startup team celebrating

Venture Fellows Program

The Venture Fellows Program is a pilot initiative designed to cultivate a network of over 100 experienced entrepreneurs from diverse industries. These Fellows will leverage their extensive experience in startup execution, fundraising expertise, and sharp business acumen to accelerate the development of promising early-stage projects at Georgia Tech.

Program Structure

VFs will partner with Q-i Principals to select promising projects and teams that have already demonstrated commitment through participation in Georgia Tech commercialization programs (I-Corps, Startup Launch, etc.). Ideal projects will be approaching MVP development within 6-12 months or have clear FDA regulatory paths for biotech innovations. VF Qualifications:

  • Deep vertical market knowledge
  • Direct startup operations and fundraising experience
  • Financial independence (retired, currently employed, or post-exit)
  • Willingness to commit 5-10+ hours weekly without compensation (travel expenses reimbursed)

Selection Process

VFs will be chosen based on their experience and fit with the innovation, including knowledge of relevant supply chains and business models. After signing Georgia Tech's NDA, VFs will meet with research teams to discuss promising innovations and select up to two projects for deeper investigation.

 

Key Deliverables

 

  1. Market Assessment (First 60 days): Conduct customer discovery to identify 1-3 target market segments for MVP development
  2. Value Proposition (Next 30-60 days): Perform customer validation discussions to establish a quantifiable value proposition
  3. MVP Development: Guide teams to non-dilutive resources, partnerships, and early-adopter pilots while serving as project manager
  4. Company Formation: Facilitate co-founder agreements and cap table formation between VFs and technical innovators
  5. Customer Engagement: Secure first pilots, NRE, and other customer engagements with appropriate agreements
  6. Funding: Develop financial models and business plans leading to first funding event (SAFE, pre-seed, or seed)