FounderHUB

FounderHUB

Finding your inner founder over three weeks of intensive discovery.

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Becoming a Founder isn’t just about your business idea. It’s an investment in changing your mindset. Are you ready to think like an entrepreneur?

RMIT Activator FounderHUB is a three week program structured in 7 sessions, combining instructor-led and self-paced training. The program integrates design thinking methodologies, workshops and group coaching to provide aspiring and emerging founders with the entrepreneurial toolkit and nurture the founder mindset to kick-start their start-up journey.  

The program is designed to precede the 12-week pre-accelerator program, LaunchHUB. FounderHUB participants with an existing startup idea or problem they are passionate about solving will be taken through a learning experience to ideate and generate a sound solution. Successful participants will be able to shape and progress innovative ideas into tested prototypes.

FounderHUB is here to help your idea flourish, which is why we offer the Seedling Fund to eligible founders.

The Seedling Fund is a $500 boost, given on behalf of the Activator Capital Fund to FounderHUB participants who attend all sessions and complete the online learning portion of the program.

Is FounderHUB the right program for me?

The program aims to help guide aspiring and emerging founders. Be it for a passion project or the possibility to commercialise a university assignment, we’re here for you! 

FounderHUB founders are:

FounderHUB is open to all RMIT students, alumni and staff. Successful applicants will also have:

  • A team that is driven and purposeful – at least one team member must be able to attend all sessions over the program duration. Solo founders are welcome too.
  • An idea you're passionate about, or a problem you're passionate to solve.
  • A curious mindset and a willingness to ask questions, take on feedback, share learnings and support your fellow founders.

If this opportunity sounds right for you but you don’t have an idea, you’re still welcome to apply. Fill out the form below and we’ll try to connect you with a likeminded founder with an existing concept.

Time commitments

Workshop sessions: 1.5 hours

Get the framework you need to know your next steps. Each session is 1.5 hours long, once per week, for the entire three week duration of FounderHUB.

Check-in sessions: 1 hour

Share your achievements, obstacles and confusions all in one. Our dedicated coach will advise you on how to best deal with the situation that’s keeping you moving forward.

Activator community: ongoing

Your FounderHUB experience includes an invitation to our co-working space, community membership, events and many more.

Online learning

You will also have access to our online learning hub to support your founder journey. Here you will find self-paced sessions for you to do in your own time – because we understand that life gets busy!

Program Structure

Week 1

Session 1 (in person): Ideas Jam and Team forming

  • Why are you here? Get to know yourself, your purpose and your cohort. 

Session 2 (self-paced online): Solving the Right Problem

  • Understanding how your user interacts with the problem and identifying key hypothesis around your idea for testing. 

 

Week 2

Session 3 (in person): Design Valuable Solutions

  • Generate ideas through the lens of desirability, viability and impact. 

Session 4 (self-paced online): Intro to Lean Business 

  • Set a strategy that focuses on the founder team, skills and mindset necessary to deliver impact . 

Week 3

Session 5 (in person): Test, Don’t Guess

  • Time to bring your startup to life by crafting a prototype.

Session 6 (self-paced online): Testing and Storytelling 

  • Test your ideas before creating an engaging, clear and impactful pitch presentation of your startup.

Session 7 (in person): Pitch

  • It’s time to show us what you’ve got, pitch your startup for the chance to win a spot at our pre-accelerator LaunchHUB Bootcamp.

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Meet Juan, your FounderHUB facilitator

Juan’s experience in innovation and entrepreneurship, paired with his personable and highly motivating coaching style, makes him the perfect person to lead you through your FounderHUB experience. He’ll be on hand to coach you through the founder journey and checkpoints throughout the FounderHUB course.

Find out more about Juan

Express your interest

Fill in this simple form to kick off your FounderHUB journey – whenever we’re open for the next intake! Remember, FounderHUB is designed to be the first of many steps into what it means to be a founder, we can’t wait to begin this journey with you.

2022 Program Timeline

  • 19 Sep: Applications open
  • 13 November: Applications close
  • 21 November: Program begins
  • 8 Dec: Pitch session (end of program)

FAQ

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FounderHUB is for founders who have an existing idea or passion for solving a problem – it doesn’t matter how developed your idea is, we'll help you build on it. The program also works if you have an existing startup, side hustle or a university project you want to take further. If you interested in becoming a founder and working in a startup without an idea, please still apply and we will endeavour to match you up with a likeminded founder.

There will be a mix of in person and online components to the FounderHUB program. There will be four sessions in person and online learning content for you to complete in your own time. The check-in sessions are on-demand by first come first serve basis – it’s highly recommended for you to attend and share your thoughts. Our coach and facilitator understand first-hand that the startup journey can be highly challenging, confusing, and at times lonely so make sure you maximise the resources the program offers! 

While we understand that everyone has their own preferences and/or have prior engagements scheduled pre-program, you’ll get the most out of the program if you attend all the in-person sessions (which are only four!). Though if you really can’t make it, please ensure at least one person from your team can attend so you won’t lose any of the materials given.  

RMIT Activator does not take any stake in your IP and we wish to not be involved in any IP ownership-related issues. The knowledge we share on this program is the University’s way of supporting the wider community with no strings attached. However, if you are a staff member and/or looking to translate your research, we strongly encourage you to contact IP & Commercialisation to settle things early.

Absolutely! You just need at least one of your members to be RMIT affiliated. 

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information