The First Steps to Launch a Company with the Forum Ventures’ AI Studio

Pitching to a Venture Studio can be a bit mysterious. That’s because a lot of venture studios are set up differently, each with different processes for finding and partnering with founders; and most without a formalized process at all. 

So, we wanted to provide a window into the process, as well as some helpful guidance on how to get from application to incorporation with Forum Ventures AI’ Studio 👇

‍1. Initial Application 📝 

This step is simple but crucial––it’s all about evaluating if you’re the right founder to build with us. We're looking for founders with a unique insight, deep domain expertise or an unfair advantage in their chosen market. Be specific about your insights and experience—generic applications rarely stand out.

Submit your application here and our team will review it thoroughly. You can expect to hear from us within 2 weeks if we want to move forward together.

2. Screening Call 📞

You’ll connect with our Talent team for an initial 30-minute conversation over Zoom. This is where we start to understand your story and vision. Share your founder journey, motivation for wanting to start a company, and why now is the right time for you to build.

3. Market Deep Dive 🔍 

After our first call with you, we’ll ask you to complete our “seedling / idea” form so that we can understand your market and problem space. When this is complete, we’ll set up a call with one of our Associates to have a thorough 45-minute discussion about market dynamics and opportunities.

4. Partner Review 1: Deal Team 👥

From that discussion, our Associate will compile a one-page summary of the market analysis, competitive landscape and recommendation on fit, and will present it to our Investment Committee.  If the team is on board, we will match you with a Venture Builder on our team to kick off the validation process (see next step). If we don’t feel it’s the right fit at this point, we’ll share our candid feedback.

5. Early Validation ✅ 

It’s time to pressure test your assumptions and refine your approach. We’ll engage in a 2-week outreach validation sprint, getting on the phone with potential customers to dig deeper into the opportunity—don’t worry, we have a playbook to make this super simple to navigate.

You’ll then work hand in hand with your dedicated Venture Builder to compile your findings into a digestible memo for our Investment Committee.

5. Partner Review 2: Investment Committee 👥

You’re getting close! Next, we will bring your memo to our Investment Committee for close review. Our Investment Committee is made up of three of our General Partners. If approved, we invite you to become a Founder in Residence with clear metrics for success and validation targets.

6. Founder in Residence 🚀 

It’s time for an intensive, collaborative sprint.  You’ll work hand in hand, heads down with your initial dedicated team (Venture Builder, Associate, and Go- to- Market Lead). Together you will focus on de-risking and validating the areas identified during the Investment Committee meeting. 

The typical timeframe for the Founder in Residence phase is 4-6 weeks.

7. Final Pitch for Investment Committee 🎯 

Last step, we promise! You’ll present a full pitch to our Investment Committee. We’ll perform background checks and reference calls, and if all checks out, we incorporate your company, provide you with a $250k investment, and start building with you! 

⚡ Welcome to the Studio ⚡

You’re in! It’s time to build the next great company! 

While our process is intense, it ensures that we find the perfect founder-studio fit and maximize our chances of building a successful, fast-growing company that is differentiated and truly groundbreaking. Trust us, it will be worth your time upfront so that you can jump in with two feet feeling absolutely confident that this is the right next step for your career.

Ready to build with a seasoned team of experts? We're excited to hear from you. Apply to join our AI Studio 

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