MOONSHOTS LAB

FOUNDER FELLOWSHIP / MISSION 01

Build the company that can carry the mission.

A competitive, 12-week technology fellowship created exclusively for startup founders. Build effective company systems, secure your first customers, validate a repeatable path to growth and compete for non-dilutive grant funding.

Apply for the next mission ↗Explore the flight plan
12weeks
05mission stages
30founders selected
MOONSHOTS LAB / 3D MODEL

Starship / from systems to orbit

S / 03
Preparing Starship…
01 / 08Prelaunch

DRAG TO ROTATE · SELECT A COMPONENT

ILLUSTRATIVE FLIGHT · TIME COMPRESSED

The integrated vehicle is readied on the launch mount.

THE SPACECRAFT → YOUR VENTURE
FOUNDATION

Rocket Assembly

A booster carries the entire mission. Your company’s operating system does the same: clear ownership, decision routines and a practical execution plan.

Explore activities, deliverables and review criteria →

Original educational model inspired by Starship. Design and flight references: SpaceX. The two flight paths are shown in turn; this is not a physics simulation or a replay of a specific flight.

YOUR MISSION, ONE STEP AT A TIME

MISSION OBJECTIVE

From promising idea to operational company

Great founders often begin with a compelling problem, a distinctive insight or a new technology. The fellowship closes the gap between that promise and a company capable of executing the mission.
01 / MISSION OBJECTIVE

Build the spacecraft

Develop the systems, processes, decision routines and operating discipline required to grow without losing control of the mission.

02 / MISSION OBJECTIVE

Find the first passengers

Identify the right customers, test the value proposition and convert early interest into pilots, partnerships or revenue.

03 / MISSION OBJECTIVE

Secure the fuel

Translate progress into credible evidence, stronger grant applications and non-dilutive capital that can extend the runway.

FLIGHT PLAN

Five stages. One launch window.

Progression is competitive. Founders are evaluated on evidence, execution and learning—not presentation style, personal connections or the scale of their initial resources.
01WEEKS 1–3
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE

Every system prepares the next.

MISSION STAGE 01

Rocket Assembly

Build the systems that hold the company together.

Founders establish the minimum effective operating system that allows a small team to move quickly, learn consistently and remain accountable.
  • Clarify the mission, customer problem and strategic priorities
  • Define founder roles and decision rights
  • Establish weekly operating rhythms
  • Build customer, experiment and commitment trackers
  • Create a runway and resource plan
  • Select meaningful performance indicators
02WEEKS 4–6
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE

Every system prepares the next.

MISSION STAGE 02

Launch Prep

Turn customer discovery into an acquisition engine.

Founders move from general market assumptions to direct customer evidence and learn to distinguish polite interest from genuine demand.
  • Define a focused ideal customer profile
  • Map the problem, alternatives and buying process
  • Conduct structured customer interviews
  • Refine positioning and value proposition
  • Design a first offer, pilot or commercial experiment
  • Build an active acquisition pipeline
03WEEKS 7–9
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE

Every system prepares the next.

MISSION STAGE 03

Liftoff

Convert early traction into evidence of a scalable business.

Founders turn preparation into measurable market progress, improve delivery and identify what must become repeatable before the business can scale.
  • Convert prospects into pilots, contracts or customers
  • Improve customer onboarding and delivery
  • Track activation, retention and outcomes
  • Test pricing, costs and initial unit economics
  • Document unresolved assumptions
  • Develop a responsible scaling plan
04WEEKS 10–11
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE

Every system prepares the next.

MISSION STAGE 04

Orbit Insertion

Demonstrate progress under rigorous competitive evaluation.

Six finalists present the evidence supporting their business and show whether early momentum can become a credible, sustainable trajectory.
  • Present the problem and distinctive solution
  • Show systems established during Rocket Assembly
  • Present customer evidence and traction
  • Explain failures, adaptations and learning
  • Surface current risks and unresolved assumptions
  • Defend the next six-month operating plan
05WEEK 12
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE

Every system prepares the next.

MISSION STAGE 05

Satellite Launch

Deploy the next phase with grant funding and continued support.

