Detroit
04:13:27
Is Rouge a VC?
Is Rouge a VC?
The only thing we share with VCs is writing checks. Other than that, nothing. We’re a long-term home for founders to build, experiment and grow -- one complete with a desk, garage, community, resources, event space, advisors, office hours and much more. We want to have real friendships with our founders, not transactional relationships.
The only thing we share with VCs is writing checks. Other than that, nothing. We’re a long-term home for founders to build, experiment and grow -- one complete with a desk, garage, community, resources, event space, advisors, office hours and much more. We want to have real friendships with our founders, not transactional relationships.
Is Rouge an accelerator?
Is Rouge an accelerator?
Sort of, but with one big difference. We’re not time-bound.
Most accelerators last for a few months, end and kick their members out for a new batch to follow. We don’t. We might feel like an accelerator, but once you’re in, you have a space here to build for as long as you need it. Many who get accepted to an accelerator like YC, Neo, HF0, etc. come back afterwards to continue building. You might outgrown Rouge at some point, but you’re always welcome back for the community, events and founder off-sites.
Sort of, but with one big difference. We’re not time-bound.
Most accelerators last for a few months, end and kick their members out for a new batch to follow. We don’t. We might feel like an accelerator, but once you’re in, you have a space here to build for as long as you need it. Many who get accepted to an accelerator like YC, Neo, HF0, etc. come back afterwards to continue building. You might outgrown Rouge at some point, but you’re always welcome back for the community, events and founder off-sites.
Do you take equity?
Do you take equity?
[4-7%. We keep the equity ask minimal because we know how important it is as founders ourselves. This is your journey to own and you’ll want to save the rest for future investors and employes.]
[4-7%. We keep the equity ask minimal because we know how important it is as founders ourselves. This is your journey to own and you’ll want to save the rest for future investors and employes.]
What do members get?
What do members get?
Funding, yes. But that’s the least important in our books.
Members also get access to dedicated workspace, communal workspace, hardware garage space, various startup-building resources, advisors and office hours, fundraising support, a tight-knit community of founders just like you, exclusive events and much more.
Funding, yes. But that’s the least important in our books.
Members also get access to dedicated workspace, communal workspace, hardware garage space, various startup-building resources, advisors and office hours, fundraising support, a tight-knit community of founders just like you, exclusive events and much more.
Am I a good fit?
Am I a good fit?
Our founders often show all of these traits. If you feel like this sounds like you, you might be a good fit:
Prolific at building.
Technical and curious.
Chasing something in frontier critical tech (manufacturing, robotics, space, defense, health, materials, energy, minerals).
Have strong founder x product x market fit.
Own a unique point of view.
Have ambition and drive.
Have an unshakably strong but generous attitude.
Our founders often show all of these traits. If you feel like this sounds like you, you might be a good fit:
Prolific at building.
Technical and curious.
Chasing something in frontier critical tech (manufacturing, robotics, space, defense, health, materials, energy, minerals).
Have strong founder x product x market fit.
Own a unique point of view.
Have ambition and drive.
Have an unshakably strong but generous attitude.
Do I need a company or idea?
Do I need a company or idea?
Nope. We’re here for the earliest stages of startup building and help founders go -1 to 0 all the time.
Just come in with some areas that you’re interested in exploring, chat with our advisors during office hours, sit in on events to learn and start tinkering. We’ll help you go from there to find your corner of the world.
Nope. We’re here for the earliest stages of startup building and help founders go -1 to 0 all the time.
Just come in with some areas that you’re interested in exploring, chat with our advisors during office hours, sit in on events to learn and start tinkering. We’ll help you go from there to find your corner of the world.
When should I apply?
When should I apply?
When you have a strong point of view on what you might want to build. This means:
You’ve shown you have what it takes to build something big.
You’ve previously built some cool projects & gotten some traction with them.
You have some strongly-held startup ideas. You can have multiple and be undecided, but we’ll help you get to the one worth digging into.
You’re really deep in your set of problem spaces.
You’ve made early progress on validating your ideas (e.g., you’ve built/tested ugly prototypes, talked to potential customers, have design partners, waitlists or ready-to-pay customers, etc.).
You have clear ideas on what to use our funding for.
From there, we’ll work with you to get to the best idea and develop a clear plan for using the funding from Rouge.
When you have a strong point of view on what you might want to build. This means:
You’ve shown you have what it takes to build something big.
