Founders Space
Founders Space (LavaMind LLC) is a San Francisco-based venture builder, startup accelerator, and corporate innovation consultancy that develops and invests in select startups, runs online entrepreneurship programs, and advises governments and global corporations on AI strategy and digital transformation through its Innovation Lab.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Founders Space does
Founders Space, operated by LavaMind LLC, is a privately held venture builder and global startup accelerator headquartered in San Francisco. Founded in 2010, the firm develops, advises, and invests in a select number of high-potential startups through its venture-building program and VC arm (Founders Space Ventures), which reviews applications and selects only the top 2% for follow-up. Beyond startup services, Founders Space runs Online Startup and Online Innovation Programs that teach Silicon Valley methodologies for raising capital and building businesses, and supports a global partner network claimed at 50 partners across 22 countries, with partner-operated coworking spaces such as Hangzhou.
The company's corporate-facing offering is the Innovation Lab, a consulting practice that delivers AI Strategy Workshops, AI Innovation and Digital Transformation, startup ecosystem building, emerging-technology access, and venture capital investment planning. Documented engagements span Bosch (internal innovation program), Qualcomm (next-generation consumer mobile ideation), Huawei (emerging-tech forecasts including brain-computer interfaces, ambient AI, blockchain, VR/AR), Deloitte Japan (corporate startup activities involving 20+ Japanese corporates), and Gulf Oil (Asia JV preparation and VC introductions). The firm's proprietary AI-powered VC Analysis Tool scores investor decks and business plans across eight venture capital dimensions and is embedded in its investment workflow.
Revenue mechanics span multiple streams: professional-services consulting (Innovation Lab and government advisory on AI strategy and organizational transformation), subscription/recurring educational programs, venture capital investment economics, and content/media monetization through a multi-platform podcast ('Captain Hoff's Adventures' distributed across 14+ channels), three published books (Make Elephants Fly/Hachette, Surviving a Startup/HarperCollins, The Five Forces/BenBella), and content marketing across YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. The firm is founder-led, with Steve Hoffman (Captain Hoff) as CEO and Chairman and Naomi Kokubo as Co-founder & COO.
Founders Space firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Founders Space
- Legal name
- LavaMind LLC
- Website
- https://foundersspace.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Founders Space (LavaMind LLC) is a San Francisco-based venture builder, startup accelerator, and corporate innovation consultancy that develops and invests in select startups, runs online entrepreneurship programs, and advises governments and global corporations on AI strategy and digital transformation through its Innovation Lab.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Founders Space industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Startup Accelerator & Venture Building
- NAICS
- Computer Systems Design Services (541512)
- SIC
- Services-Computer Programming Services (7371), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Venture Studios / Company Builders (FSANAAAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA)
Keywords
Where Founders Space is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Founders Space business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Investment: Investing in select high-potential startups through Founders Space Ventures, which reviews applications and selects the top 2% for funding
- Corporate Innovation Consulting: AI Strategy Workshops, AI Innovation & Digital Transformation, Building Startup & Innovation Ecosystems, Access to New and Emerging Technologies, Introductions to Startups for Investment & Collaboration, Implementing Bottom-up Innovation Processes, Venture Capital Investment Planning, Strategic Forecasts & Analysis
- Educational Programs: Online Startup Program teaching Silicon Valley entrepreneurs how to raise capital, build businesses, and scale; Online Innovation Program; Venture Building programs
- Government Consulting: Providing guidance to governments on AI strategy, innovation leadership, and organizational transformation
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Founders Space product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Founders Space is a San Francisco-based venture builder that develops, advises, and invests in high-potential startups while providing AI strategy, innovation leadership, and organizational transformation consulting to governments and global corporations. Its core offerings include venture building programs, online startup and innovation courses, a venture capital arm (Founders Space Ventures), and a corporate Innovation Lab. Supporting services include partner-run coworking spaces and a podcast/media presence.
