Apr 22-May 4 | Apply to 11-11, A Venture-Building Sprint
Note: 11-11 runs from April 22 to May 4, with one founder per day. This page is for applying to be considered for one founder sprint, not for attending the full 11-day campaign.
Deadline to apply is Saturday, April 18 at midnight. Spots are limited.
For full details and terms visit the 11–11 website.
A venture-building campaign for people who know a world deeply and are ready to build what it’s missing, by Excelsior Edge Ventures and Madeline & Co.
11-11 is a live venture-building campaign designed for people at the very beginning, even pre-idea, but with real domain insight, strong instincts, and a clear sense that something in their world is broken.
We’re selecting 11 aspiring and early founders with real domain insight, strong instincts, and something worth building, whether that means a raw idea, a loose concept, or simply a problem they understand deeply enough to attack. Over 11 days, we’ll work with one founder per day to help shape the strategic backbone of their startup in public.
This is not a hackathon. It is not generic startup theater. It is not for people who already built half the company and just want attention.
It is a venture-studio-style sprint for founders who know a world deeply, see something broken in it, and are ready to build with speed, rigor, and taste.
Selected founders may receive support across areas such as:
opportunity refinement
business design
positioning and differentiation
brand strategy and narrative
naming and messaging
website and digital touchpoint direction
prototype framing or MVP scope and build
launch roadmap and next-step execution
one year of unlimited use of Madeline & Co.
Not every founder will leave with the same outputs. Each selected founder will leave with a startup that has more strategic shape, clearer direction, and real momentum.
Who should apply
aspiring and early founders with real domain expertise
operators, specialists, and future founders close to a broken problem
people at idea stage, pre-idea, or with strong raw concepts that are not fully formed yet
people who know a world deeply and are ready to shape the right venture around that insight
founders who are coachable, serious, and ready for an intensive sprint
NYC-based founders for this first campaign cohort
Who should not apply
people looking for free consulting with no intention to build
founders who are overly attached to their current solution
teams that already have a polished MVP and only want distribution or marketing
people who cannot commit time, focus, and responsiveness during the campaign
Sprint Date
Campaign window: April 22 to May 4, 2026. 11 hours with each founder, one founder per day. We’ll close with a final celebration bringing together founders, friends, and investors from across our community. Date TBD.
How to apply
Apply through the form on this page. You may also be nominated by a community partner.
We’ll review applicants based on:
founder-market fit
problem quality
coachability
build readiness
founder/story resonance
Shortlisted founders will be invited to a brief interview before final selection.
If this feels like your moment, apply. We’re looking forward to building with you.
Excelsior! 🤘🗽
Prince Rumi and Team Madeline & Co. and Excelsior Edge Ventures.
Partnering Communities
Partnering Communities is a curated group of founder, investor, and culture-forward communities across tech, AI, venture, CPG, creative culture, and social impact. Each one reflects the taste, trust, and social fabric of a different corner of New York’s innovation landscape. Together, they help us bring 11–11 to the people it was actually built for.
Community Partners
If you’d like to participate as a community partner, sponsor, or supporter, reach out via [email protected]
Sponsors
We’re grateful to the sponsors helping make 11–11 possible.
Concentrate AI
Concentrate AI gives engineering teams one API to access all major AI models with instant savings, built-in failover, spend controls, data redaction, and audit logging. One layer to cut costs, reduce outages, and move toward compliance faster.
Tapestry AI
Tapestry AI connects retailers, brands, and wholesalers with real-time, trusted sales intelligence so they can collaborate faster and make better decisions. Trusted by Fortune 500 companies, Tapestry gives teams a shared view of shelf-level performance across 22,000+ brands.
Victor Balladares - The Lew Law Firm
Victor Balladares advises founders, funds, and emerging companies on complex legal and business matters, helping innovators move with clarity as they build and scale. Through The Lew Firm, he works across an eclectic mix of top-tier clients, from entrepreneurs, athletes, musicians, and actors to restaurateurs, spirits brands, and media publications, while also maintaining a strong commitment to small business owners.
Excelsior Edge Ventures
Excelsior Edge Ventures is a founder and investor community based in New York City. Over the past two years, we’ve hosted 47 events across strategy, innovation, fundraising, culture, and community building, bringing together founders, operators, investors, and creatives across the city. 11–11 grows out of that same spirit: ambitious people, real work, and ideas brought to life in the room.
If you’d like to participate as a sponsor, please reach out to [email protected]. For press inquiries, please contact Sam at [email protected].