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GUILD Academy
From Idea to Launch in 12 Weeks
Are you ready to build your dream business with the right tools and support from world-class entrepreneurship experts and investors?
Are you ready to put in the work and share this journey with a global community of like-minded female entrepreneurs?
Then this unique 12-week online course is for you.
Applications are open for July 20th 2020
The GUILD Academy
Build Your Business
Silicon Valley Style
Are you ready to learn how to become a successful entrepreneur?
The GUILD Academy is for all you ladies out there who just need that extra push to make your ideas a reality.
Imagine building your entrepreneurial confidence alongside an actual prototype you will launch within 12 weeks.
The GUILD Academy is the fast track towards building your business and realizing your dreams.
"Terrific resources, tools, and weekly challenges that push me to take actual steps and help me to get closer to my dream. Plus the opportunity to ask questions and receive support anytime :-)
Thank you!!”
GUILD Academy Participant Cohort 1
"I absolutely love the GUILD Academy materials (packed with nuggets of wisdom) and the guest speakers are super helpful. This journey is amazing, I learned so much. It challenges me in so many ways, nudging me to be courageous, and yes, the journey is indeed the reward!"
GUILD Academy
Participant Cohort 1
"This Accelerator is exactly what I needed. Girlfriends are a great personal support system, but only other female entrepreneurs can truly understand what you are going through. They are kindred spirits who understand the journey, will hold you accountable, and is a community you can call when you need an ear."
GUILD Academy Participant Cohort 1
"This program is truly one of a kind - it's nothing short of extraordinary. One of my favorite aspects of the academy are the weekly live AMA sessions with an industry superstar where I can ask individual questions and make a connection with them"
Hallie Salko, Founder Bluppy AI
"As someone with no experience in business or entrepreneurship, the academy has been the blueprint I needed to make my idea a reality. It provided the exact steps and the right resources for me to launch my MVP and get the first paying customers. Anne & her team did a phenomenal job with the content, and choosing the right experts. They supported us every step of the way, answering questions, providing perks, webinars, resources, basically anything we needed. The 1:1 sessions with Anne were invaluable to get the feedback I needed on my pitch and progress. I'll definitely refer back to the learnings from the academy often as I progress with my business. It's been one of the best decisions I've made. Thank you GUILD academy!"
Lirida Kercelli, Founder Learnable (cohort 1)
The Program
The program takes you on a guided journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur in 6 clear steps. Once you get the basics right, you will have the confidence to grow your business to the next level. We invite entrepreneurs, professors and industry experts to share their expertise and we use the methodology of rapid prototyping proven to launch multi-billion dollar businesses in Silicon Valley. You will go through a number of iterations of your product or service during the program, without losing sight of self care.
Modules
The GUILD Academy is a 12 week - 12 module program. The core of each module is a ~15min video session taught by a Silicon Valley expert and highly curated content to dive deeper. No Blah Blah! Every week you will have an assignment and we share an overview of what's to come
Ask Me Anything (AMA) Sessions
After every step, there will be an AMA session to help you resolve any questions you might have. These sessions will be moderated by a GUILD host and one of the experts. This is your chance to connect live with world-best experts and get your questions answered.
Tools & Workbook
Using tools and learning by doing are part of what it takes to efficiently build and manage your business. Each week you will get bite-sized exercises in the GUILD Academy workbook to apply the learnings. We also share our favorite tools to build and grow your business.
Mastermind Circles
Peer support is one of the secrets on your journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur. Get feedback from your mastermind circle during the program.
Stronger Together!
Curated Content
Every module has an expert to help you get the basics right, but learning is so much more diverse. We offer you a complimentary curated library with the best global content to dive deeper.
Join The GUILD Membership
After graduation, you will continue to have access the GUILD community platform and continue your development alongside inspiring women from across the globe.
"I’ve grown more in the last week than in 4 years in university. Although USF is an exceptional institution, the Guild provides education in more ways than one. I am learning so much and it has only been a week! The material is presented in such a clear concise manner that it is easy to understand. Often times, I have experienced people explaining something so much to the point of confusion rather than clarity. But not with The Guild. I am very grateful for you Anne and the community you have put together here. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I will be able to achieve my goals not just in business but in life"
Silvana Angulo, Founder of LashMap (Cohort 2)
The Experts
We assembled some of Silicon Valley's finest and most reputable experts to share their top insights with you and give you feedback and advice. You will meet these experts either in the engaging 15min video segments each week, recordings from past webinars and at live Ask Me Anything Sessions or at the virtual demo day at the end of the program.
