Founder’s hat

What is Founder's Hat?

Running a startup means wearing every hat at once.  Team leader, fundraiser, sales strategist, brand builder, wellness coordinator. Founder's Hat is a five-session program built around that reality.

This peer-driven forum brings together founders who are actively building alongside those who have already navigated the hard parts of early-stage growth. Together, participants connect, exchange ideas, and walk away with practical insights they can actually use.

This year’s sessions will be facilitated by Ascender alumni, including Liana Maneese, Kyle Guinness, Alex De Marco, Donald Robinson, and Charlotte Kalafut and John Kalafut who have been in the trenches and are uniquely positioned to lead.

Applications open July 1st

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  • FOUNDER'S HAT IS: 

    • A safe space where founders connect & build relationships.

    • An outlet for founders to talk about REAL experiences.

    • An opportunity to give and get advice alongside other founders.

    • Confidential! These conversations don’t leave the room. Whether it’s proprietary information or personal experiences, anything covered is for founder’s ears-only.

    • A place for radical honesty and candor about startup challenges.

    FOUNDER’S HAT IS NOT: 

    • A training course on a business topic

    • A workshop on leadership & management

    • A networking event to expand your contact book

    • Founder or founding team members only.

    • Must commit to attending all in-person sessions at Ascender. Be sure to check your calendar to ensure your availability.

    • Must actively participate during all sessions.

    • Businesses must be:

      • In the prototype to revenue-generating stage

      • Operating for 3+ years

      • A team of 2+ employees/contractors (not including founders)

    • Who should not apply? 

      • Founder’s Hat is not ideal for non-profits and food service businesses.

  • Founders accepted into the program must commit to all of the following dates:

    • Tuesday, 9/22 from 8:30 – 10:00 AM - The Founder Hat

    • Tuesday, 10/6 from 8:30–10:00 AM - The Team Leader Hat

    • Tuesday, 10/20 from 8:30 – 10:00 AM - The Sales & Branding Hat

    • Tuesday, 11/3 from 8:30 – 10:00 AM - The Fundraiser Hat

    • Tuesday, 11/17 from 8:30 – 10:00 AM - The Wellness Hat

  • Applying to Founder’s Hat is free.

    For those invited to the program a non-refundable program fee of $300 is due prior to the start date. Accepted participants will receive full-time member privileges & access to Ascender thru December.

    Members of Ascender invited to the program will receive a 50% discount on the program fee. (This discount is not available to mail-level members).

  • Founder's Hat is just the beginning.

    When the program wraps, every participant receives free Ascender membership through the end of 2026 (a $750 value). Keep building alongside a community of entrepreneurs, with ongoing access to coaching and growth support from Ascender's experienced team and our dozens of coaches and volunteers.

    The network doesn't stop when the sessions do.

2026 Facilitators

  • Charlotte & John Kalafut

    Co-Founders
    Asher Informatics LLC

    Session One: The Founder Hat

  • Donald Robinson

    Founder
    Global Human Performance

    Session Two: The Team Leader Hat

  • Kyle Guinness

    CEO & Co-Founder
    Revitalize Eye Care

    Session Three: The Sales & Branding Hat

  • Alex De Marco

    Founder & CEO
    MoneyStack

    Session Four: The Fundraiser Hat

  • Liana Maneese

    Founder & Clinical Director
    Transitional Characters

    Session Five: The Wellness Hat

founder’s hat alumni testimonials

“To be in a room filled with others who share that same drive and heart is a rare gift.

The chance to be vulnerable, to ask for guidance, and to be met with understanding was nothing short of life-changing. It reminded me that being seen and supported doesn’t weaken us—it affirms us”

— Liana Maneese
    Founder & Clinical Director
    Transitional Characters

“Founder's Hat was the first chance I had as an entrepreneur to let my guard down and ask some vulnerable questions. It's a place where it's okay to not have all the answers. In fact, it's celebrated! And ironically, being able to have that space, actually helped me find more answers about myself as a founder and my company. I am grateful for the experience and would HIGHLY recommend it."

— Cassie Guerin
    Founder & CEO, Miror

"Ascender's Founder's Hat was an incredible program that helped me connect with fellow founders in the area and learn an incredible amount of skills on how to manage the complexities around creating, running, and scaling a successful business."

— Dylan Lew
    Co-founder & CEO, Ecotone Renewables
“The very first session of Founder’s Hat set the tone for having a positive experience. It was made clear that it would be a safe environment, collaborative and open.”
— Kyle McGuinness, CEO & Co-Founder, Revitalize