When Not to Join 1Mby1M

8. Are there “deal breakers” or reasons why a founder should NOT join 1Mby1M?

While the 1Mby1M program is designed to be highly accessible and valuable for a wide range of founders, it is not the right fit for everyone. There are specific “deal breakers” or reasons why a founder should seriously reconsider joining.

Here are the key reasons a founder should NOT join 1Mby1M:

1. You Are Looking for a Traditional Accelerator Experience

• Deal Breaker: If you are seeking a fixed-term, cohort-based program with a “Demo Day” and a direct seed investment in exchange for equity, 1Mby1M is not for you.
• Why: 1Mby1M is a long-term, virtual accelerator and mentorship program that operates on a continuous rolling basis. It’s designed for a deliberate, self-paced approach to building a business, not a high-intensity, 3-month sprint. The program’s philosophy is to help you “become fundable” by building a viable business first, rather than providing an immediate cash infusion.

2. You Are Unwilling to Pay for Mentorship and Resources

• Deal Breaker: If you believe all startup support should be free and are unwilling to pay the $1,000 annual fee, the program is not a good fit.
• Why: The program’s entire model is built on an affordable, non-equity fee. This allows you to retain 100% of your company’s ownership. The fee is what funds the curriculum and the direct mentorship, which is a core part of the program’s value. If you expect a free ride, you will not be able to access the full resources.

3. You Are Not Open to Direct, No-Nonsense Feedback

• Deal Breaker: The mentoring style is direct, candid, and often tough. If you are sensitive to criticism or are looking for someone to simply validate your ideas without challenging them, this is not the right environment.
• Why: The founder’s approach is to get to the root of a problem quickly. This means she will challenge your assumptions, positioning, and strategy. The goal is to save you time and money by preventing you from making costly mistakes, which requires a founder who is receptive to honest feedback.

4. Your Goal is “Raise Money at All Costs”

• Deal Breaker: If your sole focus is to raise a large amount of money as quickly as possible without first demonstrating customer traction and a repeatable business model, the program’s philosophy will be a mismatch.
• Why: The 1Mby1M methodology is built on a “revenue first” approach. The program will not introduce you to investors until you have a solid, fundable business with key metrics in place. If your priority is just to get a check without doing the groundwork, you will likely be frustrated by the program’s emphasis on building a sustainable company first.

5. You Need a Physical, In-Person Experience

• Deal Breaker: The program is 100% virtual and global. If you require in-person networking events, office space, or a local, physically-based community, you will not find it here.
• Why: The program’s virtual nature is a key part of its scalability and affordability. It’s designed to be accessible to founders anywhere in the world, which means it doesn’t provide the physical benefits of a local incubator.

In summary, 1Mby1M is a great fit for founders who are dedicated to building a sustainable, capital-efficient business and are open to a direct, strategic mentorship model. However, if your needs are better met by a traditional, equity-for-funding accelerator or if you are not prepared for a hands-on, revenue-first approach, you should seek other options.