Product overview
Founders Space is a Venture Builder headquartered in San Francisco offering a portfolio of programs and services for startups and corporations. The core offering consists of Venture Building programs for developing high-potential startups, Online Startup and Innovation Programs for remote learning, Founders Space Ventures for funding, and an Innovation Lab for corporate innovation consulting. Supporting services include partner-run Coworking Spaces, a Podcast (Captain Hoff's Adventures), and published books (Make Elephants Fly, Surviving A Startup, The Five Forces). The company also provides AI strategy consulting and innovation leadership guidance to governments and global corporations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Founders Space Ventures: Venture capital arm that reviews startup applications and selects top companies for funding.
- Innovation Lab
- Captain Hoff
Products and services
- Venture Building Program Core program for developing, advising, and investing in high-potential startups, with accompanying guidance and consulting to governments and global corporations on AI strategy, innovation leadership, and organizational transformation. Targeted at founders of early-stage ventures.
- Online Startup Program Online program teaching how Silicon Valley's top entrepreneurs raise capital, build businesses, and scale their way to success. Aimed at individual founders and early-stage startup teams worldwide.
- Online Innovation Program Online program focused on innovation methodologies and processes pioneered in Silicon Valley. Aimed at entrepreneurs, executives, and teams looking to adopt startup-style innovation practices.
- Founders Space Ventures (Venture Capital) Venture capital arm that reviews startup applications and selects the top 2% for follow-up funding. Includes an AI-powered VC Analysis tool that evaluates investor decks and business plans across eight venture capital dimensions. Targeted at high-potential startup founders seeking capital.
- Innovation Lab Corporate innovation program offering AI Strategy Workshops, AI Innovation & Digital Transformation, Building Startup & Innovation Ecosystems, Access to New and Emerging Technologies, Strategic Forecasts & Analysis, and introductions to startups for investment and collaboration. Engagements have included Bosch, Gulf Oil, Qualcomm, Deloitte (Japan), and Huawei.
- Coworking Space Partner-run coworking spaces around the world (e.g., Hangzhou, China) that attract world-class startups, investors, and corporate partners as part of the Founders Space global network.
- Make Elephants Fly Award-winning book by CEO Steve Hoffman, published by Hachette, focused on innovation methodology and how to make ambitious ventures succeed.
- Surviving A Startup Book by Steve Hoffman, published by HarperCollins, providing practical guidance for entrepreneurs navigating the early stages and challenges of building a startup.
- The Five Forces Book by Steve Hoffman, published by BenBella, addressing business strategy and the competitive forces shaping markets.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 2% selection rate for VC funding applicants
Companies that use Founders Space
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Founders Space technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Founders Space partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- BoschcoreRan an innovation program for Bosch where eight internal teams went from idea to market validation over three months. The program culminated in teams presenting new products to upper management for further funding, refined Bosch's internal innovation process, and promoted increased knowledge sharing across the organization.
- Gulf OilminorHelped Gulf Oil prepare for a new joint venture in Asia, introduced them to local venture capitalists, and advised on structuring fund-raising efforts.
- QualcommcoreCollaborated with Qualcomm to come up with next generation ideas for consumer mobile products and services.
- Deloitte (Japan)coreRan multiple corporate startup activities with Deloitte of Japan. Attendees included major Japanese corporations such as Fujitsu, Hikari, Hitachi, Itochu, JETRO, KDDI, Kyocera, Macnica Networks, Mizuho Bank, NEC, Neos, Nikkei America, Nikko Solutions, Opt Ventures, Panasonic, Rakuten, Realtime Media, Softbank, Sparx Asset Management, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank, and Takachiho.
- HuaweicoreMultiple collaborative projects including helping Huawei predict emerging technologies that would redefine lives over the next 10 years. Wrote a 100-page detailed report on brain computer interfaces, ambient AI, big data, blockchain, VR, and AR. Also conceptualized several new consumer products, connected with startups and researchers, and planned future development.
