Summer is the season when momentum either compounds or evaporates. It's easy to lose momentum, especially if you're building without a community around you. Thankfully, our Leslie Founders community has a full summer of programming lined up. Here's what to expect.
Show Up on Summer Fridays
Leslie Founders have 24/7 access to the Leslie eLab year-round, but Fridays this summer are worth blocking off. From 10am to 4pm, the space will be stocked with snacks and filled with fellow founders: no agenda, no programming, just a standing invitation to get work done alongside the people building around you.
Honest Conversations About Building in the Age of AI
This summer, we are launching a special Leslie Founders Roundtable series: State of AI. Each session brings in investors and industry experts to share how they're evaluating startups right now. Expect real conversation about scoping your competitive landscape, anticipating where incumbents are moving, and staying oriented when the ground keeps shifting. These won't be tool tutorials. They're designed to help you think clearly about strategy. Sessions run in a happy hour format with time to connect afterward. Startup Sprint and Summer Launchpad teams will be invited to join as well.
Building Community Beyond the Work
Throughout the summer, Leslie Founders will host social events to bring the community together outside of structured sessions. Details are coming soon, but plan on showing up.
Everything Else That Comes With Being a Leslie Founder
Summer programming sits on top of a broader membership designed to support you across every dimension of early-stage building. As a Leslie Founder, you have access to:
- A dedicated venture coach
- Expert office hours
- Co-working space and conference room booking at the Leslie eLab
- $2,000 in Google Cloud credits
- Software discounts
- Application support for fellowships and accelerators
For the full picture of what membership includes and to submit applications, visit the Leslie Founders page.
Apply Before May 22nd
Applications close May 22nd. Startup Day is June 12th. If you're currently at NYU (even if you graduate in May) with a venture you're serious about, this is the community to be part of this summer.
