The format
How Founder Arena works
The stages
These are the default stages. Each season's page lists its own stages, requirements and deadlines.
- Stage 1
Application screening
Tell us the problem, the customer, and why you're the one to build it. Your application will be intelligently added to the leaderboard.
You provide: Written application. Optional pitch deck (PDF).
- Stage 2
Interview
Sam and Ramy interview every founder who reaches this stage, to go deeper on the problem, the customer and your plan.
You provide: An interview with Sam and Ramy.
- Stage 3
Live demo (validation challenge)
Selected applicants demonstrate their product or prototype live to Sam and Ramy, and show that real people want it.
You provide: A live demo, and evidence of demand.
- Stage 4
Business and funding discussion
Another conversation with Sam and Ramy about your business, plan and requirements, and about funding and potential investment to turn your demo or MVP into a production product.
You provide: Your plan, requirements and funding needs.
- Stage 5
Build and progress
Build with full support from Sam and Ramy, with one goal: make your first dollar.
You provide: Regular progress updates.
How applications are judged
Every application is scored by our AI model on the six criteria below, each from 0 to 100, which combine into a score out of 1,000 on the leaderboard. New ideas are what we're looking for: conversations with potential customers and sign-ups count as evidence, and having no product or revenue doesn't count against you. The strongest applications are then reviewed personally by Sam and Ramy, who decide who moves on to the next stages. Later rounds may use their own published criteria.
| Criterion | Weight |
|---|---|
| Problem and customer clarity | 20% |
| Evidence of demand | 20% |
| Feasibility and execution | 20% |
| Differentiation and AI advantage | 15% |
| Business model and route to customers | 15% |
| Founder commitment and learning | 10% |
Funding
Season 1 funding pool
$100,000 USD
Up to $100,000 USD in funding across selected founders, through awards and negotiated investments.
Funding is selective, not guaranteed. Investment terms are negotiated individually and closed outside this site.
The pool is shared across selected founders. Some funding may be awarded, and some offered as investment on terms negotiated with each founder. Agreements and payments happen outside this site.
Eligibility
- You must be 18 or older.
- You must live in the United States or Canada.
- Solo founders and teams are both welcome.
- You can apply once per season. Your application is tied to your legal name and your account's email address, and duplicate applications are discarded.
- New SaaS and software ideas. You don't need a product, customers or revenue to apply.