- Pair NetworksminorProudly sponsored by Pair Networks, a partner/sponsor of Founders Space.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Founders Space competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- MassChallenge: MassChallenge runs global startup accelerator programs with corporate partnerships and a non-equity model in some programs. It overlaps with Founders Space on the accelerator offering and corporate innovation engagement.
- Plug and Play Tech Center: Plug and Play operates a global accelerator network, corporate innovation programs, and a venture fund across verticals and geographies. It is directly comparable to Founders Space on the corporate innovation + accelerator + venture model, with a similar global partner footprint.
- Techstars: Techstars runs multiple global accelerator programs with a mentor-driven model, accelerator-associated venture fund, and corporate partnerships (Techstars Anywhere, Techstars Industries). Overlaps directly with Founders Space on accelerator programs, VC investment, and corporate innovation engagement.
- Antler: Antler is a global early-stage venture firm and startup generator operating across 20+ countries with a residency program, founder community, and seed fund. Direct peer to Founders Space on global venture building, accelerator model, and corporate/startup ecosystem work.
- Y Combinator: Y Combinator is the world's most prominent startup accelerator, running batch-based programs, providing seed funding, and offering a global founder community. It is the most direct comparable to Founders Space's accelerator, venture, and online program offerings, with similar target customers (early-stage founders) and business model.
- Startupbootcamp (by Innoway): Startupbootcamp runs industry-specific accelerator programs in multiple cities worldwide with a mentor- and corporate-partner-driven model. Direct peer to Founders Space on multi-region accelerator programs and corporate startup engagement.
- SOSV: SOSV is a multi-stage, multi-program venture capital firm running vertical-specific accelerator programs (HAX, IndieBio, Chinaccelerator, etc.) with a global footprint. Comparable to Founders Space for accelerator-driven, hands-on venture building across geographies.
- Seedstars: Seedstars runs global startup competitions, accelerator programs, and a venture fund focused on emerging markets. Direct peer to Founders Space on global accelerator footprint, founder community, and emerging-market focus.
- 500 Global (500 Startups): 500 Global runs accelerator programs, a venture fund, and growth programs for early-stage startups across emerging markets. Direct peer on accelerator programs and VC investing with a similarly global footprint to Founders Space.
Emerging players
- Rebel Fund: Rebel Fund is a community-driven, AI-powered venture fund that invests in top-decile Y Combinator startups using systematic, AI-driven deal evaluation. Comparable to Founders Space Ventures' AI-powered VC Analysis tool and selective investment approach, though narrower in scope (YC-only).
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Founders Space social profiles
Digital presenceFounders Space financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Founders Space leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Founders Space funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Founders Space M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Founders Space
What does Founders Space do?
Founders Space is a San Francisco-based venture builder that develops, advises, and invests in high-potential startups while providing AI strategy, innovation leadership, and organizational transformation consulting to governments and global corporations. Its core offerings include venture building programs, online startup and innovation courses, a venture capital arm (Founders Space Ventures), and a corporate Innovation Lab. Supporting services include partner-run coworking spaces and a podcast/media presence.
Is Founders Space a public or private company?
Founders Space is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Founders Space founded?
Founders Space was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Founders Space based?
Founders Space is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Founders Space make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Venture Capital Investment is the primary driver. The others are corporate Innovation Consulting, educational Programs and government Consulting.
Who are Founders Space's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are MassChallenge, Plug and Play Tech Center, Techstars, Antler, Y Combinator, Startupbootcamp (by Innoway), SOSV, Seedstars and 500 Global (500 Startups). Rebel Fund is listed as an emerging player.
Does Founders Space have an API?
No public API is recorded for Founders Space.
What industry is Founders Space in?
Founders Space's product category is Startup Accelerator & Venture Building. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAH, Venture Studios / Company Builders, with a secondary code of FSANAAAM, Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated). Its NAICS code is 541512 and its SIC code is 7371.