Kishore Biyani, Nikhil Kamath launch 'The Foundery': What is it?
What's the story
Entrepreneurs Nikhil Kamath and Kishore Biyani have launched The Foundery, a unique residential program to help early-stage start-ups in India. The initiative is a mix of an accelerator, venture studio, and school. It provides participants with a 90-day immersive experience that takes them from ideation to investment readiness. The program focuses on idea validation, business execution, and scaling with guidance from industry veterans like Vijay Shekhar Sharma (Paytm), Kunal Bahl (Snapdeal), and Rama Bijapurkar.
Program details
A platform for aspiring entrepreneurs
The Foundery is open to aspiring entrepreneurs, mid-career professionals, and early-stage founders. The selection process focuses on creativity, problem-solving skills, and the potential of the founder rather than formal qualifications or presentation polish. Participants can retain up to 25% equity in ventures they help create. Successful start-ups could also get seed funding of up to ₹4 crore through this program.
Educational philosophy
A unique approach to education
Kamath, who is the co-founder of Zerodha and True Beacon, criticized traditional education systems in his statement. He said, "Most of what we call education was built for a world that doesn't exist anymore. It teaches people to fit in when progress comes from those who don't." He emphasized that The Foundery is for those who would rather make their own path than follow someone else's.
Highlights
The Foundery's unique features and final pitch
Each session of The Foundery will end with a Demo Day, where ventures are pitched to a curated network of investors. The program also has a reflective "School of Life" component that covers personal resilience and leadership skills. This unique combination makes The Foundery an ideal platform for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark in the start-up world.