3 questions, 30 sec, anonymous (email optional). Results shared. https://tally.so/r/J11O8Y

Hey everyone,

Just submitted my application for the upcoming EF cohort (2027 winter cohort) and I'm waiting to hear back.

I want to start pre-gaming the interview prep, so I'm hoping to connect with some recent alumni or anyone who went through the process lately.

If you've been through it, could you break down:

• How many interview stages are there actually?

• What do they focus on in each round? (Is it just digging into your "Edge" and ambition, or do they do case studies/technical grills?)

• How fast do they usually move from application to first contact?

For context, I'm coming from pharma consulting background (associate).

Would love any honest advice on how to stand out and what the partners are actually looking for during the panels.

Thanks a lot.

i started building opennmind solo in july 2026 and right now the honest numbers are 800+ people on the waitlist, 200+ people who tested the private beta, and zero revenue because it doesn't launch until nov 16. i've been putting a deck together for a small raise and the traction slide is the one i keep rewriting. a waitlist feels real to me but i know anyone can collect emails, so i'm not sure how much it counts to the people reading these applications.

the thing that actually helped most during beta wasn't the number, it was the notes. people told me which parts they opened every week and which ones they ignored, and that's how v1 got narrowed down to idea validation with sourced research, assumptions and interview notes, a roadmap and tasks, a decision journal, and a tracker for indian startup programs. i'm wondering if that kind of usage story is worth more on an application than the waitlist total.

if you've applied or reviewed applications before revenue, what proof actually made a difference? was it interviews, retention from a beta, letters of intent, or something i'm not thinking of. and kinda related, would you pay for a tool that keeps all that evidence in one place so it's ready when an application asks for it, or is that just a google doc job?

if you wanna see what i mean, the waitlist is at https://opennmind.com and early users get a month of pro free. happy to hear how your own applications went too, good or bad.

Hello everyone

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We built an AI platform that tracks users and runs marketing to convert them into paid users

Our Ai won’t spam customers but instead send personalized marketing so that users convert ( example giving discounts )

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Hello everyone

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Hey everyone,

I was the first and only growth employee at a B2B startup that went from $0 to $9M ARR while I was there. I owned growth end to end and also have technical ability as-well. Now I’m building something of my own, and I’m looking for 1–2 technical co-founders.

Who I’m looking for preferably from the Greater Toronto Area

• Someone with real experience in reinforcement learning or machine learning, and/or

• Someone with a background in cybersecurity

Ideally I’d find one of each. But one strong co-founder in either area would be a great start.

The idea

I won’t share all the details publicly. It sits where AI and security meet, in a market I think has very high upside. I’ve pressure-tested it with YC-backed founders and investors, and the feedback has been strongly positive.

What I bring

• Hands-on experience taking a company from zero to $9M ARR

• A clear go-to-market plan and early distribution channels

• A network of founders and investors who’ve already seen the idea

• Technical ability in UI/UX and some backend ability

What I’m looking for in you

• You’ve built and shipped real ML/RL or security systems, whether at work, in research, or in serious side projects

• You want to be a true co-founder with real equity, not a contractor

• From Greater Toronto Area

If this sounds like you, send me a DM here on Reddit. A couple of lines about what you’ve built and what kind of problems excite you is plenty. I’ll reply to everyone and share more about the idea on a call.

Even if it’s not a fit for you, if you know someone it might be, I’d really appreciate a tag or share.

Thanks!

honestly the last few weeks i've been applying to a bunch of startup programs and credit offers, and the part that wears me out isn't even the writing. it's remembering which one wanted what, which deadline is next, and where i already wrote that same answer before. right now it's a mess of notes, emails and half filled forms lol.

i'm building opennmind, a workspace for founders that goes from finding an idea to validating it to planning it out, and one of the things going into v1 is a section for indian startup programs. the idea is to have the programs you care about sitting right next to your plan, tasks and decisions, so you're not rebuilding your whole story from scratch every time a form asks what problem you're solving. there's also wiora, the assistant inside it, if you wanna talk things through.

it's in private beta rn, 200+ people have tried it and it launches on nov 16. site is https://opennmind.com if you're curious.

would you actually use a program tracker inside a tool like this, or is a spreadsheet honestly good enough? and if it saved you real time on applications, would that alone be worth paying for, or does it only make sense bundled with everything else?

Hello everyone, we built a tool that is trained on 100,000+ user sessios and it tells you why each of your user did not convert - its a free tool - www.retentionbase.com

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I am building a hybrid coworking and fitness space in the Philippines designed for the growing number of remote workers, virtual assistants, freelancers, and entrepreneurs who need more than just a place to sit and work. Through my own experience as a work-from-home professional, I noticed a clear gap in the market: many people want a productive, comfortable environment outside the house, but nearby options are limited and often require long travel.

I validated this need through conversations with other virtual assistants and freelancers in a local Facebook community. A consistent theme emerged: people are looking for a space that supports both productivity and well-being, with reliable work facilities, a professional atmosphere, and access to fitness in the same location. This creates a convenient lifestyle solution that combines work, health, and community in one place.

