Venture Nurture Program
A 6-Month Incubation Program for Immigrant-Led Startups
Applications for the second cohort of our Venture Nurture Program (VNP) have closed. VNP is an intensive incubation journey designed for immigrant founders ready to move from concept to traction.
We keep things small and focused: up to 6 startups, 6 months, and a whole lot of forward motion. You’ll work with us, hands-on, across product design, technical architecture, branding, user testing, and investor readiness. The goal? To help you build something real, testable, fundable, and worth showing to the world.
Some programs write checks. We write roadmaps, code, and pitch decks.
Our investment is hands-on: in your product, your progress, your pitch.
We don’t hand out capital, we help you earn it.
From validation to design to investor readiness, we work alongside you to create something real, testable, and fundable. If you’re looking to get unstuck, move fast, and build something that speaks for itself, we’re all in.
Program Structure
The program runs for 6 months and is split into two phases: lay the foundation, then build the product.
Phase 1
Validation & Infrastructure Planning
Months 1–3
This is where you stop guessing and start validating. You’ll pressure-test your idea, understand your users, and define what you’re actually building, and why.
What we’ll work on together:
Customer Discovery
Help you interview users, map journeys, and uncover real pain points.
Early Concept Testing
Build low-fidelity wireframes. Show them to real people. Adjust.
Business Model Thinking
Clarify your value. Explore monetization. Avoid startup buzzword bingo.
Regulatory Landscape
Know what rules apply to your space, before they become obstacles.
Technical Architecture
Define your stack, logic, and systems. Plan like you’re building a company, not just a product.
Agile Delivery Setup
Establish your sprint cycle, documentation style, and team roles.
Mentorship & Strategy Sessions
Weekly reviews with mentors and product leads to sharpen the plan.
By the end of Phase 1, you'll have:
- A tested and validated concept
- A mapped-out user journey
- A clear business model and early monetization insight
- A technical infrastructure plan
- A technical blueprint for A prototype development roadmap development
Phase 2
Prototype Development & Testing
Months 4–6
Now we build. This is where your product starts to look and feel real, and you start getting the kind of feedback you can only get from putting something in front of people.
UI/UX & Visual Design
High-fidelity designs, built using tools like Figma or Framer
Interactive Prototype
Simulate core flows and product logic, frontend with partial backend behavior
User Testing Loops
Run structured testing sessions. Capture insights. Iterate quickly.
Documentation for MVP Transition
Map features, define logic, highlight known edge cases
Brand & Messaging Alignment
Make sure the product, pitch, and brand are speaking the same language
Demo Readiness & E-Expo Pitching
You’ll close the program by pitching at our Janus E-Expo, a private showcase in front of mentors, founders, and early-stage investors.
By the end of Phase 2, you'll walk away with:
- A tested and validated concept
- A mapped-out user journey
- A clear business model and early monetization insight
- A technical infrastructure plan
- A technical blueprint for A prototype development roadmap development
How We Collaborate
We keep it personal. Every startup we work with brings something different, stage, style, goals, and we match that with a collaboration model that makes sense.
Some teams come in ready to fund their own journey. Others propose hybrid or service-for-equity arrangements. In select cases, we fully back founders through in-kind support and close partnership.
We tailor our collaboration to fit each startup’s unique needs and stage. After acceptance, we’ll work together to find a transparent, fair arrangement that supports your growth and success.
What matters most is mindset. We want founders who are hungry to build, not just raise.
Who This Program Is For
This isn’t an idea-stage bootcamp. And it’s not a “pitch your startup in 10 days” kind of deal.
It’s for founders who are serious about building, and need real support to make it happen.
You have an early-stage startup (or solid concept) with a committed team
You’re ready to make meaningful progress over 6 months
You want to test, design, build, and prepare for growth
You're either an immigrant founder, or building something that supports immigrant communities (strongly preferred, but not required)
Why Janus Innovation Hub?
Because we don’t just cheer for immigrant founders, we build with them.
We keep our cohorts small so we can go deep. We care about details. We show up every week. And we’ve built this program to be the kind we wish we had when we started out.
If you’re looking for a partner who’ll match your energy and challenge your assumptions, this is the place.