TechMeetups Guru Program 2013: January - April #TMUguru January 29, 2013

WHAT IS THE TECHMEETUPS GURU PROGRAM?
At TechMeetups, we literally have hundreds of tech startups approach us seeking various type of support from Funding to Mentorship and from Product Development to Marketing. Based on this need we decided to launch the TechMeetups Guru Program to help startups with all their business & tech needs by bringing together experts from around the world who we consider to be Gurus in their field.
Our belief is that, while passion drives entrepreneurship, the challenges that face early stage, high-growth tech companies can become more manageable and less daunting once Founders receive guidance and support from experts.

The Guru Program’s aim is to help more companies become successful. While the program will cover innovative management styles including the use of tools and techniques such as the Business Model Canvas, Customer Development and Lean Startup, the involvement of domain experts will allow startups to gain a grounding in a number of subjects.

WHAT DOES THE TECHMEETUPS GURU PROGRAM TEACH STARTUPS?
The Program is delivered over 12 weeks and covers key areas that a startup Founder should be familiar with. It includes group mentoring as well as an opportunity for our startups to present to the TechMeetups community on Graduation to gain early adopters and user feedback.

Week 0: Pre-session Mentoring Camp, Networking and Introduction to the Program (22 January 2013)
This session is not obligatory for all startups to attend, but it is highly recommended!

Week 1: Business Models, Real World Problems & Solutions (Sessions: 29 January 2013)
Week 2: Company Structure, Legal, Business & Financial Planning (Sessions: 5 February 2013)
Week 3: Development Platforms & Technologies (Sessions: 12 February 2013)
Week 4: UX/UI, Design and Branding (Sessions: 19 February 2013)
Week 5: Co-founding, hiring, firing, outsourcing and online freelancers (Sessions: 26 February 2013)
Week 6: Successful Software Project Management (Sessions: 5 March 2013)
Week 7: Guru Mentoring Camp: Business Model Pitch Reviews (Sessions: 12 March 2013)
Week 8: Low Risk, High Reward Marketing and PR for startups (Sessions: 19 March 2013)
Week 9: Sales, Partnerships, Alliances & Affiliates (Sessions: 26 March 2013)
Week 10: Starting Lean, Scaling and Thinking Big (Sessions: 2 April 2013)
Week 11: Show me the money - startup finance (Sessions: 9 April 2013)
Week 12: Graduation Guru Mentoring Camp & Meet The Community (Sessions: 16 April 2013)

Graduating startups will have the opportunity to present at the TechMeetups Investor Day in May 2013. Startups proceeding through to Investor Day will receive full support in preparing their pitch and practice sessions in front of seasoned Investors.

WEEKLY STRUCTURE OF THE TECHMEETUPS GURU PROGRAM

Guru Teaching Sessions
These sessions will run 6-9pm on Tuesdays (London Time)
Each week there will be 3-4 sessions delivered by our Session Leaders, plus a time slot for startups and Gurus to conduct short face-to-face advice sessions with startups. Follow-up tasks will also be set by our Gurus to help startups action techniques learned each week, helping Founders implement best practices in their startup.

Guru Twitter Chats
These sessions will run 7-8pm on Wednesdays (London Time) on Twitter, which anyone can join

Guru Thursdays: Informal advice and networking sessions
These sessions will run 6-9pm on Thursdays (London Time)
Gurus and startups will have an equipped space where they can meet informally to discuss specific issues. Gurus will confirm their availability for any week so that startups are aware who they can meet with by attending on any given evening.

Guru Mentoring Camps
These sessions will run 6-9pm on Tuesdays (London Time) in weeks 0, 7 & 12.
Startups will have three opportunities to pitch our Gurus and receive feedback on their progress as they go through the program.

If you'd like to find out more about the program or enquire about becoming one of our Gurus, please email us at [email protected]

Official Website: http://techmeetups.com/guru/