Building Ventures That Last
Six-month intensive program starting October 2025
We're not here to sell dreams. Building something real takes time, grit, and a willingness to fail forward. This program brings together practitioners who've walked the path—from initial concept through funding rounds, pivots, and actual market traction. You'll work through the messy parts that other courses gloss over.
Learn From People Who've Done It
Not consultants. Not theorists. These are founders who've raised capital, built teams, and navigated the chaos of early-stage ventures.
Torsten Viklund
Lead Instructor, Market Validation
Spent eight years building fintech infrastructure before it was trendy. Two exits, one spectacular failure that taught me more than success ever could. Now I help people avoid the expensive mistakes I made.
Kiera Thornbury
Fundraising & Growth Strategy
Raised $12M across three ventures in markets that "weren't ready yet." Turns out timing matters, but persistence matters more. I'll show you how to pitch without sounding desperate or delusional.
Elspeth Dunmore
Operations & Team Building
Built operational systems for startups that actually scaled beyond the founder's laptop. Former COO who learned that culture isn't ping-pong tables—it's how you handle the hard conversations.
What You'll Actually Work Through
Four phases that mirror how ventures really develop. Expect homework. Expect feedback that stings a bit. Expect to rethink your assumptions.
Foundation & Market Reality
Most ideas fail because they solve problems nobody has. We'll help you figure out if your concept actually matters to people who'll pay for it.
- Customer discovery interviews that get honest answers
- Market sizing without inflated projections
- Competitive analysis beyond surface-level research
- Value proposition testing with real humans
Building Your Minimum Viable Reality
Not an MVP that takes six months and $50K. Something you can test next week with actual potential customers.
- Rapid prototyping approaches for different business models
- Landing page tests that generate real signals
- Early adopter acquisition tactics
- Feedback loops that inform iteration
Economics & Unit Fundamentals
Beautiful products die ugly deaths when the math doesn't work. We'll dig into whether your venture can actually sustain itself.
- Pricing strategy beyond guesswork
- Cost structure modeling for different scenarios
- Cash flow planning for bootstrapped ventures
- Understanding when fundraising makes sense
Growth Pathways & Scaling Prep
How to move from "it works for ten customers" to "it might work for a thousand." Growth introduces new problems—let's anticipate them.
- Channel experiments and early traction tactics
- Building systems that don't require heroic effort
- Team expansion planning and early hires
- Preparing investor materials that tell your story
What Happens After Six Months
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You'll Have Something Testable
Not a business plan gathering dust. A working prototype, landing page, or service offering that real people can interact with and provide feedback on.
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You'll Understand Your Numbers
Financial models that make sense. Customer acquisition costs you've actually measured. Pricing you can defend with data instead of hope.
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You'll Know If It's Worth Pursuing
Sometimes the answer is no—and that's valuable. Better to learn it in six months than three years. Most participants do move forward, but with clearer eyes.
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You'll Have a Support Network
Other founders dealing with similar challenges. Instructors you can reach out to when you hit roadblocks. A cohort that gets what you're going through.
Applications Open Until August 2025
We're looking for 18 participants who are serious about building something. You don't need a perfect idea or impressive credentials. You need honesty about what you don't know and willingness to put in the work.
Program runs October 2025 through March 2026 | Investment includes materials and mentorship access
View Program Investment