Meta launches Startup School for 200 early

Meta has announced the launch of Meta Startup School, a three-month programme aimed at 200 early-stage consumer brands in India, as the company expands its efforts to work with businesses looking to build their digital presence.

The first cohort will begin on September 1 and will bring together startups, agency partners, venture capital firms and industry experts. The programme will combine sessions on Meta’s platforms with consultations and interactions with people from the wider startup ecosystem.

The participating businesses will be paired with agency partners for three months of consultations without retainer fees. They will also take part in structured learning sessions and webinars covering Meta’s tools and advertising solutions.

The programme is open to consumer brands across funding stages, provided they are not directly managed by Meta or currently working with an agency. Businesses are expected to be at a stage where they are beginning to use Meta’s platforms to increase revenue.

Meta said the programme will also provide participants with opportunities to interact with venture capital firms and industry specialists. Fireside Ventures, DSG Consumer Partners and V3 Ventures are among the firms participating in the first cohort, with more venture capital firms expected to join later.

The three-month programme will culminate in a demo day, where participating startups will interact with venture capital firms, direct-to-consumer founders and other members of the startup ecosystem.

According to Meta, the sessions will cover the use of its advertising and AI-powered tools, along with strategies around customer acquisition, campaign performance and business growth. Startups will also be able to apply what they learn through the agency consultations during the programme.

“Early-stage startups are at a critical stage in their journey, and having the right tools, knowledge, and guidance can make a significant difference,” said Gaurav Jeet Singh, director for agencies and VC partnerships, Meta India. He said the programme would help startups use Meta’s advertising and AI-powered tools while connecting them with agency partners and venture capital firms.

The launch comes as consumer businesses increasingly rely on digital platforms for customer acquisition and growth. Meta said the programme is intended to address the need among early-stage businesses for platform knowledge and digital capabilities alongside access to capital.

The company said participating startups will also have opportunities to share their experiences and demonstrate how they have applied the programme’s learnings to their businesses.