Customer Funded Startup Accelerator

In Partnership With

What Is the Customer Funded Startup Accelerator?

A fast-paced, sales-first startup program built for West Michigan founders who want to validate ideas, presell offers, and build real traction — not just pitch decks. Over 8 weeks you'll learn to:

Craft offers that resonate and convert
Establish pricing that funds your business growth
Validate customer pain points with paid presales
Launch three sales sprints with clear targets
Build a repeatable playbook for early revenue

Not every startup needs venture capital, but every startup needs to sell

Who Should Apply?

Location: West Michigan–based founders or founding teams
Stage: Idea-stage, bootstrapped, or pre-seed ventures
Mindset: Action-oriented builders ready to test, sell, and iterate
Cost: Free for members of SURGE and/or Michigan Founders Fund. $1500 for all other founders. Inquire about available scholarships.

Program Format

Week	Date	Format	Focus
1	July 23	In-Person	Kickoff, AI-driven personas, customer clarity
2	July 30	In-Person	Offer design & early outreach
3	August 6	Virtual	CRM setup, payment setup, & offer iteration
4	August 13	In-Person	Sprint 1 launch & founder video shoot
5	August 20	Virtual	Sprint 1 check-ins (1:1)
6	August 27	In-Person	Sprint 2 launch
7	September 3	Async	Sprint 2 check-ins (1:1)
8	September 10	Virtual	Progress report
9	September 16	In-Person	Final showcase & celebration

Schedule subject to change based on participant and mentor availability.

Everything You Get When You Join

✅ 8 Weeks of Expert-Led Sales Training
✅ 3 High-Velocity Sales Sprints with Real Revenue Goals
✅ Weekly 1:1 Coaching & Personalized Growth Plan
✅ Stripe Setup + CRM Tools To Collect Payments Fast
✅ Founder Video Content For Sales & Investor Outreach
✅ Final Showcase To Sponsors & Local Business Leaders

100% Focused on Customer Revenue.

Founder Outcomes

Identified and validated a core customer pain point
Launched a pre-sellable offer and refined your sales messaging
Gathered feedback from 10+ paying early users
Built payment infrastructure and made real revenue
A repeatable early sales system & pitch-ready video content

Get Involved

Join as a Coach or Mentor

Share your sales expertise and guide founders through sprints, workshops, and 1:1 sessions. Email [email protected] to learn more.

Sponsor the Program

Position your brand at the forefront of West Michigan's startup ecosystem. Sponsorship packages include branding, event access, and more. Email [email protected] to learn more.

Have questions?
Email: [email protected]