Choosing a startup program in India: questions worth asking

What do you need help with right now?

Write down the next few things your company needs to work through. You might need a place to build, access to equipment, help finding customers or people who understand a difficult technical problem. That list gives you a useful starting point when comparing programs.

Ask which stages the program is designed for and what founders spend their time doing. Incubators, accelerators and founder residencies can offer different kinds of support. The name alone will not tell you whether it fits your week.

How much time will you need to commit?

Find out how long the program lasts, whether you need to move and what participation involves. Ask how much time is available for your company alongside sessions and events. Talk through any work or family responsibilities that affect your availability.

Assembly is a 70-day live-in program in Hyderabad, beginning November 2026. It is meant for founders and co-founders who can live and build here together. If your circumstances make that difficult, ask the team about the participation requirements before you commit.

What support is actually included?

Ask for a clear list. Accommodation, meals, workspace, equipment and introductions each solve different problems. Check what is shared, what needs a separate arrangement and what you would still need to organise yourself.

Assembly includes shared accommodation, two meals a day, high-speed internet, access to a community fund, open days and demo days, founder dinners and community events. It does not include an individual monthly stipend. The full Assembly program page is the place to start when checking the offer.

You may also find older pages describing a previous program. Our first Founders Residency had a different duration and a monthly stipend. Its applications are closed. Those terms do not apply to Assembly.

When does the equity commitment apply?

Read the terms slowly and ask for the formal documents before deciding. You should understand what you are agreeing to, when it takes effect and who can answer questions about your company’s situation. Give yourself time to get advice if you need it.

Assembly’s published commitment is 1% equity when your startup raises funding. Joining alone does not transfer equity. The team shares formal documents before joining and can answer questions about individual circumstances.

Is investment part of the offer?

Ask this directly. Being introduced to investors, taking part in a demo day and receiving investment are different events. Find out what the program is committing to and what depends on a later decision.

The Founding Company invests in companies and makes introductions. A place in Assembly is not a promise of funding. We want that to be clear while you are deciding, because your plans for the company should rest on support you can count on.

Can you see yourself doing useful work there?

Spend some time learning about the people behind the program and the founders who have been part of it. Ask how people share feedback and help one another. Think about whether that environment would help you do the work you described at the start.

You can meet our first cohort on the founders page and read about The Founding Company on our about page. If Assembly feels like a fit, the application is open at /apply. If a detail is still unclear, contact us. It is a reasonable thing to ask.