Why Founder Lab starts with ten customer conversations

Most weekend startup events reward the best slides. Founder Lab rewards proof.

Every team has to hold ten customer conversations by Saturday at 4pm. Validation is the first thing judges score, ahead of the business model, execution and the pitch.

A few ground rules keep it honest:

• Pitches are 60 seconds, with no slides.
• Teams form by vote, and there's no CEO.
• No contracts and no cash prizes, only in-kind prizes.

After the weekend, 30-, 60- and 90-day check-ins with mentor office hours keep the work going.

Reading the founder's guide before you arrive will make those ten conversations much easier. Apply here.