Birdhouse’s Post

Last Monday, as Cohort 16 kicked off their Birdhouse journey, I had the privilege of returning as an alumnus from Cohort 14 to share insights on their 12-week program—especially on the intensive matchmaking process that connects founders with a dedicated mentor and advisory board. What a full-circle moment! 🟠 Exactly one year ago, I was in their shoes, embarking on the same path that’s been so instrumental for the growth of Ceriter. Being back to share my Birdhouse experience and seeing the excitement of these founders reminded me of that initial drive and determination. The first three days are intense, focused on finding the right mentors and advisors—a team of experienced professionals ready to challenge, support, and guide each startup. Birdhouse organizes a pre-selection of around 38 calls per startup, ensuring founders have real opportunities to find their ideal advisory board and mentor. They even set up extra calls based on feedback to make sure each founder has the best match possible. Some key takeaways I shared with the new cohort were: 📍 Ask for advice immediately. The more you ask, the more you learn, including about the potential advisor. 📍 Look for personal connections. Even if a match isn’t perfect, a genuine conversation can open unexpected doors. 📍 Stay open and flexible. Sometimes, a casual chat can turn into a valuable relationship. It’s inspiring to see how driven Cohort 16 is - they’re asking the right questions and diving into this journey wholeheartedly. Can’t wait to see where they’ll go! 🚀 #funding #startup #network #vc