Programme Overview
Entrepreneur First is designed for top graduates who want to create disruptive, high-growth businesses as soon as they leave university. Most of our applicants don't yet have a team and are at the early stages of developing their ideas. If you are selected to join the programme you will become part of an incredibly talented group, from which you can build a team. Entrepreneur First will help you build your team as well as providing you with mentors, training, other ambitious entrepreneurs and access to funding.
So how does it work?
September - December: Campus tour and applications open
Come and see the Entrepreneur First team as we tour the country's university campuses and then submit your application online. Please note, applications are now closed. To find out more about our 2011 applications, click here
February: Cohort selection week
Successful applicants are be invited to a half day of interviews in London. Each candidate is interviewed by a member of the EF team, an early stage investor and a successful entrepreneur. To see who selected our 2012 cohort click here
March: Kick-off Weekend
An intense weekend of team building and idea generation at Innovation Warehouse in London supported by a number of EF's mentors and sponsors. To read more about the weekend held for our 2012 cohort, click here
April: Welcome and celebration at Downing Street
The final cohort are invited to a reception at Downing Street, followed by a drinks reception at the Guildhall, hosted by one of our sponsors, the City of London.
April - August: Preparing teams
Before the full-time programme, the Entrepreneur First team provide support to help the cohort with their funding options to cover living costs at the beginning of the programme. This is also an important time to start thinking about and building teams. We know that many participants will be busy with revision and exams during this period, so our contact will be relatively light-touch.
August: The Entrepreneur First Bootcamp
A two-week, full-time residential course, developed and led by entrepreneurs. Based on lean startup principles, this pushes our cohort to produce the first iteration of their products, gives them the skills to build their businesses and provides the chance to meet some of the most exciting people in the UK startup scene. The 2012 bootcamp will be held at the Hauser Forum in Cambridge.
September: Running your startup full time
With the support of the Entrepreneur First programme, the cohort will be running their startups full time. They will have regular meetings with mentors, monthly networking evenings, regular training sessions and quarterly investor days.
After Entrepreneur First
The aim of Entrepreneur First is to support our cohort to the point where they no longer need the support of Entrepreneur First. We envisage our support lasting for 3+ months. Graduates of Entrepreneur First will ideally continue to run their own companies, however we know that it may not work out for all of them and we will ensure that they have access to other options, such as working for a start-up.
