Founder-in-Residence (FIR) Program
6-month equity-free residency for social enterprise founders building innovative software and technology solutions
Program Overview
The Centered Founder-in-Residence (FIR) Program is a 6-month, equity-free residency designed specifically for early-stage social enterprise founders building innovative solutions with software or technology components. The program is structured to nurture founders from the idea stage through to MVP and early market validation, with a strong emphasis on mentorship, community, and practical resources.
Duration: 6 months (hybrid model: in-person & virtual)
Program Structure
Month 1: Exploration & Customer Discovery
Focus / Activities:
- Rapid customer interviews / surveys / ethnographic research
- Problem-market fit exploration (pain, frequency, willingness to pay)
- Competitive landscape & ecosystem mapping
Key Deliverables / Metrics:
- 50–100 interviews (or an equivalent benchmark)
- A prioritized list of hypotheses (customer segments, pain, value props)
- Early "value propositions" tested in landing pages / messaging
Support & Coaching: Workshop: "Designing high-impact discovery interviews"; mentor 1:1 on interview scripts; peer review of hypotheses
Month 2: Low-Fidelity Testing & Pre-commitment Experiments
Focus / Activities:
- Build landing pages, concierge versions, Wizard of Oz flows, mockups to test value prop
- Run paid ads, cold outreach, micro-experiments to test demand
- Try to secure letters of intent, pre-orders, or paid pilots
Key Deliverables / Metrics:
- Conversion rates (visitors → signups, clicks → commitments)
- Number of LOIs or pre-orders / pilot commitments
- Cost per acquisition / experiment metrics
Support & Coaching: Workshop: "Lean experiments & funnel hacking"; mentor on ad / outreach scripts; peer critiquing of funnels
Month 3: Minimum Viable Offer & First Sales / Pilots
Focus / Activities:
- Package your first offering (MVP-lite, pilot, service component) that can be sold
- Run pilot programs, pre-sales, or contracts with early customers
- Gather early feedback, build initial user relationships
Key Deliverables / Metrics:
- At least 1–3 paying customers or pilots
- Customer feedback loops defined (surveys, interviews)
- Basic onboarding or delivery plan
Support & Coaching: Workshop: "Sales & pilot execution"; mentor help with contracts / pricing & discount strategies
Month 4: Iteration, Scaling Validation, Refining the Product
Focus / Activities:
- Based on pilot feedback, tweak offering, process, pricing, positioning
- Expand sales efforts, reach more prospects, refine funnel
- Start building minimal product modules needed to support paying customers
Key Deliverables / Metrics:
- Metrics on retention, customer satisfaction, churn risk, conversion
- Pipeline of leads & prospects
- Working MVP features aligned with paying customers' needs
Support & Coaching: Workshop: "Growth & retention levers"; mentor on building modular product roadmap
Month 5: Product Scale & Go-To-Market Framework
Focus / Activities:
- Harden the MVP / feature set based on validated use cases
- Develop sales playbooks, marketing channels, onboarding flows
- Prepare your go-to-market engine for broader scale
Key Deliverables / Metrics:
- Sales funnel projections (CAC, LTV)
- Refined roadmap tied to validated buyer demand
- Marketing / channel plan built and tested
Support & Coaching: Workshop: "Go-to-market & channel scaling"; mentor for marketing / growth partnerships
Month 6: Demo, Fundraising, & Launch Execution
Focus / Activities:
- Final refinements, polish, and launch readiness
- Conduct demos / pilot wrapups and references
- Pitch to investors / get further commitments or scaling contracts
Key Deliverables / Metrics:
- Demo to investors / partners / customers
- Firm paying contracts, LOIs, or user base targets
- Fundraising or scaling plan in hand
Support & Coaching: Bootcamp: "Pitch & growth execution"; panel with investors & industry partners
Participant Benefits
- Personalized Mentorship: Direct guidance from successful social impact and tech entrepreneurs
- Hands-On Workshops: Tailored sessions covering ideation, product development, impact measurement, storytelling, fundraising, and more
- Essential Startup Tools: Free access to JoinSecret.com for discounts and credits on critical startup resources
- SURGE Membership: Comprehensive support including coworking space, legal and financial consultations, mentor networks, and exclusive startup programming
- Visibility & Recognition: Public acknowledgment of your Founder-in-Residence role at Centered, enhancing your professional credibility
- Coworking Space: Free coworking and event space access during residency
- Networking: Connection to a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, alumni, investors, and industry experts
- Support Services: Pro bono legal, marketing, and design consultations
Program Commitment
- 5 hours per week participating in structured Centered programming
- Total of approximately 15 hours per week developing yourself and your venture
- Full engagement in mentorship and peer cohort activities
- Regular reporting and reflection on milestones and progress
- Active contribution to the Centered community, fostering peer support and collaboration
Who Should Apply
We're looking for bold founders ready to challenge the status quo and rebuild broken systems. Ideal applicants are:
- Disruptors of Legacy Industries: Founders reimagining sectors like insurance, higher education, healthcare, housing, or other entrenched systems ripe for change.
- Domain Experts: Individuals with deep professional or lived experience in their industry who have unique insights into inefficiencies and unmet needs.
- Sell-First Mindset: Founders who validate ideas through real customer commitments before building — using pre-sales, pilots, or letters of intent to prove traction early.
- B2B and Tech-Enabled Founders: Builders creating business-to-business or software-enabled service models that solve critical operational problems at scale.
- Mission-Driven Innovators: Founders passionate about creating both economic and social value through systemic improvement.
- Early-Stage Founders: Builders in the idea-to-MVP stage who are ready to commit time and energy to testing, validating, and launching their ventures.
Preferred Backgrounds / Experiences
- Prior experience working inside a legacy industry (as an operator, consultant, or domain specialist)
- Proven ability to sell or validate concepts before building — evidence of customer discovery, pilot programs, or pre-sales traction preferred
- Exposure to startup or innovation ecosystems where rapid experimentation and validation were key
- Strong analytical and systems-thinking mindset; ability to design scalable, tech-enabled solutions
- Passion for purpose-driven innovation and learning through mentorship and community
What You'll Achieve
- Validated and actionable MVP
- Refined business strategy with clearly defined impact metrics
- Investor-ready pitch deck and fundraising roadmap
- Ongoing support from an engaged community of innovators and mentors
Outcomes and Long-term Support
Graduates leave the program with an actionable MVP, refined business model, clearly defined impact metrics, and investor-ready pitch deck.
Long-term access to alumni network, ongoing investor introductions, and community events.
Apply Now