Growth Partner Programme
A programme by Startup Stairs
A growth partnership in which Startup Stairs takes equity (two tiers) or works for a fixed retainer with no equity (third tier).
At a glance
| Best for | Startups that want a hands-on growth partner and accept giving up equity |
|---|---|
| Stage | MVP – Growth |
| Cost | Takes equity |
About Growth Partner Programme
The Growth Partner Programme is a paid partnership, not a free programme. It has three tiers.
What you get
- Hybrid Partner, for early-stage startups building their MVP and going to market: help reaching product-market fit, shaping a go-to-market plan and winning the first 500 customers, with introductions to Startup Stairs' investor network after the MVP. In return it takes 1 to 2 percent equity. One page marks this tier as coming soon, and another describes it as an active model.
- Anchor Partner, for scaling startups: deep, hands-on involvement in all aspects of growth. It takes 5 to 10 percent equity and onboards only 10 startups a year.
- Retainership: a fixed retainer fee with no equity.
Who can apply
- Startups at the stages above
- The pages state no further eligibility criteria
How to apply: Use the apply button for the programme on the site. Ask for the full terms before you commit.
Where to apply
Other Startup Stairs programmes
- Startup LeagueA startup discovery, evaluation and investor-pitch platform run in cohorts, with a three-stage evaluation, a pitch day and a demo day; its pages disagree on whether Cohort 2 is still open.
- Idea to Funding AcceleratorA paid, 30-day accelerator with expert sessions, one-to-one mentor reviews, masterclasses and an investor demo day, for founders from idea to early revenue.
- Startup Validation SprintA paid, 3-day in-person programme that combines mentoring and tasks and ends in a validated roadmap for idea-stage and early-stage founders.
- DroneThon 2026A drone-solutions competition run by Drone Tech Multi-State Cooperative Society, with support from Startup Stairs for selected startups; applications run from 2 October to 15 November 2026.