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Break Into AEC Startups
10 Days
·Cohort-based Course
Unlock your potential as an innovation leader in architecture. Connect with startups, assess opportunities, and negotiate for impact.
Break Into AEC Startups
10 Days
·Cohort-based Course
Unlock your potential as an innovation leader in architecture. Connect with startups, assess opportunities, and negotiate for impact.
Previously at
Course overview
Ready to unlock your potential as an innovation leader in architecture?
This course is designed for architects frustrated with the industry's pace of innovation and their place in it. This course will empower you to connect with startups, assess opportunities, and negotiate effectively for impactful roles.
Throughout the program, you'll gain the skills and knowledge to navigate startup ecosystems confidently. From identifying mission-aligned startups to conducting simple yet effective due diligence on their leadership and business models, you'll learn to make informed decisions that drive meaningful change.
But it doesn't stop there. This course will also provide the tools and strategies to excel in informational interviews, enabling you to build strong connections with founding teams and showcase your value as a strategic partner in driving innovation.
By the end of the course, you'll emerge as a confident and capable leader, poised to make a scalable impact in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Join us and take the first step towards becoming an impactful intrapreneur or collaborator with industry-shaping startups.
Who is this course for
01
Architects, Engineers and Designers dissatisfied with the state of practice and eager to be part of innovating new industry pathways.
02
AEC professionals seeking greater agency in their work, while learning to connect strategic outcomes to the task at hand.
03
The next generation of industry leaders driven to break into AEC Tech who wish to maximize the probability of a successful startup entry.
You'll learn
How to find mission-aligned startups
Discover mission-aligned startups through VC portfolio research, accelerator networks, architect founder networks, and ecosystem mapping techniques.
How to get on a team's radar
Gain visibility by understanding influence, building relationship capital, studying key materials for an edge, and mastering the art of the informational interview.
How to ace the application and interview process
Ace applications and interviews by showcasing mission alignment, conviction to define the future, connecting outputs to outcomes, and demonstrating startup knowledge through insightful questions.
Essential due diligence tactics for effective assessment and negotiation
Master due diligence with insights on total compensation, valuations, risk assessment, and creating simple yet effective CEO and business model scorecards.
This course includes
Interactive live sessions
Lifetime access to course materials
20 in-depth lessons
Direct access to instructor
3 projects to apply learnings
Guided feedback & reflection
Private community of peers
Course certificate upon completion
Maven Satisfaction Guarantee
This course is backed by Maven’s guarantee. You can receive a full refund within 14 days after the course ends, provided you meet the completion criteria in our refund policy.
Break Into AEC Startups
Course syllabus
Week 1
Week 2
Post-course
Due Diligence & Negotiation Essentials
Putting It All Together & Closing Q&A
Finding Mission-Aligned Startups
Getting on the Team's Radar
Ace the Application & Interview Process
What AEC startup insiders are saying
Kate Meagher
Nicolas Rader
Kristen Teutonico
Ala Alavi
Mollie Claypool
Fed Novikov
Chris Chan
Jack Crocker
Meet your instructor
Michael Caton, AIA, NOMA
Hi, I'm Michael. I'm an Architect turned Product and Technology leader in the AEC industry. I'm a passionate life-long learner who loves solving big, complex, seemingly intractable problems in the built environment.
Over the last decade, these qualities have enabled me to work on award-winning projects and ventures alongside iconoclasts redefining what's possible in the AEC industry. Some highlights include leading Technology and Computing at Juno; leading WeWork's Enterprise Architecture discipline; and bringing business model innovation and a product-based approach to Columbia University's graduate housing design curriculum.
Why I built this course
I built this course to give you the playbook other architects in tech and I wish we had - insider strategies and tactics that would have made an unequivocal material difference in our careers. The course material is based on real experience, not theory - from someone who has worked from an individual contributor up to the Executive Team. I'm confident this course will make a difference in career.
Course schedule
Up to 6 hours per week for 2 weeks
Tuesdays & Fridays
11:00am - 1:00pm EST
Live sessions
Wednesdays
12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
Office hours
Weekly projects
Up to 2 hours per week
Hands on projects giving you tangible tools to break through.
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Lighting Talk ⚡ - Startup 101
Curious about the world of AEC startups?
Access my free Startup 101 Lighning Talk. You'll discover the key differences between traditional firms and startups, explore the startup lifecycle and lean methodology, and learn the critical mindset shift needed to succeed in this dynamic environment.
Whether you're considering a career change or just curious, this session is packed with insights to help you navigate this exciting new frontier.
Drop your email below 👇🏿 and take the next step towards unlocking your potential! 🚀
Get your free access here
Learning is better with cohorts
Active hands-on learning
This course builds on live workshops and hands-on projects
Interactive and project-based
You’ll be interacting with other learners through breakout rooms and project teams
Learn with a cohort of peers
Join a community of like-minded people who want to learn and grow alongside you