Business Accelerator (moved to Startup Elevator)

7 days of intensive hands-on training designed for IT startups who would like to take their startup to the next level utilizing StartupMonthly methodology for business acceleration. We will work with you on how to scale your business and make it viable for a Russian/US/Global markets. Silicon Valley mentors will provide you feedback on your progress during daily mentorships sessions and help you define a roadmap for the product development and your business model. At the end of the accelerator, you will present the results during the demo day to invited investors.

Objectives

Learn how to perform effective Customer Development, use Lean Startup methodology to build a new Minimal Viable Product, define a roadmap and go to market strategy, launch new MVP for your customers and get investment during Demo Day

Accelerator Team

Silicon Valley mentors + local mentors

Duration

7 days

Requirements

• Teams of 2-5 co-founders
• Must have a live prototype of a project the team built together
• Team worked at least 4 months together
• 50% of team members with technical abilities to hack a new Minimal Viable Product (Hackers, Designers) 
• Team must work full time on their project during the workshop in Moscow Sep 9 - Sep 15, 2012
• Innovative ideas, solutions, business model
  
• Consumer web, mobile services and applications, cloud services and infrastructure, and smart TV domains

Topics

• Systematic methodology how to accelerate your business and validate that you are providing valuable service
• How to build a great co-founding team and how to A players to your team
• Leadership and startup psychology
• Effective Customer Development 
  
• How to build a Lean and Agile Startup
  
• Scalable IT startup
• Mobile/Web startup User Experience
• Traction metrics and how to measure them
• Minimal Viable Product (MVP) and roadmap planning
• Traction generation and user acquisition strategies
• Viral and social marketing techniques 
• Investors pitch and executive summary

Class size

Up to 10 carefully selected startups

Accelerator Schedule

• Russia, Moscow: September 9-15, 2012

Cost

Costs will be entrepreneur-friendly and depend on the support of the local ecosystem.

Agenda

Day 1 - Customer Development

• Learn how to apply Customer Development
  
• Learn how to apply Lean Startup Methodology

Day 2 - Define New MVP and Improved UX

• Analysis of initial Customer Development results
  
• Sketch new Minimum Viable Product improving User Experience of the product

Day 3 - Product Architecture and Rapid Prototyping

• Scalable startups product architecture
  
• Rapid prototyping techniques and technologies
  
• Hack the new Minimal Viable Product

Day 4 - Metrics and Traction

• Traction metrics and how to analyze them
• Incorporate metric collection mechanisms in the solution
• Customer acquisition and go to market strategy

Day 5 - Relaunch and Marketing

• How to launch your product 
• Marketing strategy
• Viral Marketing
• User acquisition strategy

Day 6 - Pitch Coaching

• Investors pitch presentation best practices
• Executive summary structure
  
• Pitch coaching and practice

Day 7 - Demo Day

Investor Demo Day - invited investors will have an opportunity to meet the teams and hear about their products.

You are responsible for:

• 7 days of full-time availability.
  
• Laptops for all team members.

Provided at the training

• A take-home copy of the accelerator materials.
• Soft drinks and sandwiches 

Want to sponsor our Business Accelerator at your location?

If you want to bring StartupMonthly accelerator to your country, please send an email to info@startupmonthly.org