PROGRAMME SEPTEMBER 2018 _ Join Co-Founders if you are curious about building a product that customers will love with a bunch of like-minded, talented people.
Our vision for Northern Ireland is to create a community of innovators so powerful its people can change the world. If you are curious about the world of start-ups and would like to work on a side project or join others to progress their idea - be one of the 50 creative and talented people on our next programme starting in September 2018! A Co-Founder is a person who, in conjunction with one or two others, is instrumental in starting a business. This unique programme will help you to form a team with others, build creative confidence, co-found a business (when you re ready) and create a product that customers really want. If you have the time, energy and enthusiasm to commit to this programme, we would like you to join us. * If you are already part of a team with an early stage idea or have worked together on another project, you can also apply for the programme. The Co-Founders programme comprises 2 main components - the Hothouse and Core. Core is for ready formed teams and the Hothouse allows individuals to form teams. You can apply directly to either programme. CORE INDIVIDUAL WITHOUT A PRODUCT IDEA BUT WITH EXPERIENCE / AMBITION TO CONTRIBUTE TO A TEAM TEAM WITHOUT A PRODUCT IDEA BUT LIKE TO SOLVE PROBLEMS CORE HOW TO CO-FOUND BUILD PRODUCT INDIVIDUAL WITH A PRODUCT IDEA TEAM WITH A PRODUCT IDEA Apply to the Hothouse to meet likeminded and talented individuals to form teams over a weekend. The strongest teams will then be eligible to join the Co-Founders Core programme and work on their product idea. PROGRAMME OVERVIEW Friday 14th September - 5.30pm to 9pm Saturday 15th September - 9am to 5pm Venue: Catalyst Inc, Innovation Centre, Queen s Road Belfast Cost FREE (however significant time commitment) Teams can apply to the 11-week programme directly without going through the Hothouse. PROGRAMME OVERVIEW Saturday 29th September 2018 - Introduction to Design Thinking Workshop from 9am to 1pm Monday evenings from 6pm to 9pm, starting 1st October to 10th December Venue: Catalyst Inc, Innovation Centre, Queen s Road Belfast Cost FREE (significant time commitment but we do understand if you miss 1 or 2 Monday evenings due to work commitments)
an incredible opportunity to meet likeminded individuals and form teams over Friday night/saturday a series of fun, energetic challenges to help you get to know each other and build relationships to form teams a team of experts will help with team formation the strongest teams are then selected to join the Core programme APPLY NOW IF YOU: are curious and want to gain an understanding of product development and start-ups. are someone with an idea for a great new product and need a team. You might even be well beyond an idea and have a prototype or a product with sales. have had success in your career to date (you can do deals / have cracked a significant commercial or technical challenge / other significant achievement). want to develop a product that can disrupt a market and build a significant company around it. STEP 1 - Complete the application form by Wednesday 8th August 2018 (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/septhothouse2018) STEP 2 - Interview We will invite you for an informal interview between Monday 13th and Wednesday 29th August 2018 at Catalyst Inc Offers will be made to candidates by Friday 31st August 2018
CORE 20 Core teams made up of 2 to 4 people will join the 3rd Co-Founders Programme in Sept 2018. CORE HOW TO CO-FOUND BUILD PRODUCT The Introduction to Design Thinking Workshop on Saturday 29th September, provides the toolkit for the programme - it is crucial that you attend this session. An 11-week intense journey of learning. Co-Founders comprises two areas of focus: 1.) How to be a co-founder - Education and knowledge on co-founding delivered by the Connect Team at Catalyst Inc. You will also hear real life examples from our network of Founders of innovation companies. 2.) Developing a Product Mindset through 3 Design Sprints: Define phase, Discovery phase and design phase - Teams will be asked to present their findings at the end of each design sprint. Each team is assigned a coach that will support you on your journey towards validation of your idea using design thinking methodology. Teams will also have access to the new co-working space at the Catalyst Fintech Hub at Danske Bank s headquarters in Belfast. Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO defined design thinking as A HUMAN-CENTERED APPROACH TO INNOVATION THAT DRAWS FROM THE DESIGNER S TOOLKIT TO INTEGRATE THE NEEDS OF PEOPLE, THE POSSIBILITIES OF TECHNOLOGY, AND THE REQUIREMENTS FOR BUSINESS SUCCESS. 2018 PROGRAMME - subject to change CORE WEEKS 1-11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Intro to Design Thinking Design Thinking Sprint 1 DEFINE PHASE Start-up Insights / Review & Prepare Design Thinking Sprint 2 DISCOVERY PHASE Start-up Insights / Review & Prepare Design Thinking Sprint 3 DESIGN PHASE 14 & 15 Sept 29 Sept 1 Oct 8 Oct 15 Oct 22 Oct 29 Oct 5 Nov 12 Nov 19 Nov 26 Nov 3 Dec 10 Dec Note: and each team can schedule their design thinking sessions with their individual coaches at a time and location that suits them. There is an expectation that to properly form as a team and develop a great product that you will need to put more hours into this than outlined above if you want your idea/team to succeed.
