- W1Diagnosis
- W2Customer
- W3Why they buy
- W4Your offer
- W5First sales
- W6Early growth
- W7Experience
- W8Next steps
Customers first.
Everything else after.
The sequential approach to validate customer demand and build a sustainable business before spending resources on overhead.
The Common Trap
What to avoidMany early-stage founders spend months on logos, websites, and features before they know whether anyone will pay for what they are building.
Action, Not Theory
100% PracticalThis is practical mentorship, not a course. Every session is about your business and your next step.
Is Zero to First right for you?
This is for you if you:
- Are at idea stage, with a clear problem you want to solve
- Or have a prototype, MVP, or your first users
- Are ready to speak to potential customers every week
- Can commit 2 hours a week for 8 weeks, plus work between sessions
- Want honest feedback, even when it is hard to hear
This is not for you if you:
- Run an established business that is already scaling
- Are looking for investment (this is mentorship, not funding)
- Want someone to build the business for you
- Cannot commit to all 8 weeks
What you get
hours of 1:1 mentorship
Two hours every week, focused only on your business.
A clear 8-week path
A structured journey from understanding your customer to closing your first sales.
Real-world experience
Guidance from a founder who has built and run businesses across 5 countries since 2013.
Honest, practical feedback
Direct input on your pitch, offer, pricing, and sales approach.
A 90-day plan
You finish with a clear plan for what to do after the program ends.
What we will work on
- Customer and product-market fit
- Consumer behavior
- Value proposition and positioning
- Brand foundations
- Sales and conversion
- Early growth channels, digital and physical
- Customer experience and retention
Each founder's path is tailored. We start by finding the one or two things holding your business back most, and focus there.
Your 8-week journey
- Week 1
Diagnosis
We map your business, find your biggest unknowns, and set 2 or 3 measurable goals.
- Week 2
Customer and problem
Define exactly who you serve and the problem you solve, then plan your customer conversations.
- Week 3
Why people buy
Review what customers told you: what drives them, what stops them, and who really decides.
- Week 4
Your offer
Turn those insights into a clear value proposition, pricing logic, and brand foundations.
- Week 5
First sales
Build a simple sales process and pitch, handle objections, and go after your first customers or pilots.
- Week 6
Early growth
Test one or two low-cost channels, online or offline, where your customers actually are.
- Week 7
Customer experience
Onboard and keep your first customers happy so they come back and refer others.
- Week 8
Review and next steps
Measure progress against your goals and build your 90-day plan.
Connect on LinkedInWhy Cohort 1 is free
This is the first Zero to First cohort. I want to work closely with three founders, document the progress we make together, and shape the program around real results.
So there is no fee. What I ask for instead is full commitment. Future cohorts will be paid and will stay small.
What I expect from you
Free does not mean casual. Selected founders agree to:
- 1
Show up
Attend all 8 weekly sessions. Missing two sessions without notice ends your place in the program.
- 2
Do the work
Complete the tasks we agree on between sessions, especially customer conversations.
- 3
Share progress honestly
Including real numbers, so we can measure what is working.
- 4
Give feedback
Share a testimonial at the end and allow your results to be shared as a case study, with your approval of the final wording.
Your idea and business information stay confidential. Nothing is shared publicly without your permission.
How selection works
Apply
Submit your elevator pitch.
By 5 October 2026Pitch review
I read every application personally.
Short call
Shortlisted founders are invited to a 15 to 20 minute call.
By 8 October 2026Selection
The 3 founders are confirmed.
By 10 October 2026Kick-off
The program starts.
12 October 2026
Every applicant will hear back, whether selected or not.
Join the Zero to First Founder Community
Connect with fellow Sri Lankan founders, share progress, and get practical guidance on finding customers and product-market fit.
Questions founders ask
Ready to go from zero to your first customers?
Only 3 founders will be selected. Applications close on 5 October 2026.