Objective
The objective of the Founders Cohort is to create a consistent, trusted space where founders can make meaningful progress on their ventures during the semester. The cohort is designed to reduce the isolation that often comes with building a company, strengthen founder confidence, and encourage thoughtful decision-making through peer learning and accountability. By bringing together a small group of actively building founders, the initiative supports steady momentum, honest reflection, and shared problem-solving.
Purpose
The purpose of the Founders Cohort is to provide founders with what they often lack most: a community of peers who truly understand the challenges of building something from scratch. Rather than focusing on pitch quality or idea perfection, the cohort prioritizes commitment, openness, and growth. It offers a confidential, judgment-free environment where founders can discuss real challenges both personal and professional learn from one another’s experiences, and hold each other accountable for progress. Through regular, structured conversations, the cohort helps founders clarify goals, take action between meetings, and build resilience as they navigate the entrepreneurial journey.
Building a venture is hard - and doing it alone is harder!
The Bentley Founder Peer Cohort is a small, founder-only community designed to support students and recent alumni who are actively building ventures. This cohort brings founders together for honest conversations, shared problem-solving, and accountability throughout the semester.
This is not a speaker series or a pitch competition.
It’s a space to think clearly, learn faster, and build alongside other founders who understand the journey.
👉 Apply to Join the Cohort
Alumni Leads
What Makes This Different
Compared to typical entrepreneurship programs, this cohort is designed specifically for founders rather than clubs, teams, or classes. It prioritizes honest, open discussion over polished pitches and emphasizes real progress during the semester. Instead of top-down instruction, the cohort is built around peer accountability, where founders learn from each other’s experiences. The model is inspired by peer-founder groups used at leading universities and accelerators, thoughtfully adapted for the Bentley ecosystem.
Expectations & Culture
To protect the quality of the group, the cohort is guided by a set of shared principles. Conversations are confidential, and what is shared in the room stays in the room. Founders are expected to attend most sessions and actively contribute, ensuring that everyone benefits from the collective experience. The cohort is built on mutual respect, where ideas can be challenged without challenging the people behind them. As the group grows, feedback is encouraged and the structure may evolve to best support the founders involved.
This cohort is designed for individuals who:
- Identify as founders (one representative per venture)- A founder is the person who starts a company from the ground up.
- Are actively building an idea or venture
- Are willing to show up, participate, and contribute
- Value learning from peers as much as from mentors
Priority is given to Bentley students and recent alumni. A limited number of non-Bentley founders may be included to enrich perspectives.
1. Application & Selection
Interested founders complete a short application sharing:
- What they’re building
- Their stage and goals
- Availability and commitment
👉 Apply now!
2. Cohort Structure
Each cohort runs through the end of the semester and meets in person for discussion-based sessions. See the dates below. Participants commit to attending regularly and contributing throughout the term. A new cohort will be selected next fall.
- Cohort size: ~10 founders
- Format: In-person, discussion-based
- Frequency: Every month
- Length: 80–90 minutes per session
- Location: Somers Garage (or confirmed campus space)
Each meeting follows a simple, repeatable structure that keeps the focus on progress:
- Founder Check-In: Quick personal and venture check
- Scorecard & Goals: Founders track a small set of self-defined metrics and semester goals
- Founder Issue Deep Dive: One or more founders bring a real challenge (personal or professional). The group works through it together using structured discussion
- Commitments & Next Steps: Each founder leaves with clear actions before the next meeting
This structure keeps conversations focused, practical, and respectful of everyone’s time.
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Last edited: Jan 23