WE Liftoff

WE Liftoff

Enabling early-stage startups to get seed capital

About WE Liftoff

WE Liftoff enables thousands of early-stage startups to improve their business strategy, organization and performance to be successful and get seed capital. Liftoff helps startups to:

  • Strengthen business and financial sustainability
  • Design processes for customer acquisition, growth and scale
  • Build networks
  • Build a balanced team
  • Strengthen brand visibility and GTM strategy
  • Create a product roadmap
  • Compute the venture’s valuation and develop a funding plan

Who is eligible for WE Liftoff?

Early-stage startups fulfilling the below criteria can apply for the Liftoff program:

  • Having a customer validated idea
  • Having a sizeable Total Addressable Market (TAM)
  • Having a sustainable business model
  • Should be a registered entity
Apply to the Liftoff program

Program pathway

The program commences with a venture baselining and goal setting exercise which aims to identify the key areas of focus during the 14-week intervention with the end-goal of investor funding.

Sprint 1
Business Vision
By the end of week 1–2, the participants will be able to:
  • Have a well-defined vision
  • Set goals
  • Define a roadmap
Sprint 1
Sprint 2
MVP/Product
By the end of week 3-4, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable VPC
  • Compelling Value Statement
  • Clear road-map for features
  • Clear rationale for feature
Sprint 2
Sprint 3
Business Model
By the end of week 5-6, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable LC
  • Top 3 - Risky assumptions Hypothesis Tested
  • 1-year/3-year projection business plan
  • Pricing Strategy tested with customers, validated through sales
  • Key metrics are on track
Sprint 3
Sprint 4
Customers
By the end of week 7-8, the participants will be able to:
    Know your Top 2/3 Channels Compelling Brand promise Positioning Statement Web Page & social media Defendable Customer Acquisition Funnel
Sprint 4
Sprint 5
Growth and Scale
By the end of week 9 - 10, the participants will be able to:
  • Productivity hacks
  • Process Maps
  • Operational excellence standards
  • Established KPIs
Sprint 5
Sprint 6
Team
By the end of week 11 - 12, the participants will be able to:
  • Culture statement
  • Re-inforce your culture
  • Hiring Plan for Co-founders
  • Hiring plan for employees
  • Interview & Exit process
Sprint 6
Final Lap
Funding
By the end of week 13 - 14, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable valuation
  • Defendable funding ask
  • Logical methodology for Valuation
  • Impactful Pitch
Final Lap
Business Vision
By the end of week 1–2, the participants will be able to:
  • Have a well-defined vision
  • Set goals
  • Define a roadmap
Sprint 2
Business Model and Plan
By the end of week 5-6, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable LC
  • Top 3 - Risky assumptions Hypothesis Tested
  • 1-year/3-year projection business plan
  • Pricing Strategy tested with customers, validated through sales
  • Key metrics are on track
Sprint 4
Growth and Scale
By the end of week 9 - 10, the participants will be able to:
  • Productivity hacks
  • Process Maps
  • Operational excellence standards
  • Established KPIs
Sprint 6
Funding
By the end of week 13 - 14, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable valuation
  • Defendable funding ask
  • Logical methodology for Valuation
  • Impactful Pitch
Sprint 1
MVP/Product
By the end of week 3-4, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable VPC
  • Compelling Value Statement
  • Clear road-map for features
  • Clear rationale for feature
Sprint 3
Customers
By the end of week 7-8, the participants will be able to:
    Know your Top 2/3 Channels Compelling Brand promise Positioning Statement Web Page & social media Defendable Customer Acquisition Funnel
Sprint 5
Team
By the end of week 11 - 12, the participants will be able to:
  • Culture statement
  • Re-inforce your culture
  • Hiring Plan for Co-founders
  • Hiring plan for employees
  • Interview & Exit process
Final Lap

Program pathway

The program commences with a venture baselining and goal-setting exercise, which aims to identify the key areas of focus during this 14-week intervention. This exercise sets the pace for the interventions, and there is a concerted effort from the startup and Wadhwani Foundation to reach the goal–post, i.e. investor funding; most efficiently.

Sprint 1
Business Vision
By the end of weeks 1–2, the participants will be able to:
  • Have a well-defined vision
  • Set goals
  • Define a roadmap
Sprint 1
Sprint 2
MVP/Product
By the end of weeks 3-4, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable VPC
  • Compelling Value Statement
  • A clear roadmap for features
  • A clear rationale for the feature
Sprint 2
Sprint 3
Business Model
By the end of weeks 5-6, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable LC
  • Top 3 - Risky assumptions Hypothesis Tested
  • 1-year/3-year projection business plan
  • Pricing Strategy tested with customers, validated through sales
  • Key metrics are on track
Sprint 3
Sprint 4
Customers
By the end of weeks 7-8, the participants will be able to:
  • Know your Top 2/3 Channels. Compelling Brand promise
  • Positioning Statement Web Page & social media
  • Defendable Customer Acquisition Funnel
Sprint 4
Sprint 5
Growth and Scale
By the end of weeks 9 - 10, the participants will be able to:
  • Productivity hacks
  • Process Maps
  • Operational excellence standards
  • Established KPIs
Sprint 5
Sprint 6
Team
By the end of weeks 11 - 12, the participants will be able to:
  • Culture statement
  • Reinforce your culture
  • Hiring Plan for Co-founders
  • Hiring plan for employees
  • Interview & Exit process
Sprint 6
Final Lap
Funding
By the end of weeks 13 - 14, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable valuation
  • Defendable funding ask
  • Logical methodology for Valuation
  • Impactful Pitch
Final Lap
Business Vision
By the end of weeks 1–2, the participants will be able to:
  • Have a well-defined vision
  • Set goals
  • Define a roadmap
Sprint 2
Business Model and Plan
By the end of weeks 5-6, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable LC
  • Top 3 - Risky assumptions Hypothesis Tested
  • 1-year/3-year projection business plan
  • Pricing Strategy tested with customers, validated through sales
  • Key metrics are on track
Sprint 4
Growth and Scale
By the end of weeks 9 - 10, the participants will be able to:
  • Productivity hacks
  • Process Maps
  • Operational excellence standards
  • Established KPIs
Sprint 6
Funding
By the end of weeks 13 - 14, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable valuation
  • Defendable funding ask
  • Logical methodology for Valuation
  • Impactful Pitch
Sprint 1
MVP/Product
By the end of weeks 3-4, the participants will be able to:
  • Defendable VPC
  • Compelling Value Statement
  • A clear roadmap for features
  • A clear rationale for the feature
Sprint 3
Customers
By the end of weeks 7-8, the participants will be able to:
  • Know your Top 2/3 Channels. Compelling Brand promise
  • Positioning Statement Web Page & social media
  • Defendable Customer Acquisition Funnel
Sprint 5
Team
By the end of weeks 11 - 12, the participants will be able to:
  • Culture statement
  • Reinforce your culture
  • Hiring Plan for Co-founders
  • Hiring plan for employees
  • Interview & Exit process
Final Lap
Apply to the Liftoff program

WE Liftoff Benefits

Liftoff provides 360° support to the stratups and an inclusive experience covering different aspects of the entrepreneurial journey, to increase their chances of funding success.

  • 1×1 with our Program Manager
  • Digital content & Solution Kits
  • Live online workshops, masterclasses, video & presentation-led case studies
  • Access to domain experts & business mentors on a Global Entrepreneur Platform
  • Business Model evaluation, financial planning & startup selection tools and templates
  • Live Pitching Sessions
  • Connects with funding agencies and investors
  • Expert helpdesk for online advice
Apply to the Liftoff program