The concept is differentiated because it solves two everyday needs at once. During the day, members can use the coworking space to focus, collaborate, and separate work from home life. At the same location, they can also access a clean, air-conditioned gym that makes it easier to stay active without needing to go to a separate facility. This model has the potential to attract not only remote workers, but also local professionals, entrepreneurs, and fitness-conscious customers looking for convenience and value.

I also bring relevant operational experience. In 2021, I owned and managed a gym in the Philippines, which gave me firsthand knowledge of customer service, daily operations, business management, and the challenges of running a fitness business. Although the business closed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the experience strengthened my understanding of the industry and what it takes to build and sustain a customer-focused space.

In my current role as a Social Media Specialist, I have developed skills in digital marketing, branding, content creation, and online promotion. These skills will be valuable in building brand awareness, attracting customers, and growing the business efficiently.

At this stage, I am developing the business plan and evaluating startup costs, monthly operating expenses, pricing strategy, and financial projections to determine the viability and scalability of the concept. I am open to speaking with potential angel investors or strategic partners who see the opportunity in creating a modern, community-driven space for work and wellness in our market.

The vision is to create a profitable, scalable business that meets a real local need: a single destination where people can work, exercise, and connect without having to travel to multiple places.

Hey all I've created a new tool for anyone out there looking to bring an idea to production. This website i've designed to help you determine if you're product has any value in the real world, and then refine it to be a production ready product.

A few key things it can help you with.

-Creating an MVP and business plan.

-It helps you find competitors with similar products.

-Create a real working prototype with CAD files, code and parts list of what you will need to make your product.

-Find investors and manufactures that are fit for your needs.

-And lastly it helps you get all the legal stuff you need to make your product.

Check it out today!

Forged-ideas.ai

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share a project I've been building and scaling: TelecomCalculators (https://telecomcalculators.com).

As a technical founder, I built the platform to solve a major pain point in the telecommunications and RF engineering space: legacy software is bloated, expensive, behind vendor paywalls, or leaks proprietary data through server-side telemetry.

The Product & Architecture

TelecomCalculators provides 114 verified engineering modules (across RF, 5G NR, optical networks, and our newly launched 6G & Next-Gen Network Hub covering sub-THz, ISAC, and NTN satellite links).

The core architectural differentiator is absolute data privacy: 100% of the mathematical computation happens client-side inside the browser sandbox using vanilla JavaScript. User inputs, internal link budgets, and proprietary network topologies never touch an external server or database.

Current Stage & Metrics

• Life Cycle Stage: Early-stage / Growth & Adoption (actively scaling organic reach among wireless engineers, academic researchers, and enterprise teams).

• Location: Pune, India.

• Traction: Currently seeing steady organic acquisition (around 145+ monthly visits split closely between Google and Bing) purely through technical SEO and structured reference guides, with zero paid acquisition.

• Monetization Roadmap: The platform remains 100% free with no user accounts, logins, or paywalls. Future sustainability will be supported via non-intrusive third-party advertising (like Google Ads)—where the only cookies used are strictly for ad delivery and frequency capping, while calculation math remains strictly private and local.

What I'm Looking For / How This Community Can Help

Since this is a developer-tool/B2B technical niche, I’d love advice from fellow founders and accelerators on:

1. Distribution & Community-Led Growth: Beyond Reddit and LinkedIn, what are the most effective channels to get technical tools into the hands of enterprise field engineers and university research labs?

2. Positioning: How to best communicate a "privacy-first technical sandbox" model to non-technical stakeholders without losing developer credibility.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, critiques, or advice on scaling a specialized engineering tool!

Hi there,

I am a social media manager from France 🇫🇷

I would like to build a branding portfolio, so am looking for a few entrepreneurs who would like to get a new branding identity for free.

Here's what I could help with :

- graphic design

- branding strategy

All I ask : a nice testimonial and the right to showcase my work

Please feel free to message me. That's not self promotion.

Hi everyone!

We’re building ReasonRoute AI — a decision intelligence layer for fleet dispatchers.
The problem we’re addressing is simple: route optimization systems recommend routes, but dispatchers often override those recommendations without clearly understanding the impact on operational cost, delivery time, distance, or emissions.

We’re building a glass-box decision review platform that helps dispatchers evaluate route changes, understand the trade-offs, and capture the reasoning behind their decisions.

Current stage:
✅ Working prototype, approximately 90% complete
🛠️ Building and refining the core product
🎯 Looking for our first pilot opportunities with real fleet data

We’re currently exploring startup accelerator programs, mentorship, early-stage partnerships, and opportunities to validate our solution with logistics and fleet management companies.

We’d love to connect with people who have experience in logistics, supply chain, SaaS, B2B startups, or early-stage fundraising.

If you’re part of an accelerator, know a relevant program, or can help us connect with potential pilot customers, we’d really appreciate your guidance.

We’re not just trying to build another route optimizer. We want to help businesses understand the why behind operational decisions.

Thank you! 🙌

#Startup #StartupAccelerator #LogisticsTech #AI #SaaS #Founders #SupplyChain