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The MVP Prize

MVP Prize: From Idea to Investor-Ready Startup

Apply Here

What is MVP Prize?

MVP Prize is a 9-week global startup launch program designed to help aspiring founders take their business ideas from concept to investor-ready. Through a series of live pitch sessions, expert-led workshops, and hands-on mentorship, participants refine their ideas, build co-founder teams, develop their MVPs, and gain direct access to potential angel investors.

Why we created it

Too many brilliant ideas never become real businesses—MVP Prize was created to change that.

“Over the years, hundreds of students in the X-Culture program have shared startup ideas and asked for help turning them into real ventures.
We tried to support them individually, but it became clear we needed a better system.

MVP Prize is our answer: a structured, collaborative program to help aspiring entrepreneurs refine their ideas, build strong co-founder teams, and launch real startups with real investor support.

The program’s mission is simple: Help aspiring founders progress from idea to the MVP. Then, on to a successful business with our continued support.”

— Vas Taras, X-Culture Founder

Who Should Apply

  • Aspiring Founders  eager to learn startup fundamentals and secure early-stage funding
  • Applications are welcome from solo entrepreneurs or small co-founder teams at the ideation stage
  • Former X-Culture Alumni are given priority

Eligibility Criteria

  • You have a clear problem to solve and a preliminary business concept (no prototype required)

  • Comfortable communicating and pitching in English

  • Able to attend live 90-minute Zoom sessions on Saturdays (Oct 11 – Dec 6, every Saturday, 12 noon – 1:30 pm EST)

  • Willing to commit 2–5 hours per week to business development, pitch refinement, and training

  • No program fees or equity required — the 2025 pilot round is completely free!

Program Highlights & Benefits

  • Five Iterative Pitch Sessions
    Hone your presentation through five rounds of live, mentor-led feedback—no eliminations, just continuous improvement.

  • Six Expert-Led Training Modules

    1. MONEY: How to raise money to start and grow your company

    2. LEGAL: Registering your company

    3. PRODUCT: Market Fit & Prototyping

    4. MARKETING and Customer Acquisition

    5. PEOPLE: Co-founder team and investors

    6. MISTAKES: Why startups fail

  • Free Pilot, No Equity Required
    Join the 2025 MPV Prize pilot program. Zero cost and retain full ownership: equity only comes into play if you choose to accept an investment offer.

  • Potential Angel Investment
    Demo Day pitches directly to mentor-investors, with real opportunities for early-stage funding.

  • Ongoing X-Culture Launch Support
    From company registration and legal setup to fundraising introductions and operational guidance, we back you through your first steps as a founder.

  • Global Network Access
    Tap into X-Culture’s 100K+ alumni and mentor community across 100+ countries for partnerships, talent, and market insights.

Curriculum & Schedule

Below is a snapshot of our six core training modules. Each module is delivered as a 90-minute live workshop, interleaved with your iterative pitch sessions:

1. MONEY: How to Raise Capital

  • Funding Options: Compare bootstrapping, angel investment, venture capital, crowdfunding, grants

  • Investor Mindset: What pre-seed and seed investors look for in teams and models

  • Financial Modeling: Build a high-level revenue forecast, calculate burn rate and runway

  • Pitch Deck Finance Slides: Craft unit-economics, use-of-funds, and exit strategy slides

2. LEGAL: Company Registration & Structure

  • Entity Types: Choose between LLC, C-Corp, or international equivalents

  • Founders’ Agreements: Equity splits, vesting schedules, roles and responsibilities

  • Intellectual Property Basics: Trademarks, provisional patents, nondisclosure agreements

  • Compliance Essentials: Tax registrations, data-privacy regulations, simple contract templates

3. PRODUCT: Market Fit & Prototyping

  • Customer Discovery: Conduct effective interviews to validate the core problem

  • Value Proposition: Articulate how your solution uniquely addresses customer pain points

  • MVP Definition: Prioritize must-have features for your first testable product

  • Rapid Prototyping: Use wireframes, mockups, or concierge MVPs to gather early feedback

4. MARKETING & CUSTOMER ACQUISITION

  • Go-to-Market Strategy: Identify your initial target segment and key channels

  • Organic Growth Tactics: Content marketing, SEO basics, referral and community campaigns

  • Paid Channels: Intro to Facebook/Google ads, budgeting, and ROI measurement

  • Metrics & Analytics: Track funnel metrics (LTV/CAC, churn, conversion rates) to optimize spend

5. PEOPLE: Building Your Team & Investor Relationships

  • Co-Founder Matching: Find complementary skill sets and align on vision

  • Equity & Incentives: Structure founder vesting, advisor shares, and early employee options

  • Leadership Skills: Effective communication, remote-team best practices, conflict resolution

  • Investor Relations: How to manage expectations, maintain transparency, and build trust

6. MISTAKES: Common Failure Modes & Scaling Strategies

  • Failure Patterns: Cash-flow crises, misaligned teams, building without validation

  • Pivot vs. Persevere: Data-driven frameworks to decide when to change direction

  • Scaling Playbook: Transition from MVP to full product, operations, and staffing

  • Next-Stage Funding: Metrics and milestones investors expect at seed and Series A

Weekly Rhythm

  • Week 1: Kickoff & Pitch 1

  • Week 2: MONEY AND LEGAL Workshop

  • Week 3: Pitch 2

  • Week 4: PRODUCT and MARKETING Workshop

  • Week 5: Pitch 3

  • Week 6: PEOPLE Workshop

  • Week 7: Pitch 4

  • Week 8: WHY STARTUPS FAIL Workshop

  • Week 9: Final Pitch

Each pitch session gives you direct feedback that ties into the upcoming workshop, ensuring continuous iteration and learning.

Outcomes & Deliverables

By the end of MVP Prize program, you will walk away with:

  • Investor-Ready Pitch Deck
    A concise, 10-slide deck covering problem, solution, market opportunity, business model, financials, team, and ask.

  • Customer Validation Data
    Evidence from at least 10 customer interviews or prototype tests that demonstrate real demand and inform your MVP roadmap.

  • MVP Development Plan
    A prioritized feature list and prototype mockups (wireframes or click-through demos) ready for initial build or beta testing.

  • Company Registration Checklist
    A step-by-step guide tailored to your chosen entity type and jurisdiction, covering all legal filings, IP protections, and compliance requirements.

  • Go-to-Market Roadmap
    Defined target segments, acquisition channels, key metrics (LTV/CAC, conversion goals), and an initial marketing plan.

  • Team & Cap Table Snapshot
    Clarity on co-founder roles and equity structure, plus a template for advisor or employee option allocations.

  • Actionable Growth & Scaling Strategy
    A high-level plan outlining next steps for product scaling, operations, and preparation for your next funding round (seed/Series A).

  • Founder Program Completion Certificate
    Official certification from X-Culture recognizing your successful completion of the MVP Prize program—perfect for your LinkedIn profile and professional portfolio.

  • And possibly AN INVESTMENT OFFER to build your MVP

Apply by Sep 27, 2025

Apply Here

Questions?

Dr. Vas Taras 
✉️ v_taras@uncg.edu

Legal Disclaimer:
MVP Prize is a pilot program offered by Dr. Vas Taras via X-Culture.
Participation is free and does not guarantee investment or business success.
Program dates, content, and mentor lineup are subject to change.