Founder School is a 6-week, cohort-driven introduction into entrepreneurship for RMIT students who wants to learn more about what it means to ideate, innovate, and explore the various tools and methodologies used by leading enterprises.
Founder School is open to all RMIT current students with an interest in entrepreneurship.
Looking to upskill? Learn founder basics and innovative ways of thinking that startups use daily to gain the competitive edge needed to land your dream job.
Got a business idea? We’ll demystify entrepreneurship, help you evaluate the validity of the problem you're solving and equip you with practical tools to focus on your side hustle.
Get your Certificate of Completion at the end of the program
Add value to your university experience with no extra charge to your current study plan
Ask your burning entrepreneurial questions and work together with our expert coaches to get the best out of the program
Get connected with the broader Activator community from across the Asia Pacific locations
Work together as a cohort at our co-working space (Saigon campus only)
Upskill in various online collaboration platforms
What is your passion? What are your strengths and how can they be used to make an impact? Learning about yourself will help to align your business with your values as well as attract likeminded people to help you on this journey
Key learnings:
There are few frameworks as widely known as Design Thinking. We explore the fundamentals of Design Thinking and then deep
dive into the first three stages, empathise, define and ideate. This will set you up as you begin to uncover your business idea.
Key learnings:
Now is your chance to begin to discover those people who you are looking to help. Defining this demographic and knowing where
to find them is a continuous process. Here we will build skills in the tools and frameworks to do just that.
Key learnings:
Every successful business solves a problem. But what, exactly, is the problem you are trying to solve? Or perhaps you are wondering how to find that problem? This class will give you the tools to find and articulate a problem that resonates with your purpose.
Key learnings:
With a customer and problem in mind, this class will focus on understanding the external and competing forces in the market.
Who else has tried to solve this problem? What trends are occurring that you need to be aware of?
Key learnings:
All entrepreneurs need the ability to articulate their idea when the opportunity arises. Here is where we will explore the
fundamentals to storytelling, engaging emotionally with the audience and how to present confidently and persuasively.
Key learnings:
To accompany your journey with Founder School, you will keep one Passport document (Guidebook) to use as proof of attendance and participation.
At the end of the program, your Certificate of Completion will be rewarded if and when you have successfuly completed:
All participants are expected to dedicate at least 6-8 hours per week to program participation. Besides the compulsory workshops requiring active participation, you are welcomed to join other exciting sessions, such as weekly check-in with the coaches, community events like networking day, Lunch n’ Learn, and well-being session.
We will share the full program calendar once you are successful with your application.
Applications for November 2020 intake are now closed. Express you interest for the next intake in 2021.
Think of Founder School as your introduction to entrepreneurship. The program aims to guide you on how to think like an entrepreneur in solving a problem and ideating for a solution, whereas LaunchHUB is for early-stage startup founders who are developing their products to go to market.
Half and half. Our program facilitator will be delivering the workshop from Melbourne, but our program coaches and support team is based in Vietnam (Saigon campus). If you are joining the program from outside of Saigon, you will be able to connect with the coaches virtually and this will be explained to you in more detail after you apply.
Yes. Founder School is for anyone who is curious about entrepreneurship, and whether or not you are interested in having a startup or working on one, is not a benchmark to join the program. We welcome all current students to apply.
All Activator programs are an investment by the university worth thousands of dollars in support and resources, so we will not be offering cash funding. Furthermore, with our global network of community and industry experts, you will be able to make meaningful connections as well as identify funding opportunities.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.
Acknowledgement of Country
RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.