You’ve previously built some cool projects & gotten some traction with them.
You have some strongly-held startup ideas. You can have multiple and be undecided, but we’ll help you get to the one worth digging into.
You’re really deep in your set of problem spaces.
You’ve made early progress on validating your ideas (e.g., you’ve built/tested ugly prototypes, talked to potential customers, have design partners, waitlists or ready-to-pay customers, etc.).
You have clear ideas on what to use our funding for.
From there, we’ll work with you to get to the best idea and develop a clear plan for using the funding from Rouge.
Why Detroit? Do I need to be based there?
Why Detroit? Do I need to be based there?
Detroit is the home of American industry and the best place to build a hardware-based startup. Full stop.
It was home to industrialists like Ford, Edison and [ ]. It’s a city built on steel and grit that produced one of the first automobiles from a shed, transformed the global industrial machine with the assembly line and invented interstate trade with the highway. That industry and culture still exists today. We’re even named after it. Designed by famous industrial architect Albert Khan, Ford’s River Rouge was a first-of-its-kind factory originally built for warship manufacturing. With its own docks, railroad tracks, electricity plant and integrated steel mill, it’s a symbol of American industrial innovation.
Thanks to its storied past and lineage of industrialists, it’s still home to some of the world’s largest corporations like Ford, GM, Lear, BorgWarner and DTE. The city and surrounding state of Michigan is also a perfect environment to build anything. It’s home to the Great Lakes for underwater applications, shipping ports, Class 1 rail access and more. It’s home to the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region (AAIR), a first-of-its kind aerial airspace and infrastructure for FAA Waiver supported aerial testing. It’s home to the Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ), a designated zone for frontier transportation testing, complete with static charging and the country’s first electrified roadway for in-motion charging. From here, you’re also only a drive away from the University of Michigan, automotive proving grounds & testing facilities and the Michigan Basin (home to the state’s vast set of natural resources.)
If you’re joining Rouge, you have to be here. If you’re not already here, we’ll help you with your move and get you set up near all our other founders.
Detroit is the home of American industry and the best place to build a hardware-based startup. Full stop.
It was home to industrialists like Ford, Edison and [ ]. It’s a city built on steel and grit that produced one of the first automobiles from a shed, transformed the global industrial machine with the assembly line and invented interstate trade with the highway. That industry and culture still exists today. We’re even named after it. Designed by famous industrial architect Albert Khan, Ford’s River Rouge was a first-of-its-kind factory originally built for warship manufacturing. With its own docks, railroad tracks, electricity plant and integrated steel mill, it’s a symbol of American industrial innovation.
Thanks to its storied past and lineage of industrialists, it’s still home to some of the world’s largest corporations like Ford, GM, Lear, BorgWarner and DTE. The city and surrounding state of Michigan is also a perfect environment to build anything. It’s home to the Great Lakes for underwater applications, shipping ports, Class 1 rail access and more. It’s home to the Advanced Aerial Innovation Region (AAIR), a first-of-its kind aerial airspace and infrastructure for FAA Waiver supported aerial testing. It’s home to the Transportation Innovation Zone (TIZ), a designated zone for frontier transportation testing, complete with static charging and the country’s first electrified roadway for in-motion charging. From here, you’re also only a drive away from the University of Michigan, automotive proving grounds & testing facilities and the Michigan Basin (home to the state’s vast set of natural resources.)
If you’re joining Rouge, you have to be here. If you’re not already here, we’ll help you with your move and get you set up near all our other founders.
Where do I apply?
Where do I apply?
We don’t do decks or pitches. Just apply here.
If we like your application, we’ll invite you to meet our community and build in our space for a week or two. If all goes well, we’ll decide to invest in you.
We don’t do decks or pitches. Just apply here.
If we like your application, we’ll invite you to meet our community and build in our space for a week or two. If all goes well, we’ll decide to invest in you.
I don’t think I’m ready just yet.
I don’t think I’m ready just yet.
If you’re not quite there yet, we encourage you to come out to our events and meet us. We host private events open to founders outside of Rouge all the time. You might even find one in your backyard sometime. You can stay updated on new events by dropping your email below and can sign up for upcoming events right from our lineup.
If you’re not quite there yet, we encourage you to come out to our events and meet us. We host private events open to founders outside of Rouge all the time. You might even find one in your backyard sometime. You can stay updated on new events by dropping your email below and can sign up for upcoming events right from our lineup.
Detroit
04:13:27