Founders Academy

A lady is writing on a white board and looking at man.
United States - Virtual
4 months

Google for Startups Founders Academies arm startup founders with research-based strategies and coaching to take their leadership and people management skills to the next level.

A lady is writing on a white board and looking at man.
United States - Virtual
4 months

Applications are now closed.

About the program

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Woman chatting with a man, smiling.

About the program

The Google for Startups Founders Academy is a four-month, equity-free virtual program for pre-seed / seed stage startups across the US that is designed to help founders grow their revenues and obtain access to capital. Selected founders will participate in a series of cohort-based workshops and receive customized hands-on support across a wide range of topics including sales, product, strategy, and fundraising. Applications close January 10, 2022 and the next cohort will begin on February 10, 2022.

Key benefits

  • Equity-free

    Equity-free support.

  • Custom Mentorship

    Receive tailored product and leadership support from Google mentors and industry experts.

  • Leadership training

    Become a more effective leader through research-based strategies and expert coaching.

  • Team management skills

    Gain valuable leadership skills to improve your goal-setting, team-building, and people management.

  • Go Global

    Get key insights and best practices to expand your business to new markets.

  • Founder network

    Connect and get support from fellow founders as a part of the Google for Startups alumni network.

Members of startups discussing among each other.

Interested in learning more about our alumni? Browse our global directory and discover startups across regions and industries.

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

When will the program run?

The Google for Startups Founders Academy: United States will begin in February and conclude in May. The cohort will consist of ~40 startups from across the United States.

Is this a virtual program?

Yes, this is a virtual immersive program. All sessions will be live and will be recorded for reference. The expectation is for founders to join the majority of the sessions live.

What are the eligibility requirements for the program?

The business must be a registered entity within the United States. Founders must have at least 4 hours a week to attend each weekly session for 4 months (February - May).

What is the format of the program?

Founders Academy: United States runs for a period of four months with digital workshops, programming, and mentorship taking place each week. Selected founders will participate in a series of cohort-based workshops and receive customized hands-on support from Googlers, industry experts and across a wide range of topics including sales, strategy, hiring and fundraising.

Do startups need revenue to participate?

Revenues have varied widely across past participating startups; many have entered the program pre-revenue and others were generating profit before starting. We expect most participants will generate less than $1M/year. With or without revenue, we will consider the business' traction (users, growth metrics, industry, etc).

How much have typical participants fundraised?

Funding amounts of past participants have varied widely. Many startups had not raised capital prior to the program while others had raised up to $1M before joining the Founders Academy. Part of our program is designed to help participants craft their pitch and better understand investment avenues if fundraising is right for them.

How many employees does a typical participant have?

The average participating startup had 3-4 employees before participating in the Founders Academy.