FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How much do you invest?
LeanSpark associate funds invest millions to tens of millions of RMB in all participating companies as an equity investment, LeanSpark will charge up to 10% of the investment as a program fee to cover the cost of the program.
Will you exchange investment or accelerator service for our equity?
For capital investment, yes. LeanSpark associate funds operate in a market-oriented manner and make a investment at a fair price.
For accelerator, no. We think founders should have the ownership and control of the company, especially in the early-stage. We charge up to 10% of the investment as a program fee.
What happens during the program?
We work intensively with the founders and core team to define their strategy and goals in the next 6 months, from the product-market fit, customer approach and growth, financial modeling, fundraising, marketing, talent acquisition, and management; we introduce you with your mentors, potential partners, and customers, during meetup events, especially Demo Day, we bring you connected with leading investors from China and global to show your huge progress, which means we’re not only investing in you but also close your next fundraising together with you.
Why you’re taking program fee?
As an Accelerator, we provide free working space with other perks, we work together with early-stage founders and core team to help them rapidly scale their companies by providing direct access to a globalized network of the most relevant mentors, technology and business partners, and leading investors. For details check here.
How long is the program? When can I apply for it?
Apply here. We operate 2 cohorts a year, 6 months for each, starts in March and September. The application period is open the full year, we suggest you to start the application 3 month prior to the next cohort.
What happens after I submit an application?
We will review every submission carefully. For details, please check here.
Is the accelerator a physical one or a virtual one?
We operate a physical accelerator in Beijing. And we require founders and core team members to work with us in person. It’s not an ordinary opportunity to work together with other outstanding entrepreneurs, plus we have intensive schedules during the time, to meet your mentors, attend events, meet your potential customers and investors, and etc, to make sure you reach a much higher place than you on your own by Demo Day.
However we’re not keeping you here all the time, if you original base in somewhere, we will find some alternative solutions.
What stage of a company is eligible for the program?
Early-stage companies, from Angel to Series A+.
How do you define deep tech?
Deep tech startups — those relying heavily on tech breakthroughs — are the fastest-growing group globally. For the sectors, includes but not limited to Artifcial Intelligence, Advanced Manufacturing & Robotics, Blockchain, Agtech & New Food, Big Data & Analytics, Cybersecurity, Fintech, Clean Tech, and Life Sciences.
I am a founder of an international company, we plan to enter Chinese market, may I apply for the program?
Of course, we welcome international companies and founders to come to Beijing and work together with us.
Can you get us visas?
We can introduce you an agency for that, and probably introduce other founders who had similar experiences.
What happens after the program?
Demo Day is not an end, we continues support your growth in our alumni network, which provides you with a continued access to a global ecosystem of founders, mentors, investors and partners.
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