Since its 2025 inception, the program has eschewed standard academic approaches in favor of direct collaboration with Whipsaw’s internal team. Participants work alongside the same designers and strategists responsible for consumer products like Tonal and Owala, focusing on industrial design, branding, and engineering viability. The curriculum includes weekly seminars, one-on-one design sessions, and leadership coaching led by Principal Advisor Cristina Georgoulakis.

This hands-on support is designed to produce a fully realized product concept and an investor-ready pitch deck. The current cohort is slated to conclude with an invite-only showcase at Whipsaw’s San Francisco studio this December, where founders will present to a curated group of investors and industry operators. Leadership for the initiative includes CEO Dan Harden, VP of Industrial Design Cole Derby, and Director of Experience Design Walker Harden, among others focused on go-to-market strategy.