Program
The Institute's pedagogical process was developed with the needs of innovators in mind, providing those chosen for fellowship with practical tools to launch seed-stage ventures, based upon sound business models and eventually full business plans. Although it is an intensive program that enables the realization of your vision, the daily schedule is flexible and is geared towards independent work. As such, it rests on four legs:
1. 08:00 - 09:00 Optional Morning Fundamentals: Classes taught by Institute staff in the three areas of interest of the Institute, namely pioneering Zionist philosophy, information technology, and start-up entrepreneurship. These classes are informal primers, addressing new information in a smaller seminar-style setting, enabling deeper engagement and intellectual stimulation for fellows.
2. 09:00 - 17:30 Guided Work: Fellows work out of the Institute space, and meet with Institute staff who coach them on-site, or travel to meet mentors - leaders in their fields who have donated their time to enable the next generation of pioneers. Fellows who maintain their day-jobs benefit from guided work on evenings with no programming.
3. 18:00 - 19:30 Skillbuilding Workshops: Sessions for fellows taught by experienced entrepreneurs in the fields of the expertise. These sessions, held three times a week on average, focus on practical skill acquisition and immediate application, so as to build capacity.
4. 20:00 - 21:30 Speakers: Held two to three nights a week, alternating, the Institute program features speakers from across the disciplinary spectrum to highlight innovation and the process of venture development.
Over the course of the six weeks of the Institute, innovators are trained along a curriculum developed with clear deliverables in mind, structured along the lines of a business plan. Innovators learn about, and then produce:
1. Description of service
2. Assessment of strategic context
3. Nonprofit business model structured around value and impact proposition
4. Budget
5. Executive Summary
6. Pitch and promotional materials
This curriculum, bolstered by the community-aspect wherein their peers are tackling the same challenges, improves the chances of venture success—creating an applied research and development environment that inspires additional innovation and investment.
Launch Night
The Institute ends in our renowned Launch Night where fellows and their ventures are exposed and promoted to the greater PT community, Jewish federations, and other organizations. The evening is filled with networking opportunities and is highlighted by fellows pitching their venture with all eyes on them.
1. 08:00 - 09:00 Optional Morning Fundamentals: Classes taught by Institute staff in the three areas of interest of the Institute, namely pioneering Zionist philosophy, information technology, and start-up entrepreneurship. These classes are informal primers, addressing new information in a smaller seminar-style setting, enabling deeper engagement and intellectual stimulation for fellows.
2. 09:00 - 17:30 Guided Work: Fellows work out of the Institute space, and meet with Institute staff who coach them on-site, or travel to meet mentors - leaders in their fields who have donated their time to enable the next generation of pioneers. Fellows who maintain their day-jobs benefit from guided work on evenings with no programming.
3. 18:00 - 19:30 Skillbuilding Workshops: Sessions for fellows taught by experienced entrepreneurs in the fields of the expertise. These sessions, held three times a week on average, focus on practical skill acquisition and immediate application, so as to build capacity.
4. 20:00 - 21:30 Speakers: Held two to three nights a week, alternating, the Institute program features speakers from across the disciplinary spectrum to highlight innovation and the process of venture development.
Over the course of the six weeks of the Institute, innovators are trained along a curriculum developed with clear deliverables in mind, structured along the lines of a business plan. Innovators learn about, and then produce:
1. Description of service
2. Assessment of strategic context
3. Nonprofit business model structured around value and impact proposition
4. Budget
5. Executive Summary
6. Pitch and promotional materials
This curriculum, bolstered by the community-aspect wherein their peers are tackling the same challenges, improves the chances of venture success—creating an applied research and development environment that inspires additional innovation and investment.
Launch Night
The Institute ends in our renowned Launch Night where fellows and their ventures are exposed and promoted to the greater PT community, Jewish federations, and other organizations. The evening is filled with networking opportunities and is highlighted by fellows pitching their venture with all eyes on them.
Fellowship does not end with the Institute
Fellows who have successfully completed the PresenTense Institute curriculum are provided one year of follow-on advising, whereby a trained member of the PresenTense staff continues to provide advice and support through its Venture Development services to the innovator and their venture. This support is bolstered by mentors and coaches organized by the PresenTense Network, who are field specific.
These Venture Development services provide benefits beyond consulting: by connecting the fellows to a larger network of innovators addressing similar problems, the venture community increases chances of success through the learning community developed.
Interested in fostering innovation? Sponsor a PresenTense Fellow.