What will I get out of this program?

As the program name implies, our goal is to get you "Ready to Raise"!

In "Part 1: Foundations of Fundraising," expert speakers will help to establish a common understanding of the startup investment ecosystem, and how to navigate it successfully.

In "Part 2: Road to Investor Ready," you will be paired up with a fundraising expert who will be your mentor throughout the rest of the program as you build the assets and expertise needed to pitch your business successfully.

The program will culminate in two Startup Showcase days, one for B2B companies and one for B2C companies. This is your chance to pitch your business to an audience of VCs, angel investors, family offices, mentors and industry peers.

Companies that have successfully completed Parts 1 and 2 of the program will be eligible to pitch at Startup Showcase. 

Who can participate?

The full program is exclusive to WeWork members. If you wish to participate in the full program and receive a Certificate of Completion upon graduation, you need to be a WeWork Member throughout the duration of the program. If you would like to access session recordings & mentoring, you need to join the WeWork Labs program. WeWork Labs is open for free to all WeWork member companies (excluding WeWork On Demand). Interested in learning more or signing up? Click here: www.wework.com/labs  

Individual learning sessions are open to the public to join if the attendance limits allow. If you are interested in a session we encourage you to register for it as soon as you can. 

How are we meeting? 

All WeWork Labs programming is open to our WeWork Labs community from around the globe and will therefore be delivered virtually via Zoom.

How much time do I have to commit?

WeWork Labs Sales Academy is a three-month program. Your time commitment will be about 2-3 hours per week and consist of: 

- attending the speaker sessions as outlined in the curriculum (2 hours per week) 

- joining our Sales Academy Huddles (30 minutes right after every speaker session) to network & learn together

- working with program content, exercises and resources in your spare time (at your discretion)

- booking time with WeWork Labs mentors (at your discretion)

Can I choose my mentor?

The WeWork Labs team carefully sourced mentors for the Ready to Raise program. Based on your company's stage and your industry, we will match you with mentors that best suit your needs. 

Do I need to participate in the program to pitch at Startup Showcase?

Yes. Companies must meet the following eligibility requirements in order to present at Startup Showcase:

1) Attend at least 10 of 13 scheduled expert sessions

2) Complete at least 6 of 8 mentor sessions

3) Complete at least 8 of 10 weekly check-ins (3-minute surveys)

4) Pitch to, and gain approval from, the Ready to Raise Pitch Committee in early September

How does mentoring work at WeWork Labs? 

We encourage you to book time with our WeWork Labs mentors at your discretion through the WeWork Labs Member Portal in order to get individual support with your own sales challenges. To access the mentoring component, you need to be a WeWork Labs member: it's free to all WeWork members excluding WeWork On Demand. Join us here: www.wework.com/labs

What is WeWork Labs?

WeWork Labs is WeWork’s global digital platform connecting and supporting early-stage startups and small businesses. We foster meaningful connections between founders and the educational, mentorship and financial resources needed to drive their businesses forward. Through programs like Leadership Academy, Ready to Raise, and E-Commerce Bootcamp, WeWork Labs aims to facilitate WeWork’s global community of entrepreneurs to experiment, collaborate and grow together, no matter where they are. WeWork Labs is free to all WeWork members excluding WeWork On Demand. Join us here: www.wework.com/labs