Question 1

What qualifications do you look for in a Co-Founder?

Accepted Answer

We don't require specific degrees or certifications. We look for: demonstrated bias for action (you've built, shipped, or sold something before), the ability to commit full-time, legal authorization to work in the U.S., strong communication skills, willingness to run a systemized operating model, and a mindset focused on building cash-positive businesses rather than chasing venture capital.

Question 2

Do I need prior startup experience?

Accepted Answer

No. While prior startup experience is a plus, it's not required. We've accepted first-time founders, corporate professionals transitioning to entrepreneurship, recent graduates with exceptional drive, and domain experts from various industries. What matters is your execution ability and willingness to learn.

Question 3

What skills are most valued in a Co-Founder?

Accepted Answer

Sales ability (or willingness to learn fast), operational thinking and process orientation, clear written and verbal communication, resilience and comfort with ambiguity, ability to manage time and prioritize ruthlessly, and comfort working with systemized delivery teams.

Question 4

Is there an age requirement?

Accepted Answer

There is no age requirement. What matters most is that you are ready to commit full-time to running the company. If you have the energy, drive, and ability to go all-in, we want to hear from you.

Question 5

What is a Commercial Co-Founder?

Accepted Answer

The person who leads one of A Foundery's companies. A Foundery designs each business before recruiting the person to lead it. As Commercial Co-Founder you run the company: you win its customers, build its partnerships and own its revenue. Our team builds the technology and runs the back office.

It is a full-time, salaried operating role with a path to equity. It is not a board seat or an advisory appointment.

Question 6

What does a typical day look like for a Co-Founder?

Accepted Answer

Mornings typically start with stand-ups and sprint planning. Days are spent on client outreach, building SOPs, managing delivery pods, and iterating on the business model. Evenings often involve reflection, planning, and coordination with global delivery teams. It's intense, structured, and designed to compress months of learning into weeks.

Question 7

What commitment is expected from a Co-Founder?

Accepted Answer

Full-time, all-in commitment. The first 90 days after launch are an intensive sprint to the first paying customer. There is no relocation requirement; you can work remotely or in person at the Princeton Venture Studio at A Foundery's discretion. You will be expected to dedicate your full professional energy to building your company.

Question 8

How is a Co-Founder different from an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR)?

Accepted Answer

An EIR at a traditional VC firm typically advises companies or explores ideas with no obligation to launch. A Co-Founder at A Foundery runs a company from day one: you are employed by it, you earn equity as it meets agreed milestones, and you are accountable to clear milestones. This isn't advisory, it's execution.

Question 9

Can I apply with a co-founder?

Accepted Answer

Yes, teams can apply to run one of our companies. We evaluate each founder individually to ensure every member brings essential skills and values alignment. If we believe one co-founder isn't a fit for the program, we may choose to proceed with only the founder(s) who are.

Question 10

Can I apply if I'm on OPT/H1B visa in the USA?

Accepted Answer

You can apply if you hold valid U.S. work authorization that allows you to take this role, because the Co-Founder is employed and salaried by the company they lead. A Foundery does not sponsor visas or file immigration paperwork. Beyond work authorization, what we assess is your ability to sell and to run the business.

Question 11

Do I need to incorporate before applying?

Accepted Answer

No. In The Anvil the company does not exist yet: A Foundery sets it up once you are matched to it, and we guide you through the process.

For The Forge the answer is also no, but for a different reason. You may already be incorporated, and if you are not, we help you get there as part of the process.

Question 12

How do you decide which businesses The Anvil builds?

Accepted Answer

A concept has to survive validation before anyone is recruited to it. We look for an operationally-driven problem where systemized delivery is an advantage, a buyer who already pays for something like it, and unit economics that can hold at volume.

Anything that cannot show a route to paying customers quickly does not get built. That is why the list of open companies is short and moves slowly.

Question 13

How do I choose which company to run?

Accepted Answer

The open opportunities are published on the portfolio, each marked as recruiting a founder, with what the business is, who it sells to and what the first ninety days look like. You apply to the ones you want rather than being assigned one.

A role closes the moment the right operator is found, so the list changes. Applying earlier means more of it is open to you.

Question 14

Is there a cohort, an intake or an application deadline?

Accepted Answer

No. A Foundery is a venture studio, not a program with a calendar. We recruit one founder per company on a rolling basis. A role opens when we have defined the business and stays open until we find the right operator, at which point it closes. There is no batch, no cohort and no closing date to race.

