Founder's Box
Pairing technical founders with the world's top journalists to turn innovation into investment.
Founder's Box is not a media program — it’s a company-building program. While some alumni may go on to be featured in major publications, that's not the goal. Instead, we pair founders with the world’s most masterful storytellers — former editors-in-chief, investigative journalists, and long-form profile writers — because we believe that a clear, compelling narrative is the foundation of startup success. A strong story fuels fundraising, attracts early customers, aligns internal teams, and, yes, eventually opens doors to meaningful media. It should be driven by a desire to work with world-class experts who will help you articulate your company’s why, what, and where-it’s-going in a way that moves your business forward — not just your brand.
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Founder's Box offers unparalleled access to the world's most influential editors, journalists, and media experts. They are not just mentors—they are active partners in your success story.
Each journalist is paired one-on-one with a founder to craft a powerful narrative, which is then integrated into investor-ready materials, go-to-market strategies, and press introductions.
AI Executive, Former Tech Journalist

Austin is executive director of Founder's Box. He is a veteran journalist and media executive who led tech coverage at The Wall Street Journal and now runs business development at Symbolic.ai, an AI-assisted publishing platform.
Wired, Founder

Battelle is a media entrepreneur and journalist who founded Wired magazine and led multiple ventures exploring the intersection of tech, culture, and business.
CEO, CultureBanx

Hale is a media entrepreneur and journalist who founded CultureBanx, a business and finance news site for minorities. She previously served as an anchor on Cheddar TV.
Executive Editor, Message Labs

Helft is an award-winning writer and editor based in Oakland, Calif. He spent 20 years covering the tech industry for The New York Times, Fortune, Forbes, and other publications.
Editor-At-Large, Harvard Business Review

Ignatius is a senior journalist and author who served as Editor-in-Chief of Harvard Business Review before becoming Editor-at-Large.
Former Editor-In-Chief, Newsweek

Impoco is a longtime editor and newsroom leader who served as Editor-in-Chief of Newsweek and helped steer the magazine’s digital transformation.
Author

McLean is a renowned journalist and author whose work includes landmark investigations into scandals such as Enron, earning acclaim for her reporting in Vanity Fair.
CEO, The Black Press

Rabouin is a financial journalist known for his work covering global markets and economic policy, including reporting for Axios and The Wall Street Journal.
Tech Journalist

Rana is a journalist formerly with The Wall Street Journal whose reporting from six countries has shaped business practices, prompted government investigations, and sparked public debate across the U.S., China and India.
Author

Rivlin is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist formerly with The New York Times whose reporting and books on politics, Silicon Valley, and social issues have influenced public debate and shaped industry practices.
Former Editor-In-Chief, Inc.

Schurenberg is a veteran journalist and former CEO of Inc. and Fast Company, where he helped lead the brands to profitability and award-winning excellence. He is now the founder of the Alliance for Trust in Media.
Founder, Outside the Box Ventures

Tarbox is a former journalist and investment banker who focused on the media and technology sectors. As the managing partner of Outside the Box Ventures, she backs early-stage AI startups and created Founder's Box.
Tech Journalist

Thurm was mostly recently an editor at The Information, where he led coverage of the tech industry and its societal impact. A former editor at WIRED and The Wall Street Journal, he is a two-time Gerald Loeb Award winner.
Tech Journalist

