Igniting the founders of the future
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At Floodgate, we talk about how $1B Thunder Lizards are hatched from atomic eggs. Atomic eggs contain all the raw materials needed for a breakthrough business: inflections, insights, and a killer team.
Reactor teaches exceptional undergrad founders to identify inflections, develop insights, and ultimately build amazing businesses that are worthy of their time.
Now accepting applications until October 21, 2022.
Applications Closed!“This program has been a life-changing experience. I've learned more in 9 months than I have in 4 years of college. The Floodgate team is incredible and their unique insights on the idea maze are invaluable to a 1st time founder.” - Maggie Tang (Loyalist)
“You’ll be hard-pressed to find a better VC firm with a more sterling reputation willing to take the time and energy to support young founders like this.” - Daniel Shorr (Modulus Labs)
It's not about the idea, it's about you — the Reactor
Reactor is made up of the top builders and thinkers; those who are able to dive deep into a certain industry and those who act on these findings.
KEY TRAIT
As a Reactor, you must loosely hold strong opinions. We are seeking Reactors who can’t imagine doing anything other than building a business - but with the mental flexibility to iterate and pivot in search of insights.
What's a builder?
Take a listen to Twitch founder, Emmet Shear, describe his process with his co-founders in finding the right idea (21:15 - 22:28).
What's a thinker?
Take a listen to Applied Intuition founder, Qasar Younis and Peter Ludwig, describe how they designed their company (17:41 - 21:39).
Build a breakthrough venture that is worthy of your talent and time
We’ll teach you frameworks that will help you master the art of entrepreneurship from the earliest stage.
"Reactor isn’t about WHAT you work on, it’s about HOW you do it. Reactor takes your skills, whatever they are, however they are, and upgrades all of them. You don’t need an idea, you just need to come in ready to hustle."
Shreyas Parab & Ryan Cao (Modulus Labs)
In Reactor, you will:
- Learn an entrepreneurial philosophy and build venture-scalable ideas
- Receive curated 1:1 feedback from Ann Miura-Ko and other Floodgate partners
- Engage in intimate conversations with unicorn entrepreneurs
- Build lifetime friendships with driven student founders
The Reactor Experience
An 8-month program that will take you from building valuable insights to creating a breakthrough venture.
1JAN - MAR
What are the frameworks needed to build a breakthrough venture?
REMOTE
2MAR- JUN
How do I find and validate my insight?
REMOTE
3JUN - AUG
How do I intentionally develop and scale my venture?
IN-PERSON
At the conclusion of Reactor, Floodgate is committed to helping every team fundraise when they are ready - whether that's 6 days or 6 months after the program ends.
Terms designed with your future in mind
Floodgate is committed to being your co-conspirator. That means backing you with the right amount of capital at the right stage.
At the start of Reactor, each team will receive $100k for 5%. This gives you the latitude to explore widely and choose the future path that is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to apply as a team? Or can I apply as an individual?
We’re committed to taking the absolute best people for the Reactor. So yes, you can apply as an individual. However, we will be giving a strong preference to fully formed teams of two or three. Having the right co-founder(s) is incredibly valuable in building a venture - you cannot think and build at the same time as a team of one! Given this, even if you are accepted as an individual, we will require all Reactor participants to have a co-founder by the summer.
Do I need a business idea or plan to apply?
No! You do not need an idea to apply. All you need is an entrepreneurial drive and a passion for exploration and building. If you’re already working on something, that’s great! Expect to come into Reactor, ready to continue testing your idea and ensuring that it is the right venture that is worthy of your time, efforts, and talent. As a reminder, 100% of the first Reactor cohort ended up building something different than what they came into the program working on!
Can I apply if I’m not an undergraduate student?
We will be giving preferences to teams with at least one undergraduate, but are open to teams of graduate students or recent graduates. These will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you are accepted, we will require that you are not engaged in any employment opportunities that could create legal issues with IP ownership in the new company.
When are applications due?
Applications are due on Friday, 10/21/22 @ 11:59 p.m. PT
When will the cohort be selected?
After applying to Reactor, all applicants will receive an email indicating whether they’ve received an interview. The final cohort will be selected by November 10th, 2022.
When does Reactor start? Is it in-person?
Remote instruction will begin in January and will continue on a weekly basis through May. Starting in June, Reactor will meet in person for a 10-week where all Reactors are required to be in the Bay Area and will be able to work together in the Floodgate office.
What is the expected time commitment for Reactor?
We want teams that are fully committed to pursuing entrepreneurship. At a minimum, you should expect to dedicate 5-10 hours per week in the remote portion and 50+ hours per week over the summer.
Why does my team have to incorporate before the summer begins?
The $100k provided by Reactor is an investment, not a grant. Therefore, we must invest the money into a legal corporate entity in exchange for equity. Floodgate will assist in getting all the systems in place to make incorporation efficient and seamless. Along with this, we believe it is critical for young entrepreneurs to learn the ins-and-outs of spinning up and spinning down a company. The better educated you are on these systems, the more time you’ll have to dedicate to building the next great company!
What happens if we find strong traction during Reactor?
We have a long track record of investing in student teams at Floodgate, and we love working with them! That is one of our primary motivators for running this program. If you find a true insight and validate it with an initial product, Floodgate typically writes pre-seed checks for teams to really go after product-market fit. These checks are generally between $500k and $750k. Because Reactor is about the pursuit of validated insights, we envision writing these checks throughout the program.
What happens at the end of Reactor?
At the conclusion of Reactor, Floodgate is committed to helping every team fundraise when they are ready - whether that's 6 days or 6 months after the program ends. 100% of our teams that wanted to fundraise have been able to secure very successful rounds. Reactors are expected to be fully committed to building their venture throughout the program and in many cases, after the program as well.
That being said, we understand that timing and team are essential to any new company’s success. Past Reactors have found amazing insights but ultimately decided now was not the time for that particular team to pursue a breakthrough business. Just know that as a Reactor, you will always have Floodgate in your corner whenever the time is right for you!
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