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Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

sci-founder.com

41–50 of 65 posts

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#41

Would you take on a pure CS idea that has the potential for profitable technologies to be built around it? Also is there a requirement that you have to have a PHD or would you also consider BS holders?

If it was a research oriented idea, maybe, though really we think we can be most helpful to people starting life science companies. If it's more software product oriented, I would encourage you to apply to Y Combinator -- it's a great program.

No hard degree requirements.

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#42
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We think we can be most helpful for people working on life science companies, so mostly focused on that.

Two quick questions: 1) does your comment above mean that it makes little to no sense to apply if a startup is in different (albeit, somewhat adjacent) domain: mine targets materials science and engineering; 2) how do feel about solo founders?

No, please still feel free to apply, we're still happy to consider and see if we can be helpful.

Solo founders are fine with us.

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#43
post #24

Calling this a "Fellowship" is misleading. The funding is an investment. See their FAQ: Q: How much equity does Sci-Founder take in my company? A: There are two funding options we offer: $250,000 for 10% equity $400,000 for 15% equity

I'm not sure "misleading" is a strong enough word in this case. Fellowship has a very specific meaning in academia, and it's not this. Edit: Perhaps it wasn't intentional, but it will have a bait-and-switch feel for scientists in academia.

Fellowship also has a specific meaning in Middle Earth, but that doesn't mean that it must match coincide with every other application of the word.

Words can have multiple meanings; sometimes troublesome ones (i.e. 'tabling' an item on the agenda).

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#44
post #43
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure "misleading" is a strong enough word in this case. Fellowship has a very specific meaning in academia, and it's not this. Edit: Perhaps it wasn't intentional, but it will have a bait-and-switch feel for scientists in academia.

Fellowship also has a specific meaning in Middle Earth, but that doesn't mean that it must match coincide with every other application of the word. Words can have multiple meanings; sometimes troublesome ones (i.e. 'tabling' an item on the agenda).

I don't think this offering intersects with Middle Earth.

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#45

Calling this a "Fellowship" is misleading. The funding is an investment. See their FAQ: Q: How much equity does Sci-Founder take in my company? A: There are two funding options we offer: $250,000 for 10% equity $400,000 for 15% equity

It is almost 'insulting' to the scientist community, greedy investors pitching their business as fellowship should be ashamed.

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#46

Would you take on a pure CS idea that has the potential for profitable technologies to be built around it? Also is there a requirement that you have to have a PHD or would you also consider BS holders?

If it was a research oriented idea, maybe, though really we think we can be most helpful to people starting life science companies. If it's more software product oriented, I would encourage you to apply to Y Combinator -- it's a great program. No hard degree requirements.

It is purely a research idea at this stage and would benefit from a program purpose built for research. If it wouldn't be a good fit because of your life science focus would you know of any similar programs for CS oriented ideas?

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#47
post #43
post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not sure "misleading" is a strong enough word in this case. Fellowship has a very specific meaning in academia, and it's not this. Edit: Perhaps it wasn't intentional, but it will have a bait-and-switch feel for scientists in academia.

Fellowship also has a specific meaning in Middle Earth, but that doesn't mean that it must match coincide with every other application of the word. Words can have multiple meanings; sometimes troublesome ones (i.e. 'tabling' an item on the agenda).

Scientists, not hobbits, are the target of this fellowship. Most scientists spend at least half a decade of their early career in academia and will therefore use "Fellowship" the way it's used in academia.

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#48
post #44
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Fellowship also has a specific meaning in Middle Earth, but that doesn't mean that it must match coincide with every other application of the word. Words can have multiple meanings; sometimes troublesome ones (i.e. 'tabling' an item on the agenda).

I don't think this offering intersects with Middle Earth.

One definition of "fellowship" is actually "a group of people meeting to pursue a shared interest or aim", which describes both the Sci-Founder Fellowship and the Fellowship of the Ring.

Re: Sci-Founder Fellowship: Helping scientists to start companies

#50
post #24

Calling this a "Fellowship" is misleading. The funding is an investment. See their FAQ: Q: How much equity does Sci-Founder take in my company? A: There are two funding options we offer: $250,000 for 10% equity $400,000 for 15% equity

I'm not sure "misleading" is a strong enough word in this case. Fellowship has a very specific meaning in academia, and it's not this. Edit: Perhaps it wasn't intentional, but it will have a bait-and-switch feel for scientists in academia.

Fellowships usually require an institutional affiliation and many institutions are borderline predatory when it comes to IP/equity stake in spinoffs.

If you take a fellowship to start a company and then spin that company off from a university, you've gotta be careful to choose the right uni and structure the work appropriately. Some universities will take pretty big stakes when they can.

Calling this a fellowship is a bit confusing, but I'm not sure it's anything more nefarious than perhaps simply misleading/confusing. At least they're up front with the fact that they'll take a 10% stake. Many universities that will try to take a pretty similar stake aren't so up-front.

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