Wollman is a former editor at Bloomberg News and most recently The Wall Street Journal, where she ran a team of tech reporters covering everything from Silicon Valley's startup fortunes to courtroom legal battles.
Our 10-Week Accelerator Program
15
Elite Journalists
Each Editorial Fellow provides dedicated mentorship to one founder throughout the program.
15
Founders Per Cohort
A small, curated group ensuring personalized attention and robust peer relationships.
50+
Mentors
Gain access to office hours with an elite network of investors, founders, and leading journalists.
$150K
Investment
Initial capital, empowering you to focus on narrative development and strategic connections.
Narrative Development
Work directly with Pulitzer-winning journalists to craft your compelling story, refine your messaging, and prepare for high-impact media opportunities.
Investor Access
Direct introductions to our network of AI-focused VCs and angels, who deeply value narrative-driven innovation.
Enterprise Connections
Strategic introductions to key decision-makers at Fortune 500 companies actively seeking cutting-edge AI solutions.
Media Visibility
Exclusive opportunities to showcase your innovation through our premier media partnerships and high-profile events.
Unrivaled Access to Mentor Office Hours
Each founder in our cohort receives exclusive 1:1 office hours with a curated group of world-class mentors—including seasoned investors, successful founders, and enterprise operators—who have built, scaled, and exited industry-defining companies.
Whether it’s navigating a fundraising round, refining enterprise sales strategy, or preparing for product-market fit, these sessions are designed to deliver real-time, tactical advice from people who’ve lived it.
Investor/Founder
Perceptive Ventures
Investor
Exit Ventures
Investor
TCA Venture Group
Investor
Team Ignite Ventures
Investor
Cartograph Ventures
Investor
NM Vintage Fund
Journalist
Washington Monthly
Strategist
GuideForce
Professor
The Wharton School of Business
Investor
Dchained Capital
Fundraiser
CCS Fundraising
Founder
Her Campus Media
Founder
Lord Advisory
Journalist
MassLive
Investor
Out of this World VC
Investor
Three Mast Group
Founder
McPherson Strategies
Founder
Tifin
Investor
Beta Boom
Investor
Roblox
VC Advisor
JRobinett Enterprise
Investor
Connetic Ventures
Founder/Investor/Author
The Super Upside Factor
Investor
Kinect Capital
Strategist
Attorney
Innovation Strategies, Inc.
Investor
Stresswood
Investor
IIE.VC
Investor
FTW Ventures
Founder/Investor
Thicket Ventures
Timeline
August 8
Applications Close
September 3
Cohort Selection Announced
September 19
Program Kick-Off & Journalist Pairing
November 6 - 8
Exclusive Founder-Journalist Retreat
November 19-20
Editor-in-Chief Dinner & Investor Demo Day
Throughout the program, founders participate in weekly virtual sessions covering narrative development, media training, investor readiness, and customer acquisition strategies—all through the lens of effective storytelling.
Founder's Box is guided by Outside the Box Ventures' Media Council—a distinguished collective of former Editors-in-Chief, renowned media CEOs, and leading figures in new media. Leveraging deep industry expertise and influential networks, the Media Council plays an active role in propelling our companies forward.
Media Can Change The Game…
“We were approached by VCs who literally said, ‘We saw you in Vogue and TechCrunch and had to reach out.’” Jen Rubio, Away
“That blog post was the single most effective fundraising tool we had.” Rahul Vohra, SuperHuman
“After the Business Insider profile came out, our inbox exploded with media buyers and investors.” Austin Rief, Morning Brew
After Figs was profiled by Forbes and Fast Company, major investors reached out—including Tulco and Thomas Tull (producer of The Dark Knight).
A Forbes article and a New York Times piece covered how Clubhouse was blowing up among Silicon Valley elite. A16z then invested $110M.
“That TechCrunch article took us from cool app to hot investment overnight.”
Steven Galanis, Cameo
Why Most Accelerators Fail Technical Founders
Traditional Accelerators
Focus exclusively on technical refinement and pitch mechanics, neglecting the narrative foundation that makes innovations compelling to non-technical audiences.
The Founder's Box Approach
Pairs world-class journalists with technical founders to develop narratives that seamlessly integrate into fundraising materials, go-to-market strategies, and media relations.
The Result
Founders who can articulate their vision as compellingly as they build their technology, creating an unfair advantage in fundraising, customer acquisition, and media visibility.
Ready to Transform Your AI Startup's Future?
What Founders Receive
Direct Journalist Mentorship
Work 1:1 with an elite journalist who understands both your technology and how to translate it for investors, customers, and media.
Strategic Media Access
Placement opportunities in leading publications through our extensive media network and editor relationships.
Investor & Customer Relationships
Direct introductions to our network of AI-focused investors and enterprise customers actively seeking solutions.
Who Should Apply
  • Technical founders with innovative AI solutions seeking funding in next six months
  • Startups with working products and early customer validation
  • Teams struggling to translate technical excellence into compelling narratives
  • Founders ready to commit to the narrative development process

