Proof Positive is a free, nine-week series for first-time founders, to gain the foundational skills needed to launch a successful business. A 90-minute workshop led by a different expert (on topics such as Business Structure, Marketing and Accounting) is held weekly at Venture Café in a hybrid format, curated by our Founder-in-Residence.
What’s the Founder-in-Residence about?
Each cohort features a different Founder-in-Residence (FIR), whose job is to frame the series from their own perspective and experience. The beauty of this model is that it offers something fresh and different, and if a participant chooses to repeat the program, they will receive a new learning opportunity. Our FIRs are selected based on their knowledge and experience as an entrepreneur, as well as their passion for educating, mentoring and helping others to succeed.
Our inaugural Proof Positive Founder-in-Residence, Thom Webster, who played a major role in designing the format of the program described his experience as, “the chance for me to do what I enjoy being a ‘NEXUS’ for connecting the Philly startup community in a more inclusive way and supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs around the region to foster new relationships, develop fresh collaborations, and successfully build Financial, Human, Relational and Social capital across networks and neighborhoods.”
Our second Founder-in-Residence, Tanya T. Morris (who was recently recognized in Technical.ly and The Philadelphia Citizen for her work with Mom Your Business) said that, “being the Proof Positive Founder-in-Residence was a great experience. Having the opportunity to work with diverse entrepreneurs and watching them grow was both enjoyable and lots of fun. The program that the Science Center has put together gives both the entrepreneur and the FIR the opportunity to cultivate a relationship with entrepreneurs, the venture cafe community and subject matter experts in a way that impacts everyone. I loved it and encourage others to do the same.”
Jessie Garcia, CEO and Founder of Tozuda, our current Founder-in-Residence who is working on getting her cohort ready to pitch, portrays her FIR tenure as, “a privilege to work with early-stage founders during Proof Positive getting their companies ready for the next stage. To get to work with them on the ground level, de-risking their business models with actionable data to make the highest impact, has been incredibly rewarding.”
So now that we are thinking ahead to a new year, we’ll be passing the torch to new Founders-in-Residence. Could it be you? Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity! You can find the application here, and don’t forget to apply by December 3rd!