Question 15

Is the role remote or in person?

Accepted Answer

It can be either, decided by A Foundery on a case-by-case basis. Founders who work on site get the real foundry environment surrounded by other builders and operators. Remote founders run the same operating system and cadence.

Question 16

Do I need to quit my job to do this?

Accepted Answer

For The Anvil, yes. Running one of our companies is a full-time job and you are paid a full-time salary to do it. Building a cash-positive business in a compressed timeline requires focused effort. If you're not ready to go all-in, this is not the right fit, but reach out anyway and we can discuss your situation.

For The Forge, the company is yours, so the choice is yours, but we strongly recommend working on it full-time. The founders who get the most out of Forge give their business their full attention, and we will ask about your commitment when you apply.

Question 17

Who employs me and pays my salary?

Accepted Answer

You are employed and paid by the company you lead, from your first day of work. The salary is $80,000 to $120,000 a year, and the exact figure is agreed with you at the offer stage.

Until the company earns revenue, A Foundery funds your salary through the company, separately from the company's investment stages. As the company earns revenue, your salary moves to being funded by that revenue, and can rise as the company reaches revenue milestones.

Question 18

Is the evaluation sprint paid?

Accepted Answer

No. The evaluation sprint is a two-week remote trial, and it is unpaid. It is designed to fit around your current work, so you do not need to leave your job to take part. Salary starts on your first day of work, after you accept a written offer.

Question 19

Do I have to attend the one-day meet and greet, and who pays for travel?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The one-day meet and greet is a single day in Princeton, New Jersey, to meet the team in person, and attendance is required. As with most interviews, travel is at your own expense.

Question 20

When will I see the founder agreement and equity terms?

Accepted Answer

With your written offer. The offer includes the founder agreement, which sets out the salary and equity terms, including any vesting, so you can review it before accepting. Nothing is binding until those documents are signed.

Question 21

What happens after the first 90 days?

Accepted Answer

The first paying customer is the beginning, not the finish line. From there companies move through three stages: Systemization, Scale, and Growth, each designed to build toward a million-dollar company. We continue providing hands-on support, and follow-on funding is released in stages as the company meets each stage's milestones.

Question 22

Where is the work done?

Accepted Answer

Our Venture Studio is located in Princeton, New Jersey, for founders working on site. Others work remotely where A Foundery determines it works best. The specific arrangement is confirmed before the start date.

Question 23

How quickly do I need to show results?

Accepted Answer

The standard is at least one paying customer within 90 days of launch. That is the gate that unlocks seed funding. This is a standard, not a countdown to an exit door: companies that clear it keep going with our support behind them.

Question 24

Is there any cost to join The Anvil?

Accepted Answer

No. There is no fee to apply and no cost to join. A Foundery pays your salary from day one and provides the concept capital to get the company started.

In exchange, A Foundery may take equity in the company you run, as set out in the founder agreement.

Question 25

What do founders receive?

Accepted Answer

Founders receive a full-time salary ($80,000–$120,000 annually), access to the core team (design, dev, ops), office space or a full remote setup, and initial concept capital.

Question 26

How are founders compensated?

Accepted Answer

Founders receive a full-time salary from day one ($80,000–$120,000 annually), plus equity.

Question 27

What is the total founder compensation package?

Accepted Answer

Founders receive a full-time salary from day one in the $80,000–$120,000 annual range, plus equity earned as the company meets agreed milestones. The exact terms are in the founder agreement. Equity is only worth what the company becomes worth, and there is no guaranteed ownership outcome.

Question 28

What support do I actually get to build with?

Accepted Answer

Two things, and the second is the one that matters. First, the ordinary back office: office space, work computers and tech setup, CRM and essential software, phone lines, domains, email and a website. Second, and this is what most venture studios do not have, systemized delivery pods that actually execute the work to documented SOPs under QA discipline. That is why our companies can serve real customers without you first having to hire and manage a delivery team.

Question 29

What equity stake does A Foundery take?

Accepted Answer

The Co-Founder earns equity in the company as it meets agreed milestones. The exact terms, including any vesting, are set out in the founder agreement, which comes with your written offer so you can review it before accepting. Equity is only worth what the company becomes worth, and there is no guaranteed ownership outcome.

Question 30

How much will you invest in each company after it clears Gate 1?