Three ventures receive non-dilutive funding. The awards recognize the founder’s ability to build systems, learn from customers and execute under uncertainty.
  • Complete final diligence
  • Agree a milestone-based use-of-funds plan
  • Activate graduate reporting
  • Begin six months of mission support
  • Access customer and partner introductions
  • Share progress through the alumni network

Up to 30 founders begin Rocket Assembly. Up to 20 advance to Launch Prep, 12 continue to Liftoff, six become Orbit Insertion finalists and three receive grants during Satellite Launch.

MISSION CONTROL

Mission support at every altitude

Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE
YOUR SUPPORT NETWORK

Company operating system

Practical routines for priorities, decisions, accountability, customer tracking and financial planning.

CREW REQUIREMENTS

Who should apply?

The fellowship is exclusively designed for active startup founders and co-founders.
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DRAG TO EXPLORE
Your preparation checklist0 / 9

SELECTION

How selection works

Applications are reviewed through a common framework. Shortlisted founders may be invited to a structured interview. Applicants are not expected to have perfect answers; reviewers look for clarity, intellectual honesty and the ability to act on learning.
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE
  • Importance and clarity of the customer problem
  • Founder commitment and execution ability
  • Credibility of the proposed solution
  • Potential for technology-enabled scale
  • Evidence of customer learning
  • Openness to experimentation and feedback
  • Responsible-innovation awareness
  • Potential benefit from the fellowship

TELEMETRY

The mission scorecard

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DRAG TO EXPLORE

Customer evidence · 25%

Bring interviews, pilot outcomes or adoption evidence that demonstrates a real customer need.

COMPETITION RULES

Evidence over performance

Every progression decision uses documented evidence and multiple reviewers. A polished presentation cannot substitute for customer evidence or operating discipline.
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE
  • The same scoring framework is used across the cohort, with contextual judgment for sector and regulatory differences
  • Reviewers disclose conflicts and do not score founders where a material conflict exists
  • Founders are not required to disclose source code, trade secrets or unnecessary personal data
  • Material claims about customers, revenue, pilots and partnerships must be supportable
  • Serious misconduct or deliberate misrepresentation may result in removal
  • Founders receive concise feedback on the primary factors behind progression decisions

THE FUEL

US$100,000 in non-dilutive grants

Grant recipients keep their equity. Funding supports a clearly defined next phase of product development, customer acquisition, technical infrastructure, regulatory validation, key talent or pilot delivery.
Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE
RECOMMENDED DISBURSEMENT

60%US$30,000After award documentation

40%US$20,000After the 90-day milestone review

Recommended disbursement: 60% after award documentation and 40% following an agreed 90-day milestone review.

  • Identity, company and banking verification
  • Required incorporation and tax documentation
  • Approved milestone-based use-of-funds plan
  • Dedicated grant-expenditure tracking
  • Six months of graduate progress reporting
  • Compliance with applicable laws and responsible-innovation requirements
Final awards, tax treatment and conditions remain subject to the official grant agreement and applicable local requirements.

COUNTDOWN

Mission timeline

Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE

APPLICATIONS

Founder application, company overview and current evidence

FAQ

Mission briefing

Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE
Do I need revenue?+

No. The fellowship supports founders from pre-revenue to early revenue, but applicants should have a prototype, MVP or credible solution that can be tested with customers.

Do I need a co-founder?+

No. Solo founders may apply if they can meet the participation and execution requirements.

Is the grant an investment?+

No. The awards are non-dilutive and Moonshots Lab does not receive equity in exchange for the funding.

Can founders from any country apply?+

The fellowship is designed as a remote-first program, subject to the eligible geographies and grant-disbursement requirements published for each cohort.

What happens if I do not progress?+

You retain the systems and tools completed during your stage, receive feedback and remain part of the wider fellowship community.

How much time should I commit?+

Plan for approximately eight hours per week, including workshops, implementation, customer activity, mentoring and reviews.

Preparing the scene…
DRAG TO EXPLORE
Applications opening soon

Your mission begins before launch.

The strongest startups are built through systems that enable action, customers who validate value and evidence that earns the right to scale.

Review eligibility ↑Applications are competitive. Progress is earned through evidence.