Deadline Date: June 21, 2026
The Founder Catalyst programme is offering to support early-stage startups in building globally scalable ventures through deep customer understanding and rapid market traction.
The programme focuses on deep customer and market insights, rapid market traction, global scaling, founder-centric development, strategic growth planning, fundraising readiness, international expansion, and building high-performing teams and networks.
Founder Catalyst is designed for ambitious startup founders who are committed to building impactful, globally relevant companies and are willing to engage in continuous learning and coaching. It targets individuals who actively seek to understand their customers, raise capital, and collaborate with world-class talent to bring their ideas to life. The programme is not intended for non-startup businesses such as corporate innovation teams, small and medium enterprises, consultancies, or service-based firms, nor for individuals who lack commitment, openness to feedback, or the drive required to navigate the challenges of startup growth.
The programme operates in seasonal cohorts, welcoming startups from across the country to work toward tailored growth outcomes. It is delivered through a combination of virtual sessions and in-person community engagement in major metropolitan areas, ensuring accessibility regardless of location. Over a seven-month period, participants engage in structured activities including recurring sprints, accountability check-ins, one-on-one mentoring, and collaborative group sessions, with an expected weekly commitment of two to four hours.
A key feature of the programme is its founder-first, founder-centric approach, driven by experienced entrepreneurs who understand the realities of building startups. Each participating startup is paired with a dedicated Entrepreneur-in-Residence who works closely with the founders as a hands-on advisor. These mentors support founders in defining their mission, vision, and values, setting measurable goals, executing strategies, and addressing skill and knowledge gaps.
Participants gain access to a broad range of expertise, including business modelling, fundraising strategy, market research, product development, sales operations, leadership coaching, and talent acquisition. The programme also helps founders refine their pitches, prepare for raising private capital, expand into international markets, and build strong professional networks. Through this structured and supportive environment, Founder Catalyst aims to equip startups with the tools and capabilities needed to achieve sustainable growth and global impact.
For more information, visit Ministry of Awesome.
