Short course Start-up Incubator

Months 1 to 3 focus on identifying industry issues, market gaps, real customer pain points and the potential solutions. There is a huge emphasis on completing field research as quickly and efficiently as possible in order to find the minimum viable category (MVC) and the potential business opportunity.

Workshops include:

• Product Discovery: fashion markets and the industry
• Design Thinking methodology
• Finding the value proposition
• Problem definition and statement creation
• Business model canvas
• Product / business road-mapping
• Lean and agile methodologies
• The fashion consumer: collating and analyzing feedback
• Commercial strategy

Months 4 to 6 focus on the initial product release for initial customer feedback and (non)validation to find the best product-market-fit. There is a huge emphasis on working in sprints, working through systematic iterations to eventually reach an MVP ready to deploy for gauge traction. By the end of month 6, startups are expected to have a prototype that is ready for market launch and showcasing at the Demo Day.

Workshops include:

• Financial strategy
• Fashion Branding and PR
• Marcomms strategy – talking to the fashion consumer
• Creating an investor/client ready pitch deck
• Financing a fashion tech startup
• Market launch
• Fashion Supply Chain: Finding the right supplier and how to work with them.
• How to create a fashion tech product.
• Intellectual Property for the fashion entrepreneur.

Since young entrepreneurs have not necessarily had the opportunity to acquire substantial professional experience, the program incorporates the opportunity for them to validate internship periods. The objective is to acquire relevant competences and skills, useful for the development of their business concepts.All registered candidates will have the opportunity to benefit from the internship legal framework set up by the Ministry of Labor in France.

Held inside Foundry, startups that have successfully been able to create a working prototype ready for market launch will be invited to showcase their solution at a 1-day Demo Day. Here, it will be a celebration of achievements so far, but also a chance to network and collate further feedback from industry professionals (and even sell to them). There will also be the opportunity to pitch their solutions to Foundry’s investor network with the goal of securing seed funding.

Startups will be paired with mentors from relevant sectors, disciplines and expertise to help and guide them through the process. This will be from the Foundry fashion tech ecosystem including partners and the IFA Paris network.

Program Package – Full-Time
Fixed Desk inside Foundry.
8 hours/month meeting room access free.
Priority access to the makerspace. 10 hours/month usage free.
High-speed WIFI
Free Credits for demo room booking.
Complimentary Refreshments.
Access to community & fashion industry.
Access to Foundry & IFA Paris events.
Premium startup perks with community partners
Access to printers
20% Discount on selected IFA Paris courses
Private locker included
All utilities and daily cleaning included discounted business support services e.g. legal, PR, finance at discounted rates
Access to industry resources free of charge e.g. WGSN / Qualtrics
Access to the latest fashion tech equipment.

Program Package Part-Time
Hot desk space in community spaces (collaboration space etc.)
4 hours/month meeting room access free
Priority access to the makerspace. 5 hours/month usage free
High-speed WIFI
Access to demo room at extra cost
Complimentary Refreshments
Access to community & fashion industry
Access to Foundry & IFA Paris events
Premium startup perks
Access to printers
20% Discount on selected IFA Paris courses
Private Locker rentable
All utilities and daily cleaning included
Access to startup resources e.g. legal, PR, finance at extra cost
Access to industry resources free of charge e.g. WGSN / Qualtric
Access to the latest fashion tech equipment.

Both programs receive:

• Specialist workshops
• 1-2-1 meetings with dedicated program staff
• 1-2-1 meetings with assigned mentor(s)
• Community gatherings (lab breakfasts / Friday drinks, etc.)
• Networking events

Each startup will be given negotiated key milestones to hit throughout their 6-month journey, which they will have accountability to their assigned program lead. If the startup wishes to participate in the demo day, they must hit these milestones.

• 16 years old minimum
• High school graduate
• IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL IBT 65 or equivalence or proof of study in English for non-native English speakers.
• Strong motivation in fashion

Documents to provide (in English or translated to English by a certified translator):

• Fill in the online application form
• Latest high school transcript
• Copy of High school diploma or its equivalence
• Motivation letter
• CV/Resume
• Passport photo
• Copy of passport