We invest in all types of AI startups across industries. Solo founders are welcome, though teams with technical and business co-founders tend to benefit most from our program.
Frequently Asked Questions
1
LOGISTICS
What happens at Founder's Box?
We accelerate technically brilliant founders into investor-ready, enterprise-facing storytellers—pairing each with a top-tier journalist, while opening doors to capital, customers, and press.
Where does the Founder's Box program take place? Do I need to move?
The program is hybrid: a kickoff meeting and dinner in September, a 2-day in-person retreat in October, weekly virtual sessions, and an in-person Demo Day/Editors-in-Chief Dinner in NYC in November. You must attend the 3 in-person events; the rest is remote.
How do you choose which startups to fund?
Through an open global application process. We look for technically strong teams building real solutions with enterprise potential—and the humility to collaborate on story.
How much do you invest?
We invest $150,000 on standard founder-friendly SAFE terms.
What can I use the investment for?
To support yourself, build the business, and cover travel for in-person events. We want you focused full-time on your startup.
What is the time commitment?
Roughly 2-3 hours per week. The program is high-value but lean; the more you engage, the more you’ll unlock.
What are the dates for the next cohort?
Applications close: August 8, 2025. Retreat: October 2025. Demo Day: November 2025.
2
APPLYING
Am I too early to apply?
No. We accept companies as early as prototype stage. If you’re technically strong and tackling a real problem, we’ll help you build the narrative to get funded and scale.
We already have traction. Is Founder's Box still relevant?
Absolutely. Whether you’ve signed your first pilot or already raised a seed round, we help you sharpen your story and accelerate access to Series A, press, and customers.
We’ve already raised funding. Can we still apply?
Yes. Many of our founders have raised pre-seed or seed rounds before joining.
What if my company is Series A or later?
Companies at Series A or later may still apply. This option is non-equity and requires a program fee of $50,000 to participate.
We don’t need the money. Does it still make sense?
Definitely. Most founders join for the unparalleled access—to media, enterprise customers, and elite mentorship. The $150K is a catalyst, not the main event.
Do I need to be technical?
Yes—or your co-founder does. We specialize in helping deeply technical founders translate innovation into business traction.
Can solo founders apply?
Yes. We’ve accepted exceptional solo founders, though the journey is often easier with a co-founder.
Can I apply while working or studying full-time?
You can apply, but you must commit full-time to your startup if accepted. We’re building companies, not side projects.
3
THE PROGRAM
What’s included in the program?
The 10-week program includes a $150K investment, 1:1 mentorship from elite journalists, weekly masterclasses with VCs/operators/editors, media coaching, warm intros to enterprise buyers and investors, and exclusive dinners/Demo Day events.
What’s the narrative mentorship really like?
It’s a deep editorial process. We help you shape your story, refine your pitch, develop customer-facing content, and prepare for high-stakes meetings and media.
Will I get investor access?
Yes. We facilitate direct introductions to institutional investors and family offices—especially those focused on enterprise AI.
Will I get press coverage?
Our founders have routinely landed coverage in outlets like TechCrunch, Forbes, Bloomberg, and Business Insider. We don’t guarantee press—but we build the assets and access that make it happen.
Do you take equity?
Yes. In exchange for the $150K investment, we use a standard SAFE agreement similar to other top accelerators.
4
OTHER
I’m not based in the U.S. Can I apply?
Yes. We welcome international founders. If accepted, we’ll help with logistics around incorporation and travel.
Do I need to be incorporated to apply?
No. But if accepted, we’ll help you incorporate (typically as a Delaware C-Corp).
Will you fund competing companies?
Yes. We don’t gate our cohorts based on perceived overlap—markets are big, and ideas evolve.
Do I need a referral to get in?
No. All applications are reviewed on merit, not connections.
We already did another accelerator. Can we still apply?
Yes. If you’re still pre-Series A, we can likely help you go further, faster.