor network and other founders from your cohort.

See the Requirements Section for more info.
FounderTrac is a very limited opportunity. There will only be a handful of startups accepted. Apply now to be a part of the 2018 cohort.
Apply Now

Requirements: Who is this for?

- Highly scalable business model (no small businesses)
- The product uniquely solves a problem for a large addressable market
- Less than $500,000 in annualized revenue
- Company Stage: Anywhere from concept to generating revenue
- Considering taking outside investment

While Attending FounderTrac you will..

- Meet outstanding entrepreneurs, investors & advisors
- Pitch at the Demo Day (250+ in attendance, 75+ Angels/VCs at the last demo day)
- Pitch to active angels and VCs and receive feedback during the program
- Receive ongoing 1-on-1 mentoring from highly a successful entrepreneur/executive "Sherpa"
- Form a professional pitch deck reviewed by active investors
- Learn how to pitch your company to investors
- Learn proven techniques to build and sell a scalable product
- Receive valuable lessons on building a company from successful entrepreneurs/executives
- Receive free 1 Year Individual Membership to the Maryland Tech Council ($250 Value)
- Become a member of a FounderTrac Cohort- Ongoing access after the program through FounderTrac Alumni Platform

Timeline & Details

There is no fee to apply or enter the program. FounderTrac does not take any equity upon admission into the program. To graduate, you must be accepted into the program and attend a minimum 5 of the 6 work sessions. It is also required that a founder/cofounder attends and pitches at the demo day.
FounderTrac is a very limited opportunity. There will only be a handful of startups accepted. Apply now to be a part of the 2018 cohort.
Apply Now
Copyright 2018 FounderTrac. All Rights Reserved.