June 8th - June 15th 2019
12 founders working on a new idea. 7 days. 1 mansion in Hawaii.
Make lifelong friends who help each other explore ideas. You pay for flights; we pay for the rest.
Overview
How it Works
The House
Mentors
FAQ
Start your new company alongside other great founders
We believe belonging to a community of great founders can help you succeed faster. We'll surround you with kick-ass people and hope they turn into lifelong friends.
Who is this for?
Anyone with a dream to start a new company - be it a tech startup or a donut shop.
Why are we doing this?
America needs more entrepreneurs. We believe there are tens of thousands of potential founders out there, who just need a small nudge to get started.
Who is organizing this?
The team behind Wefunder. We're like "Kickstarter for investing". We helped Congress pass a law to make this possible, and then invested $975,655,940 in 2,239 companies. We're also a Public Benefit Corporation.
- Free food and lodging in Hawaii for a week
- Meet world-class mentors
- 0% equity fee
- Only pay for your flight
- Apply by May 21
How it Works
Submit your application
Not sure if you are a fit? Just try!
We'll interview top applicants
We carefully curate each founder with a Google Hangout interview.
We decide on May 26th
We'll select the 12 founders who we think we can help the most.
Make friends with founders & mentors in Hawaii!
We'll work hard during the day, eat dinner together every night, and plan a couple of adventures.
The House
We'll be staying in this beautiful oceanfront home in Waianae, Hawaii. There's enough room to sleep about 16 of us comfortably (and 7 bathrooms!)
Mentors
We'll be in Hawaii too.
FAQ
Expand all
Do I qualify?
This is for founders starting a new idea.
What kind of company is this for?
Any new company located in the United States - from tech startups to donut shops.
What does this cost?
$0. Just pay for your flight.
Wefunder does not take a percentage of your company.
Does Wefunder take a percentage of my company?
No.
What is included in Hawaii?
We'll pay for the lodging in Hawaii, dinners every night, and snack food in the house during the day.
Flights are not included.
Are flights included?
No. You'll have to figure out how to get yourself there.
What kind of bed will I sleep in?
You'll be staying in a nice house, but you aren't guarenteed the master bedroom. You might get a couch or an air mattress. We'll figure out some fair system of diving up the available sleeping spaces. If you expect to be pampered like you are in a 5-star hotel, please don't apply. :)
What is the interview like?
We'll have a 20 minute interview over Google Hangout.
How does the mentorship work?
Each night, an experienced founder will lead a group session on a different topic. They'll also be available for one-on-one brainstorms throughout the day.
Plus, we expect peer-to-peer mentorship with your fellow founder housemates will be one of the most valuable parts of the program. We hope you'll make some lifelong friends that can give you good advice and/or support long after the porgram has ended.
I have more questions! Can I talk to a human?
Sure! Shoot us an email at [email protected], and a friendly human will get back to you.
Apply Now
Earlier applications have better odds, as we'll have more time to review them. You may always edit your application as you make more progress.
Application Deadline
May 21st 2019
Results Delivered By
May 26th 2019
Arrive in Hawaii
June 8th 2019
The fam Team
fam is a project by Wefunder to help create 20,000 new companies by 2029.
Ana Kilani, Head of fam
I fell in love with entrepreneurship when I realized it was the closest thing there was to a discipline of curiosity - the constant asking of questions, exploring of options, innovating, failing, executing, succeeding, failing, testing, innovating, and on. There are questions of ethics, there are questions of design, there is an inevitable risk and an unlikely reward. There is fear and there is the great unknown.
So, to anyone else who loves that world and has an idea they want to build, DO IT.
Nick Tommarello, CEO @ Wefunder
When I look back on my career, I remember the first investors that believed in me. Who not only invested their money, but their time and wisdom. They made me me who I am today. (Thank you, Bill Warner!)
I believe thousands more founders could start great companies, if only they are given a small nudge at the right time, from the right person. That's what I want to do with my life.
About Wefunder
We're like Kickstarter for investing. We've funded 2,239 companies with $975,655,940. Our companies have gone on to raise over $2 billion in venture capital.
We're a Public Benefit Corporation with a mission to keep the American dream alive. Our goal is to help 20,000 founders get off the ground by 2029.
Questions? Contact a friendly human at [email protected].
2,239 startups have raised $975,655,940 on Wefunder
Wefunder supports three different federal laws that allow startups to raise money legally. To comply with the law, Wefunder Advisors LLC and Wefunder Portal LLC (both owned by Wefunder Inc) also list startups depending on the regulation used.
Legal May 16th 2016
Regulation Crowdfunding
Wefunder Portal LLC
$761,459,099
for 1805 startups
Legal Now
Regulation D
Wefunder Advisors LLC
$202,325,999
for 550 startups
Rare
Regulation A+
Wefunder Inc
$9,651,658
for 3 startups
Some fine print:
1) These numbers include startups currently live on Wefunder if they pass their minimum target.
2) Some startups use two different laws at the same time (i.e., Regulation D and Regulation Crowdfunding).