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How I got started with Antler & Beyond
My Antler journey began in 2023 when I received a recommendation notification from LinkedIn. Although I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time due to various reasons, the idea was intriguing to me. However, I was still working a day job and didn’t give it much thought initially. As time went on, I started contemplating my next steps in life, and Antler started to grow on me. Eventually, I decided to search for Antler on Google. Therefore, I hope to share more about what you can expect and provide tips to help you make the most out of the program!
Applying to Antler
When applying for the Antler residency program, you will be asked to complete a questionnaire. The application process is similar to a job application, so avoid writing a lengthy PhD essay. Instead, focus on conveying your ideas or answers in a short and concise manner. Use this opportunity to highlight any exceptional skills, achievements, or extraordinary experience you have that you can use to build a venture.
After submitting your application, Antler tends to move quickly, and you should expect a response within a few days if you are the right fit for the program. If selected, you will need to participate in a series of interview calls to assess your fit, personality, thought process in problem-solving, and business planning. While having years of experience working or leading teams in the past can make these interviews easier, Antler also values your personal motivation and aspirational goals. In my case, the entire process took 3 weeks, and I was accepted into the Antler Singapore Residency Program Batch 15!
The Zero to Greatness Program
At first glance, the duration of 10 weeks might seem excessive, and I initially shared the same concern. You may question the necessity of dedicating such a significant amount of time. However, having completed the entire program and successfully securing an investment from Antler, I can confidently affirm that yes, the full 10 weeks are indeed necessary to navigate through the program, validate your idea, gain traction, make changes, and present your venture to the investment committee.
Week 1: Cohort Introduction, Masterclasses, and Your First Bootcamp
The program begins with an opening from Antler. Throughout the program, you will have opportunities to connect through activities like speed dating, coffee chats, events, and lunch roulettes. In the first week, we had a masterclass called “Finding Your Co-Founder” which gave tips on finding a suitable co-founder. The next day, we started the bootcamp session “A Billion Touchpoints” where we brainstormed opportunities involving a billion people interacting with something daily. These bootcamps help you develop a mindset for identifying opportunities, practice what you’ve learned, validate hypotheses, and observe other founders. In the upcoming weeks, there will be more masterclasses, sharing sessions from startups, and valuable insights from the VC community.
Tips: Each Antler residency program in different countries has its unique characteristics. If you have any questions or specific requirements, it is advisable to contact Antler and inquire about the program that would best suit you. Personally, beyond my own home based in Singapore, I decided to join this particular residency due to their focus on building startups targeting the Southeast Asia region, but also planning to go global in their early days.
Week 2: Additional Masterclasses and Bootcamps
This week marks the beginning of an exciting phase where you will explore hypothesis creation, validate assumptions, and gather market feedback. It’s a great opportunity to test out ideas! Additionally, I spent a significant amount of time using Figma, a powerful design tool, to build a prototype and present my ideas. One of the most memorable moments during that week was when my teammate and I bravely ventured out in the rain to visit various businesses and validate our hypotheses. Despite facing multiple rejections, we wholeheartedly embraced the valuable feedback from prospects throughout the journey. Every interaction is a valuable feedback loop in pursuing your venture.
Tips: Antler is a full-time engagement that lasts for 3 months. It is highly recommended to plan your commitments and personal finances in advance to ensure a smooth experience throughout the program. However, it is understandable that life can sometimes bring other responsibilities and obligations. In such instances, it becomes crucial to effectively manage your time in order to balance your various commitments. This includes meeting your promised deliverables and fulfilling your team commitments, as well as allocating sufficient time for personal responsibilities.
Week 3: from MVP to PMF
During this week, we explored various tools and techniques that can greatly support you in building a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). Moving forward, it is important to continuously test and validate your assumptions. Additionally, focus on identifying and understanding your Ideal Candidate Profile (ICP) for your solution, and have a plan for achieving Product Market Fit (PMF). This involves aligning your product offering with the needs and demands of the market. One highlight of the week was when Vivek Sodera, the co-founder of Superhuman, shared his advice, experience, and thought process as outlined in the Superhuman playbook.
