Applications close February 12 — here is what to know before you apply

The deadline

Applications for Founder Lab close February 12, 2027. The weekend itself runs February 26–28, 2027 at Downtown Pizza in downtown Lake Wales.

There are twenty spots. Each one is sponsored by a local business at $100, so taking part costs you nothing but the weekend.

What the application asks

Eight short questions: your name, email, age, school or company and role, what you want to build, whether you already have a problem or idea in mind, why you want to take part, and what skills you bring. You also confirm you can attend all three days — Friday evening, all day Saturday, and Sunday through the final pitches. No partial attendance.

You do not need a team, a company, or a finished idea. You need a problem you care about and three free days.

What happens after you apply

1. Your application lands with the organizers.
2. You hear back by email before the weekend.
3. Friday night, anyone can give a 60-second pitch — no slides — and teams form around the ideas that draw votes.
4. Saturday is validation and building, with mentors rotating through in 20-minute sessions. The rule is ten customer conversations by 4pm.
5. Sunday you present. Judges score validation, business model, execution and pitch out of 100.

After the weekend, the 30-, 60- and 90-day check-ins keep you honest, with mentor office hours along the way.

Apply

The form is live now at the Apply page. If you are not ready yet, join the waitlist on the Founder Lab page and we will keep you posted.