7 Tips for Getting Into MetaProp's Next Accelerator Cohort

The 2018/2019 MetaProp Accelerator at Columbia University applications are closing in two days. Our team is busy reviewing applications, interviewing startup founders and sending out offers to selected companies.It is an exciting time at MetaProp, but an even more exhilarating, if pressurized, time for PropTech startup founders applying for our globally renowned accelerator program

This blog post is intended to bring some transparency to our selection process for those of you who are currently finishing up your application or waiting to hear back.

After we receive your application on F6S, we will review your application and reach out to schedule an interview if we think your company might be a good fit. Typically, a CEO will be interviewed two to three times throughout the process by our ventures and acceleration teams that includes Zak Schwarzman, Aaron Block, Clelia Peters, Zach Aarons and Leila Collins. After the interviews, we conduct our standard due diligence process. If a company makes it through due diligence, we send an offer letter.

The entire process can sometimes take as little as two weeks or as long as a few months.. For any applications submitted recently, we will expedite the process and get back to you before the end of the month.

The interview process for the accelerator is different from our process for a fund investment because we are looking for more than just great investments -- accelerator companies need to be excellent investments AND a great part of the cohort. We have found that the best cohorts consist of companies that are ready to start selling into real estate and that represent a broad range of asset classes. It is extremely important to us to have a diverse group of founders with experiences and personalities that will compliment each other. For a cohort to be successful, we need each founder to bring a unique perspective to the forum and also to be supportive to the other founders. We work hard and our program is very serious, but we also care about building a lasting community with shared values.

Below is a list of some quick tips for a successful accelerator interview:

1. Explain the problem. Make sure to fully explain the problem you are looking to solve early on. We want to make a bet on someone who is obsessed with solving a big problem — and willing to pivot to solve it.
2. Be professional. This one may seem obvious, but make sure to respond promptly to emails, return requested materials quickly and show up on time.
3. Make it a conversation. We are, at the bottom, investing in you and your team. The more conversational you can be during your pitch, the more you will connect with us.
4. Talk about your team. We want to know you have the team to grow your company by 500% by February.
5. Have a plan. Our team can help you the most if you are ready to grow very quickly. Show us that you know who you want to sell to and how you want to reach them.
6. Be ready. We can move quickly, so have your basic diligence materials ready to go so you can send them to us right away. It shows us that you are professional and ready to fundraise.
7. Know what you want. We are here to help you and we appreciate when you have already thought about how you would get the most out of our program.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Leila Collins. Good luck!