Tips: Week 2 and 3 are crucial for shaping your entrepreneurial journey. During these weeks, you will form teams with like-minded co-founders who share your vision and ambition. Collaborating with a reliable co-founder enhances the program experience and provides great support to navigate upcoming challenges. You can also bring in co-founders from outside to expand your network and leverage diverse skill sets. Finding a complementary co-founder opens up endless possibilities to tackle any idea.
Week 4: The Final Week of Bootcamps
By this week, most teams have formed with their respective founders. Many teams may have changed or pivoted their original ideas multiple times for various reasons, such as lack of real need, challenges in monetization, tough regulations, bad timing, or unattractive market sizing. Jeffrey Paine of Golden Gate Ventures shared an insightful quote: “Entrepreneurs are weird because most people prefer a comfortable day job. Are you ready for the roller coaster ride?” He also provided words of wisdom from other startups he has encountered, offering valuable advice as we prepare for Investment Committee Week (IC Week).
Tips: Resist the urge to be solely infatuated with interesting ideas or upcoming technology trends. Prioritize solving a real problem with excellent execution. You will face rejections, obstacles and setbacks during the program, but stay focused on what truly matters in your venture. Once you receive positive recognition for your solution, the path will become smoother and more manageable.
Week 5: Preparing for Pre-Investment Committee
Many teams are preparing for their pre-investment committee session. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase the knowledge and skills acquired during the past few weeks from the masterclasses and apply them to your venture. Throughout this week, you will have the chance to refine and solidify your plans in various areas such as product development, go-to-market strategy, competitive advantages, pricing, financial models, and more. The supportive coaches at Antler will be there to offer valuable guidance and assistance at every step of the process. By this time, you will be familiar with everyone in the cohort, and it is common for us to gather together after a long day of hard work.
Tips: Tension and disagreements will arise during the program as participants are deeply passionate about their work. This presents an opportunity to observe how others handle pressure and challenges, while encouraging introspection and self-reflection. Embracing these moments as opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration can contribute to personal and professional development, ultimately leading to venture success.
Week 6: Presenting at Pre-Investment Committee
During this week, teams will have the opportunity to refine their pitches, perfect their presentation flow, and receive valuable feedback on their ventures. Each team will be assigned a designated time slot to present their ideas to a panel of experts within a specific time frame. This week is crucial, as it will determine whether you will proceed with the program or not. It is a critical moment for evaluating the viability and potential of your venture, and making the decision to continue on this entrepreneurial journey. Emotions will be running high, so make the most of this week to showcase your hard work, demonstrate your passion, and share insights that will help shape the future of your startup.
Tips: Developing strong presentation and storytelling skills is crucial for success in the program. These skills are important for fundraising, engaging with potential customers, and persuading others to join your venture. By honing your abilities, you will captivate your audience and leave a lasting impression, helping you achieve your goals. Effective communication skills are invaluable for success in the program and beyond.
Week 7: Realignment on strategy and GTM
After the pre-IC week, each team that successfully completed it would have received valuable feedback and guidance on areas for improvement. This feedback is crucial as it helps teams identify necessary pivots or areas that require improvement or change within their venture. In our case, we received substantial feedback on our ideal customer profile and go-to-market strategy. As a result, we dedicated time and effort to rework our messaging, enhance our landing page, and expand our reach to attract a wider range of potential customers.
Tips: Antler coaches are highly dedicated to providing exceptional support throughout the program. Their guidance and expertise are invaluable in refining your go-to-market strategy, improving your ideal candidate profile, competitive pricing analysis, assessing market sizing, and much more. In addition to this, you will have numerous regular opportunities to present your pitches, share your valuable learning, receive constructive feedback and guidance, all of which will greatly contribute to propelling your entrepreneurial journey forward and ensuring your success.
