Student founders often need help navigating the process of building a venture, particularly in the early stages. While industry veteran mentors can have a big impact on teams who have found problem/solution fit and are ready to start scaling, they may not know what it’s like to be a student entrepreneur just getting started. Our Founders-in-Residence are recent grads who went through the InnoPath program, so they have firsthand experience with the program and the many resources available to student teams in the critical early stages of building their ventures. By sharing their experiences and expertise, FiRs can help you:

Increase the quality of your application to the program
Help you get the most out of the InnoPath experience
Direct you in planning your journey from Walk to Run

Types of Engagements

FiRs meet with student teams for 30-minute sessions either in person at Innovate@BU, or via online conferencing. There are three types of engagements:

Application Reviews - The FiR will listen to the team’s application pitch, assesses the elements of the pitch against the acceptance criteria, and makes a recommendation whether the team is ready to book an application interview session or continue to refine their pitch. An application review is required of all teams who want to pitch to enter the program. If you have already applied to the program, you can book your application review here.
Walk Plan Reviews - The Walk Plan is a document that captures a team’s objectives that will take them through the Walk stage and ready them to advance to Run. It includes a set of OKRs aligned with the Run acceptance criteria. If you want to receive the $250 grant, create your Walk Plan and then meet with a FiR to review it. They can provide feedback and help you refine the plan.
Progress Coaching - This is a flexible, optional feedback/coaching engagement where teams can discuss how to unblock challenges or find resources needed to advance their progress. If you’d like to book a coaching session with a FiR, use this link.