Waterloo’s Communitech innovation hub has launched Communitech Bootstrap, a new program that aims to help startups validate their products and find early-adopters.
The three-month Communitech Bootstrap program, which is run four times a year, is designed to help entrepreneurs learn the Lean Startup Methodology, meet potential customers, validate their business ideas, and accelerate their path to sales.
“We believe companies learn more by doing. We keep the presentation material short and sweet.”
– Communitech
Communitech says it will accept a maximum of 20 companies into the program. Participants will gain access to 16 hours of classes that cover topics such as understanding customer problems, designing a solution, building a demo or prototype, and getting a commitment from customers. A typical class will include a 30-minute presentation, 30-minutes of peer-to-peer time, and one-hour working sessions with hands-on advice.
“We believe companies learn more by doing. We keep the presentation material short and sweet,” writes Communtech about the program’s class structure, on its website. “Next, we believe companies at the same stage learn from each other, so we encourage sharing stories and tactics. Lastly, we spend most of the class getting shit done with an experienced mentor available to give you hands-on advice.”
To be eligible for the Communitech Bootstrap program, applicants must be a founder or co-founder of their startup, a Communitech client with a lead advisor, their company must have been incorporated for less than two years, and they should be capable of visually communicating their product or service with a demo, prototype, blueprint, drawing, picture, document, or wireframe.
Interested applicants can apply here.