Week 8: Traction, Traction, Traction
It’s time to validate your venture thoroughly by gaining more traction through sign-ups, expressions of partnership, or even better, securing letters of intent. At this stage, you may have an idea, but can you attract potential customers without writing a single line of code? The key is to ensure that you are building something that people truly want. Throughout the process, coaches from Antler will provide support by offering ideas or suggestions to help you gain traction. This may involve improving your messaging, making pricing tweaks, or being creative in generating traction. By the end of this week, it is expected that you demonstrate weekly progress, and your team should operate efficiently and effectively to accomplish tasks.
Tips: Developing a customer messaging strategy is essential for effective communication and resonance with your target audience. Experiment with innovative approaches to engage your audience, continuously refine your messaging and communication channels, and seek validation from customers to achieve traction.
Week 9: Final Preparation for Investment Committee
During this week, it is common for most teams to work extended hours until closing time. In addition to tasks like sales outreach, refining prototypes based on customer feedback, financial modeling, and working on storytelling, it is important to maintain a persistent and determined attitude. This week is crucial as it leads up to the final presentation to the panel at the Investment Committee. Therefore, make sure to stay focused, dedicated, and continue putting in your best efforts.
Tips: There are many areas you could prepare, but these are the five areas I would recommend that you focus on for the final week.
- Competitive advantage: Highlight what sets your solution apart and makes it superior to competitors. Discuss unique features, partnerships, or collaborations that give you an edge.
- Customer acquisition: Outline clearly your plans to acquire customers. Describe the channels you will use to reach your target audience, traction gained, and how you will engage with them.
- Market sizing: Discuss market trends, growth projections, and any barriers to entry or competition you may face. Demonstrate your understanding of the market size and potential for your business.
- Unit economics: Analyze the financial aspects of your business model. Share insights on your cost structure, pricing strategy, and revenue streams.
- Team expertise: Showcase why your team is qualified to solve the problem. Highlight relevant qualifications, accomplishments, and past successes of each team member.
Week 10: Presenting at Investment Committee
Weeks of hard work have prepared you for this moment, where you will finally present your venture to an investment panel in a room. It’s time to give it your best and be excited about your venture! This is your final pitch during the program, so expect a good amount of Q&A from the panel. On the last day of the program, each team will have a 1:1 session with their respective coaches to discuss investment results. If you have made it this far to week 10, I hope that you will also succeed in the future, just like our team in SG15.
Tips: Some teams may not reach to the end of the program, but that should not discourage you from pursuing your entrepreneurial journey. In fact, this can be an opportunity for growth and learning. Even if your team doesn’t make it to the end, it is not the end of the road for your ideas. Some teams have chosen to persevere and explore alternative avenues of support beyond Antler. Remember, the decision to continue with your venture ultimately lies in your hands. Take this as a chance to evaluate, adapt, and find new ways to move forward.
Bonus: Week 10 & Beyond
From here, you will proceed with the incorporation process, create a plan for your first 100 days, take part in a masterclass on managing your funds and run rate. These next steps are essential as you transition from the program to actually implementing your venture. It’s time to embrace the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, and continue building upon the foundation you established during your Antler Residency journey!
Tips: It is essential to maintain the momentum you have gained over the 10-week program, as this will establish a strong foundation for the future success of your venture. By leveraging the resources and opportunities provided by the Antler community, you can continue to grow and thrive on your entrepreneurial journey.
Summary
My experience with Antler Residency at SG15 has been amazing! It has been a journey of personal growth, continuous learning, seizing opportunities and lots of great moments!
Some days, I struggled to find motivation, felt discouraged by rejections, and experienced exhaustion from late nights. There were also moments of heated team discussions and even bad hair days. However, despite these obstacles, I am grateful for the valuable insights gained in the program, the guidance of our Antler coach, the mental resilience I developed, the remarkable venture we built together, and the strong network of like-minded individuals we established at Antler. This experience has not only shaped me as a person but also given me a newfound sense of purpose and direction in my life.
I highly recommend considering the Antler Residency program if you are interested in joining. It offers an immersive and rewarding experience that pushes you to step out of your comfort zone, challenges your preconceived notions, and empowers you to build a successful startup! To apply for the upcoming program, visit their official Antler website. I hope you will succeed with the program too, like us in pursuing your venture! You can hear what the other founders also have to say here.
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