Accepted Answer

We invest in companies that clear Gate 1 across three stages:

Stage 1 - Seed Fund: $20,000 to $50,000
Stage 2 - Scale Fund: $50,000 to $100,000
Stage 3 - Growth Fund: $100,000 to $500,000

The exact amount at each stage depends on the company's progress and capital needs.

Question 31

Do I need to give up equity to receive funding?

Accepted Answer

Yes, A Foundery invests capital in exchange for equity at each stage. Our terms are founder-friendly and designed to align incentives for long-term success. We're not just writing checks; we're building alongside you, so we structure deals where everyone wins when the business wins.

Question 32

Can I raise outside funding while in the A Foundery program?

Accepted Answer

We are not against raising. We are against raising because you have no other option, and early on that is usually the position a raise would be made from.

So the sequence matters more than the answer. Get the business covering its own costs first, and a round becomes something you choose: whether to take it, when, from whom and at what price. Chase the round first and you take the terms you are offered.

Once your business is profitable and self-sustaining, you're free to explore any path that makes sense for our goals.

Question 33

What if I need more capital than the funding stages provide?

Accepted Answer

It depends on why. If your business is cash-flow positive and needs more capital to grow faster, A Foundery may invest additional funds to support that momentum, at its discretion. However, if the company needs more money because of negative unit economics or negative cash flow, we won't throw more capital at a broken model. Instead, we'll work hands-on with you to optimize operations and get the business back to cash-flow positive before any further investment.

Question 34

Is the funding a loan or equity investment?

Accepted Answer

All funding from A Foundery is equity investment, not debt. You won't have loan repayments or interest hanging over your head. We invest because we believe in your business and want to grow alongside you as partners, not creditors.

Question 35

How many rounds of funding does A Foundery provide to reach a million-dollar company?

Accepted Answer

We provide four rounds of funding designed to take you from concept to a million-dollar company:

1. Concept Funding - Initial capital when you have only an idea and no registered business yet. This gets you started.

2. Seed Funding - Invested after clearing Gate 1 to help you reach $10K MRR and prove the concept can become a real business.

3. Scale Funding - Provided once you hit $10K MRR to accelerate growth with positive unit economics, targeting $30K MRR within 90 days.

4. Growth Funding - The final push to scale your company to $1 Million ARR within 9 months of receiving this investment.

Each round is milestone-based, hit your targets, and we fund the next stage.

Question 36

What is Concept Funding?

Accepted Answer

Concept funding is the initial capital the studio deploys when a founder joins, to begin execution, build the essential tools such as the website, and complete company setup and registration.

Question 37

How much is the Concept Funding?

Accepted Answer

Concept funding typically ranges between $15,000 and $20,000, depending on the nature and scope of the project.

Question 38

What is Seed Funding?

Accepted Answer

Seed funding is the capital invested once a company clears its first gate, typically within 90 days of launch, provided it has secured at least one paying customer.

Question 39

How much Seed Funding will be invested?

Accepted Answer

Seed funding typically ranges between $20,000 and $50,000, depending on the company's needs and progress.

Question 40

What is Scale Funding?

Accepted Answer

Scale funding is the capital invested after a company reaches $10,000 MRR to accelerate growth over the next three months, with a strong focus on building sustainable, positive unit economics.

Question 41

How much is the Scale Funding?

Accepted Answer

Scale funding typically ranges between $50,000 and $100,000, depending on the company's needs and progress.

Question 42

What is Growth Funding?

Accepted Answer

Growth funding is provided to companies that have completed the scale phase and demonstrated at least $30,000 MRR with positive unit economics by Month 9. These companies receive additional capital and hands-on support to scale toward becoming million-dollar ARR businesses.

Question 43

How much Growth Funding will be provided?

Accepted Answer

Growth funding typically ranges between $100,000 and $500,000, depending on the company's cash flow needs and growth potential.

Lead one of our companies as its Commercial Co-Founder

The companies you could lead

PodForge

LedgerOps.ai

CollectIQ

PropDesk

ResolveAI

WebRegistry

PowerOpsHQ

Everonn.ai

What you own, and what A Foundery provides

You own

A Foundery provides

How salary, equity and funding work

Your salary

Your equity

The company's funding

How you start, and how selection works

Starting

Where you work

Selection

If a company does not work

Who this suits

Apply as Commercial Co-Founder

Frequently Asked Questions

Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs