3 Startup Sprints with Funding to Validate Your Idea
From Concept to Company: Exploring "Founder Sprints" for Start-Ups Still Finding their Product-Market Fit
Recently, I’ve noticed an interesting rise in more experimental programs for entrepreneurs that enable pre-idea and pre-traction founders to receive capital to iterate on their ideas rapidly. “Sprints” have been the recent one on my radar that I think has the potential to bring lots of value to entrepreneurs.
Think of them as short, high-intensity programs designed to help you validate your startup idea fast. You get a little funding, a lot of support, and a structured runway to figure out if your idea is worth building. Whether you're testing an MVP, talking to users, or just trying to move from zero to one, these sprints give you the capital and resources to get started.
Here are three “sprints” for entrepreneurs seeking funding to validate and test their ideas!
1. Forum Foundry by Forum Ventures
Forum Foundry is a zero-to-one sprint for B2B SaaS founders. Over 4 weeks, you'll receive a $2,500 stipend to validate your idea, engage with potential customers, and leverage AI tools. At the end, you have the opportunity to pitch for $200,000 in pre-seed funding. It's an intense, focused program to help you move quickly from concept to conviction. Participants gain access to AI-powered startup tools, mentorship from seasoned founders, free NYC office space, and a community of high-caliber peers.
The program focuses on founders who aim to build the next generation of B2B companies, especially those that leverage AI from day one in fields like fintech, healthtech, the future of work, and more.
Important Dates: Applications are due May 2nd, 2025
2. Character Labs by Character VC
Character Labs is a four-week sprint program tailored for pre-seed AI startup founders aiming to achieve product-market fit. Led by the creators of the original Design Sprint, it combines intensive, hands-on sprints with immediate funding and mentorship. Participants receive a $125,000 investment upon admittance to the program.
The program kicks off with a 3-day in-person session in San Francisco, followed by remote participation. It's optimized for AI startups but open to all software products and software-enabled services.
Important Dates: Applications for the next cohort are due by April 27, 2025. The program begins on June 4, 2025.
3. Speedrun by a16z
For those at a slightly later stage, Speedrun is Andreessen Horowitz’s no-nonsense program for early-stage builders in AI. It’s 8 weeks, fully funded, and designed to take you from raw idea to fundable startup at speed.
What makes Speedrun special is how much signal it packs into such a short time. You get directly plugged into the a16z network, build shoulder-to-shoulder with world-class founders, and emerge with something tangible. This 12-week program is perfect for builders at the intersection of tech, entertainment, and AI—especially those creating tools, experiences, or platforms that shape the future of AI and creative landscapes. a16z selects start-ups for the program with the intention of providing an up to $1 million investment per company.
Important Dates: Applications are due May 11, 2025, and the program will run from July 28 to October 10, 2025.
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