TEAMS CAN APPLY DIRECTLY IF YOU: are a team that is already established but don t have a specific product idea and want to identify a big problem worth solving. are already part of an established early stage team but you have not yet achieved product / market fit for your prototype. can commit to attending the Introduction to Design Thinking on 29th Sept and the 11-week programme starting on Monday evenings from 6pm to 9pm, starting 1st October to 10th December HOW DO TEAMS APPLY FOR THE CORE PROGRAMME? STEP 1 - Complete application process by 14th September 2018. (https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/coreco- FoundersSept2018) STEP 2 - Interview Teams will be invited to an informal interview and offers will be made by 19th September. are a team that has been selected through the Co-Founder Hothouse programme. CO-FOUNDERS ALUMNI At the end of the programme you will be eligible to become a Co-Founders Alumni: you will receive introductions to trusted partners of Connect at Cataylst Inc who are looking for co-founders for their portfolio companies or exciting technologies you may be eligible to participate in future Co-Founders events you will have a great network of new entrepreneurs. INFORMATION / CONTACT US To find out more about Co-Founders, please contact Sonya Kerr, Programme Manager on +44 (0)28 9073 7828 or email sonya.kerr@catalyst-inc.org. Please note all meetings will be conducted in the strictest confidence and no information or contact details will be shared without your approval.
It is an invaluable experience for anyone who is interested in entrepreneurship. Surpassed all expectations I had. Great bunch of people, excellent support from all staff, met 2 great cofounders. Amazing experience. The ability to meet people with other ideas, scratching their own itch. It's uniqueness for Northern Ireland and possibly even the whole of Ireland and UK, intensity which promotes getting things done, professionalism of the organisers and their genuine desire to see successful teams work together on a future service/product. It teaches people how to setup a successful business efficiently - not waste their time and importantly fail fast! Good experience, positive outcomes the investment made into the teams and at no cost! It s a great programme to learn how to properly validate an idea. A good opportunity to explore a business idea with others and get useful training with great support, all at no cost. Excellent platform for creative thought; fantastic group of people and a brilliant initial weekend. I think it's kind of a must for anyone with entrepreneurial aspirations or a dormant desire to change the world. I am really excited about our concept and I wouldn't have the confidence to push this forward if it hadn't been for co-founders. A massive thank you to all of you - you are all amazing! To learn how to take an idea through to a working product and implement design thinking throughout the process. Also to continue to immerse ourselves in the start-up scene in Northern Ireland. RECOMMENDED READING FOR THE PROGRAMME The Founder's Dilemmas: Anticipating and Avoiding the Pitfalls That Can Sink a Startup by Noam Wassermann The Lean Startup: How Constant Innovation Creates Radically Successful Businesses by Eric Ries Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential within Us All by Tom & David Kelley Sprint: How To Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp For further information visit: http:///programmes/co-founders We have created 29 teams so far - don t miss this opportunity to take part in Co-Founders 2018!