Bolster Prime is for the startup CEO who is ready to scale
Learn the art of being a CEO from mentors who have “been there, done that” so you can focus on what matters most for your startup.
Apply to Bolster Prime through F6S
Bolster Prime
Experienced CEO Mentors + Foundational Content + Bolster Marketplace
Our unique model delivers an 18-month program designed to teach CEOs how to scale.
Meet our Bolster Prime Mentors
Our Bolster Prime Mentors are current or former CEOs and operators who have the breadth and depth of experiences to help you move from build to scale without losing momentum. Our Bolster Prime Mentors have seen success and failure and have deep industry expertise and the desire to share the craft of being a CEO.
Cindy Guerra Robbins
Salesforce.com
Chad Dickerson
Salon.com, Yahoo, Etsy
Andrea Rice
Management Leadership for Tomorrow, CareerCore, Deutsche Bank
David Blakelock
Streamline, Asia Foods, Boston Apparel Group, Altura Group
Apply to Become a Bolster Prime Mentor
If you’re ready to share your “been there, done that” experiences with new CEOs, we invite you to apply as a Bolster Prime Mentor! This opportunity is ideal if you are an experienced startup CEO or operator, have worked at large and small companies, are open to sharing your successes AND failures, have experience coaching or mentoring, and are looking for a way to grow your mentor and investment opportunities.
ApplyThe Building Blocks of Scaling a Startup
By bringing foundational content together with 1:1 mentoring, Bolster Prime gives every startup CEO the building blocks to work with your Bolster Prime Mentor and create the blueprint for your startup to scale.
Strategic Planning
Cadence of strategic offsite meetings to create a big picture strategy backed with KPIs, OKRs and financial reporting and budgeting
Build and Lead Your Senior Team
Planning to move from me to we by creating strong executive team habits and a strategic organization plan
Design Your Operating System
Creating the processes that allow for the company to scale based on a plan with communications and tools to deliver
Build and Manage Your Board
Every startup needs a board - this is hands on coaching on how best to structure, communicate and lead your board
GTM Strategy
Work with a CRO to develop strategies, channel strategy, incentive plans, sales forecasting, and pricing for your specific GTM needs
Fundraising
Work with an experienced CXO to help create the right fundraising strategy and process to take you from fundraising to term sheet in a 3-month time period
CXO Coaching for your Executive Team
Sometimes your CXOs need extra coaching and, you, as the CEO need extra support on how to work with your CXO
Bespoke
Business Development, Exit Strategy Planning, Product Planning and Execution, DEI, How to Hire, Financial Health and Wellness … whatever is needed
Bolster Prime Overview
18-month, programmatic mentoring program
Matches a startup CEO with a “been there, done that” CEO/operator - Bolster Prime Mentor
Starts with baseline of today and blueprints a path to scaling
Teaches the craft of being a CEO - strategic, curious, focused and mindful
Access to an unprecedented team of Bolster Prime Mentors
Discounted access to talent in the Bolster Marketplace
Engagement within a cohort
Startup CEO Requirements
- Seed to Series A
- Funding, and a plan with the runway to scale
- Moving from Build and MVP to Scale
- Wants to leverage traction
- Coachable and humble
- First time CEO, first time scaling CEO, or a CEO who wants the advantage of speed
- Cost is a mix of monthly fee and equity
Bolster Ventures is an early stage venture fund that co-invests in select Bolster Prime Clients
Bolster Ventures adds capital to the equation for scaling CEOs who are investing in themselves and their teams as they scale their startups through Bolster Prime.
Seed to post Series A investment
$100k one-time investment as a co-investor at the same terms as the current or most recent round
$15k in Bolster Marketplace credits
Investment Requirements
- Must be a Bolster Prime Client or contracted to become one
- Great team
- Industry with well established TAM
- Startup has at least $500k in committed investment and 15 months of runway
- Selection by Investment Committee
"With Bolster Prime as a dedicated partner, I scaled Pipeline into the business it is today and what it will be in the future. Our goal is to accelerate workplace equity using advanced technology and close the intersectional gender equity gap in this lifetime. Not only is equity the right thing to do, it's also the smart thing to do. Bolster has given me, and Pipeline, the tools needed to make our mission a reality."
Katica Roy
CEO, Pipeline Equity
