Experience is the only Asset that Appreciates after 60.

A 12-week startup incubator built for founders who’ve already run the P&L, managed the crisis, and led the team and are ready to build something of their own.

12 Weeks · In-Person + Digital · Cohort of 15–20

Who this is for

If you recognize yourself here, keep reading.

There’s no single profile. Most Founders in this room arrive through one of three doors.

I. The Frustrated Operator

You spent thirty years running someone else’s business and you know exactly what’s broken in your industry. You’ve just never had the timing, capital, or permission to fix it yourself. Now you do.

II. The forced retiree

A restructuring, a VRS package, a retirement you didn’t fully choose. You have a track record most 30 year-old founders would envy, and a runway you didn’t expect. This isn’t outplacement counselling, it’s where you build the next thing.

III. The serial side-hustler

You’ve run something on nights and weekends for years, property, trading, a small services business. You’ve already proven you can build from nothing. Now you have the time to go all in.

The Program

Twelve weeks. Validate, build, raise.

Clay only becomes permanent once it’s fired. The program is built the same way, compressed heat, not a slow simmer. You’ll move from a tested problem to a working product to a live pitch in front of investors, in one continuous arc.

WEEK 1-2 | Validate

• WEEK 3-5 | Build
• WEEK 6 | Review
• WEEK 7-8 | Go-to-Market
• WEEK 9–10 | Raise
• Wk 11–12 | Demo Day

Unfired clay on the left. Fired and permanent on the right, that’s the founder who walks on stage at Demo Day.

What’s included

Everything a Founder needs. Nothing they don’t.

No filler workshops on “Finding Your Passion.” Every hour in this program exists to move you from idea to capital-ready.

A dedicated Lead Mentor

One mentor stays with your peer pod of 4–5 founders for all 12 weeks – every one has personally founded, scaled, or invested in a venture-backed company.

Hands-On AI Build Support

You don’t need to code. You’ll ship a real, working MVP using modern AI and no-code tools, with daily build-clinic office hours for unblocking.

A single hard gate, not endless grading

One Build Review in week 6, with a clear panel decision, proceed, narrow, or pivot. The rest of the program trusts you to work like the adult you are.

Real investor access at Demo Day

You’ll pitch live to VCs, family offices, and corporate venture arms with press in the room. Not a certificate ceremony. An actual capital event.

Before You Apply

This isn’t for everyone. It shouldn’t be.

Twelve weeks of two in-person sessions a week, plus daily async work, is a real commitment. We’d rather tell you that now than have you discover it in week 3.

This is for you if

• You have a business idea rooted in a problem you’ve personally seen up close, usually from your own career.
• You can commit to two in-person sessions a week for 12 straight weeks.
• You’re looking to build a real company, not a hobby project or a consulting side-income.
• You’re comfortable being a beginner at the specific tools, even though you’re not a beginner at building things.

This isn’t for you if

• You’re looking for a part-time consulting gig rather than a startup.
• You want a credential or certificate more than a working product.
• You’re not yet able to commit two days a week, in person, for three months.
• You’re hoping someone else will build the thing for you.

Ready to build your second act?

Applications for the founding cohort are open now. The process is short by design, we’d rather spend our time with you in the room than in a long form.

Start Your Application → Takes about 12 minutes. No fee to apply.

1. Tell us about the problem you want to solve and your operating background.

2. A 30-minute conversation with a member of the founding team.

3. Cohort decisions go out within 10 business days.