Founding Partner & CEO Edison International
Partner
Lightspeed Venture Partners
Co-Founder
Global Scaling Academy
Author of Blitzscaling
Managing Partner
Prototype Thinking Labs
Angel Investor
Aletta Angels
Founder
Empowered Tech
Angel Investor
Golden Seeds
Co-Founder & CEO
YouNoodle
VP SAP.iO
Business Development & Partnerships Manager
iFundWomen
Professor of Entrepreneurship
Hult International Business School
Founder
Jenny Kassan Consulting, Author "Raise Money On Your Own Terms"
Founder and CEO
SmartUp.life,
Author "10 Faces of Innovation"
Founding Partner
Spero Ventures
Nicole Jordan
Business Development Manager - Early Growth Financial Services
Co-founder
CapitalT
Managing Partner
CapitalT
CEO & CO-Founder
invisu.me
Tash Jeffries
Growth Coach, Startup Founder
Founder and Chief Creative Officer
CFO & Strategy Designer
Business Model Inc.
Founder & Partner
Grit Ventures
Founder & CEO
DYVVYD
Founder
AVRA Talent Partners
Our Partners & Sponsors
We are proud to present our global partners.
Want to become a partner? Contact us
Demo Day
As a GUILD Academy participant you will have the opportunity to pitch your business to Silicon Valley's leading investors at the virtual Demo Day.
If you complete the program, the presenting companies will have a chance to win a grand prize at the pitch day (to be announced)
The GUILD Academy Team
Yonca Braeckman
Founder & CEO Impact Shakers
Yonca is the founder of Impact Shakers, a venture studio bridging the gap between profit and impact together with underrepresented founders. She is also the Head of Global Expansion at the GUILD and she is starting up new chapters all over Europe and Asia.
She is a connector and community builder with extensive experience in strategy and startup acceleration. As a mentor at SXSW, Slush Tokyo, General Assembly and startup programs across the globe, she guided many startups on their first steps abroad. She built out Watt Factory, a smart city hub in Ghent, Belgium, with an in-house acceleration program.
Yonca serves on the board of different non-profits and is the curator of TEDxGhent and the Techstars Startup Digest Reading List on Impact Entrepreneurship.
Anne Cocquyt
Serial Entrepreneur & Founder The GUILD
Anne Cocquyt is a serial entrepreneur with a great passion for new ideas and helping people achieve their career goals and launch their dream businesses. Anne used to work for Fortune 500 companies in senior roles in innovation, oversaw international multi-million dollar projects in IT and switched multiple times in her career between corporate roles and entrepreneurial endeavors, small businesses and non-profit organization.
She mentors rapid prototyping classes at the University of San Francisco, business model innovation at CCA, startups at Singularity University, the German Accelerator and is on the advisory board of digital health startups. Anne also invested in a small product startup and sold the company. She is the founder of the GUILD, the global AI-powered networking platform for innovators and entrepreneurs.
What is Included?
EARLY BIRD PRICING
997 $ (Instead of 2,999 $)
expires May 31st
Access to the online curriculum
Top Silicon Valley Experts
Mastermind Circles
Weekly Planning Assistance
Live AMA Sessions with Experts
Tools & Workbook
Curated Content Library for each Session
Hands-on Support from the GUILD Academy team
2 x 30 min 1:1 Coaching Sessions
3-month membership to The GUILD
Virtual Demo Day with Top Investors
Certificate of Completion
$50k perks, prizes and discounts
$997 During Shelter In Place (Instead of $2,999 )
Applications are open until July 17th 2020
Seats are extremely limited. We accept 50 candidates on a rolling basis.
“I wanted to let you know that from the founder/funder session, I got to meet a VC and they are making an investment. Thanks so much.”
Jill Bourque
Founder & CEO RushTix
“Highly actionable sessions. Transformational experience with high quality content and the same incredible attendees of high caliber that I am matched with on the GUILD. I loved the diversity and relevance of every session.”
SERENDIPITY Unconference attendee 2019
“Through the GUILD online and offline connections I met entrepreneurs aligned with my investment thesis that I would have otherwise never met or invested in.”
Anke Huiskes
Investor Aletta Angels
"This week was so incredibly helpful in helping me realize exactly what I need to focus on both now and later down the line in my business model! It is awesome to see everything coming together so cohesively as we move forward in the program!”
GUILD Academy Participant
"I feel prepared every time I walk into a business meeting (for my startup) and without a doubt in my mind the GUILD Academy helped me feel that way."
GUILD Academy Participant
“This was the most useful session on pitches. I learned a lot just by listening to the investor’s feedback"
GUILD Academy Participant
About The GUILD
Since 2016, the GUILD offers its members a global community, an online platform and curated 1:1 meetings as well as unique online and offline events. Join a community of like-minded women and connect, learn, and grow together.
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Scholarships
Changing the Odds for Female Entrepreneurship
The GUILD Academy offers the world's first tailored online program with peer support for the next generation of female entrepreneurs. Female entrepreneurs are still an underrepresented group of innovators and need your support to get access to the education, resources and networks in order to launch successful businesses.
