The Builder’s Cohort 2026

A future-first Entrepreneurship & Innovation program curated from the “Launch Your Startup” MBA framework taught at Columbia Business School.

Across an intensive 5-day journey, students shape an idea, build a business model, understand their customer, study their market, design their product, and create their brand.

The cohort concludes with a sharp pitch — supported by expert guidance, teamwork, and practical entrepreneurial tools.

Apply for the Program
How It Works?

Your Journey Through the Entrepreneurship Program

A structured 5-day pathway that guides students through the full entrepreneurial journey — from identifying a strong idea to building a launch-ready venture.

01
Start With a Strong Idea

Define the problem you are solving and understand the value your idea brings — the foundation of every successful venture.

02
Build Your Business Model

Shape your idea into a structured business model and validate customer needs, market fit, and opportunities for impact.

03
Design Your Product & Brand

Use rapid design thinking to create your MVP and learn how branding, marketing, and customer experience shape your venture’s identity.

04
Launch & Pitch Your Venture

Prepare your financial pathway, refine your pitch, and present your venture like a real founder — ready for launch.

What You’ll Learn?

THE BUILDERS’ COHORT — Mumbai 2026

A Future-First Venture Studio for High School & College Students

2 Weeks
Daily Sessions

The Builders’ Cohort is a next-generation innovation and venture-building program designed for ambitious students who want to build, create, and lead in the AI age. Co-designed with Prof. Daniel McQuade (Columbia Business School), this program merges global venture pedagogy with hands-on studio learning.

Inspired by Columbia Business School’s “Venture For All” methodology, this cohort gives students the tools to identify opportunities, design solutions, build prototypes, and create ventures that are portfolio-ready for college applications or seed-stage pitch events.

This is not an entrepreneurship camp.

It’s a venture studio redesigned for the AI generation.

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Success Stories

Our Alumni's Success Stories

Discover how our program has empowered students to achieve their career goals through real-life success stories and testimonials.

The Columbia VFA program was incredible as it gave me exposure to the real world entrepreneurial landscape allowing us to truly think big. The mental models and they innovative and problem solving attitude taught in this class was one inspires me and is the reason my journey to this day was so deeply impacted by this experience.

Armaann Karnnavat
UC Berkeley

The X program was my first real introduction to entrepreneurship and business. It was the first time I learned how to turn an idea into reality—through brainstorming, customer insights, and basic business modeling—and it became a solid foundation for everything I’ve explored since. Professor _ was an inspiring teacher and visionary; he taught us how to solve problems, think outside the box, and approach our ideas with innovation and creativity. Even online during COVID, he created an engaging, supportive environment that helped me learn hands-on and form friendships with students from around the world, many of whom I still keep in touch with today. It was a truly meaningful starting point for me.

Ela Kopmaz
FAQs

Got Questions? We Have Answers!

Explore answers about costs, admissions, and how the Entrepreneurship Summer Program works for students, parents, and schools.

The Entrepreneurship Summer Program fee will be announced soon. It will cover all sessions, program material, activities, and the final pitch day.

No. Once the fee is communicated, it will be inclusive of all core program activities. Any optional add-ons (like extra mentoring or merchandise) will be clearly mentioned separately.

Yes. We plan to offer limited merit- and need-based scholarships. Details will be shared with selected applicants before fee payment.

We are exploring flexible payment options. Once finalised, families will receive instructions on how to complete payments in one or more tranches.

Our refund policy will be shared along with the admission offer. Typically, partial refunds are available before the program start date, and no refunds are possible once the cohort begins.

The fee includes workshops, mentoring sessions, program kit, project resources, and access to the final pitch day, along with a certificate upon successfully completing the program.

The program is designed for students from Grades 8–12 who are curious, motivated, and interested in entrepreneurship, creativity, and problem-solving.

You can submit the online registration form on the Register page. Once we review your details, our team will contact you with next steps.

Yes. We look at grade level, interest in entrepreneurship, and responses in the application form. In some cases, we may invite students for a short interaction or statement of purpose.

Exact dates for applications, fee payment, and the program schedule will be announced soon. We recommend registering your interest early so you don’t miss updates.

Yes. Students from outside Mumbai are welcome, but they must arrange their own travel and stay. All sessions will be held in person in Mumbai.

Yes. Once you submit the form, you’ll receive an acknowledgement by email. After review, we will send an admission update and payment link if selected.

Each day combines interactive workshops, team activities, mentor check-ins, and project work. Students move from idea exploration to building and pitching their own venture concept.

No. The program is beginner-friendly and focuses on creativity, problem-solving, and entrepreneurial thinking — not on prior technical knowledge.

Yes. Sessions are conducted in monitored venues with trained facilitators. Attendance is tracked and students are supervised throughout program hours.

A basic laptop or tablet is recommended for research and presentation work. If a student does not have a device, we will try to support them with shared resources where possible.

Parents are invited for key touchpoints such as orientation and the final pitch day, so they can see the work students have created.

Students leave with a project they can showcase, a better understanding of how businesses work, and stronger skills in teamwork, communication, creativity, and leadership.

Yes. Schools can partner with us for dedicated cohorts, curated sessions, or as an enrichment offering for their students.

Content is adapted for different age groups within Grades 8–12 to ensure the right level of challenge, support, and real-world relevance.

While not tied to one specific board, the program builds skills valued across CBSE, ICSE, IB, and international curricula: critical thinking, collaboration, research, and presentation.

In select cases, yes. We are open to discussing in-school or co-hosted formats with partner institutions in and around Mumbai.

Yes. We can host short briefings for school counsellors and teachers to explain the program structure, student outcomes, and collaboration opportunities.

Schools and counsellors can reach us via the Contact page or directly at info@foundr.in with “School Collaboration” in the subject line.