Level 03 / Founder Pipeline
Incubation
Inside the founder headquarters.
The startup moves into Empire's incubation environment. We professionalise the company — legal, capital, hiring, and the founder operating system that scales beyond the dorm room.
Duration · 12–16 weeks3 of 4
What they have
- Working product
- First traction
- Small team
What they need
- Mentors
- Investor prep
- Legal
- Networking
The outcome
- Investment-ready startup
- Cap table set
- First investor calls
Who this level is for
- Teams with a live product and early signal
- Founders preparing to raise their first cheque
- Startups ready to operate, not just build
What you get
01
Mentor pod
A small group of operators and investors that meets with your team weekly.
02
Investor readiness
Cap table, data room, narrative, financial model, and pitch refinement.
03
Founder ops
Hiring, legal, taxation, and the boring scaffolding that kills most early startups.
Milestones
- 1Cap table & legal set up
- 2Pitch deck v1.0
- 3First investor conversations booked
Outcome — An investment-ready startup with a serious operating spine.