Consider sponsoring 5, 10 or more female entrepreneurs to gain access to this unique program. Partner with us and get a scholarship package.
Is this program for you?
Are you passionate about starting your own successful business?
Are you ready to learn new exciting skills and connect with awesome women around the world? And most importantly: are you ready to put in the work? Yes?
Then this is for you!
What if I already launched my business?
Please take a look at the curriculum and check if you could benefit from the different modules. You can also check the business readiness checklist to evaluate where you are in your business. At the end of the program you should be able to respond to all questions with "Yes". https://www.letsguildacademy.com/checklist
How can I apply for a scholarship?
We encourage women from all backgrounds to apply! Please apply here for a scholarship or a partial scholarship.
What type of business idea can I apply with?
You can apply with any type of business idea which has a service or product to offer and is scalable beyond your home market. Whether it is building a wine tasting platform, a virtual travel service, a smart baby monitor or a digital diagnostics company. We help you iterate and test your ideas with "rapid prototyping" methodologies which is not suitable for opening a local restaurant or selling a product on an e-commerce store. If you have any doubts, please contact us at
What if I don't have an idea right now?
We built the Academy in a way that anyone wanting to learn the skills to rapid prototype a business can participate. If you don't have an idea with which you want to participate in the Academy, we encourage you to go through the IDEA FACTORY which is a 4 week program offered by the GUILD before the Academy. In the Idea Factory we run you through the first module of the GUILD Academy in 4 weeks so that you have a head start. How to join? Go to https://letsguild.mn.co/all-courses and select the PRO membership. Check for dates when the next Idea Factory kicks off.
Does it matter where I live in the world?
It does not matter! We will teach you the universal skills you need to launch a business. On top of that, you can learn from those who built a successful business in the heart of entrepreneurship, Silicon Valley. You will learn from the best and apply the same methods in your region and country.
What if this timing doesn't fit my calendar?
We will launch new cohorts of our GUILD Academy in 2020.
This cohort will accept 50 founders globally. We will accept on a rolling basis, when you apply, you will be notified about your selection within 2 weeks of applying, so you can make arrangements accordingly. If we are at full capacity early, we will open up a waiting list for the next cohort.
What if I want to start a non-profit?
If you want to start a non-profit, you can definitely participate and benefit from learning the skills and the method we use in the program. The main difference between a for and non-profit business is the legal structure and where profits end up. As a non-profit you need to have good product-market fit, a clear target audience and awesome marketing and fundraising strategy, just like any for-profit business. We will not cover non-profit specific topics but focus on validating your product or service idea as part of your non-profit.
How much time should I attribute to the program?
Budget at a minimum of 5-10hrs per week. This is for the AMA session, the video module, additional content, connecting with your mastermind group and your task. We ensure that you set goals at the beginning of the program. Depending on your goals your time effort will differ widely. Some weeks will be more intensive with regards to your tasks than others. Building a startup is not a small task and we will help you create a plan and set expectations with regards to outcomes as well as time commitment.
How do you select who gets admitted?
As long as you have an idea or want to develop an idea that is something that can scale beyond your immediate home market and it is not a coaching business or a consulting company, it is likely that you get accepted.
What happens if I miss a week?
You are more than likely to follow along if you miss one week’s module and you can make up for it in the next week. If life happens and you won’t be able to follow the program at a certain point, you will be able to access all video modules and content even after the program. You won’t have the support from your peer mastermind group, however you will have access to the community channel and ask any questions when you do the program on your own terms. You will also have access to the GUILD community for additional support and connections.
Do I have to pitch?
If you don’t feel comfortable pitching at the end of the program, you don’t have to pitch. But it’s great practice and a safe space!
Can I get a refund?
The program is non-refundable. We have a strict no refunds policy. In certain cases and if you can present aggravating circumstances, we may give you a voucher for a future cohort. We decide on a case-by-case basis. If you are not convinced that this program is for you, please consider other programs.
Can I access the material at any point in time? Even after the course?
Yes, you can access the materials for three months after the program officially ends.
How do I interact with other participants?
You will be able to interact with everybody in the course via the GUILD course platform. This is like a Facebook group but better. You can also interact with anybody in the GUILD in the general GUILD platform.
You will also be able to join a mastermind group of 4 peers and discuss weekly topics. We give you a discussion topic for your mastermind group every week
We will invite you to a “meet and greet” online session at the start of the program and you will receive weekly invited to AMA live websessions where you can ask your questions and hear other people’s questions.
Do I need a tech business idea to join?
No, you can apply with any idea. Check the curriculum to see if this is what you want to learn about.
What happens after the academy?
You can join our exclusive alumni group on the GUILD platform. We are constantly working on new materials and will provide you with access to new courses, materials and webinars that are part of your membership.
Contact
San Francisco
