# Your first months, in order

The five program steps from the founder's side: what you see, what you decide and what to ask, in order. No durations and no promised outcomes.

Canonical URL: https://worldenterprise.org/journey/first-months/
Last updated: 2026-10-10
Publisher: World Enterprise, run by World Enterprise Group Incorporated

> **About this page**
>
> This page describes a sequence. It does not state how long any step takes.

This page follows the five program steps from the founder's side. For each step it says what you see, what you decide and what you can ask WE. WE makes no promise of funding.

## Apply

You see a short application that asks only what WE needs to judge fit. You decide how to tell WE about the idea, the founder and the stage you are at.

- What does WE need to see in an application to judge fit for my idea?
- How will WE tell me if my idea is not a fit?

## Agree the scope

You see the scope written down in an agreement, so both companies work from the same page. You and WE choose which service lines the company needs and what each one will and will not cover.

You decide whether to commit, and you should read the written agreement with your own counsel first.

- Which service lines will the scope name, and what will each one not cover?
- How will the agreement describe how WE is paid?

## Assemble your team

You see a dedicated team with the roles the scope calls for. The team works only on your company, and WE steers it. You do not recruit, contract or manage the people on the team.

- Which roles does the scope call for, and what will each role work on?
- Which subcontractors will WE manage for my company, if any?

## Work in focused cycles

You see a stated goal and a visible set of artifacts for each cycle. You and WE agree the goal of each cycle in a short written plan. The work in progress is open to you at any time.

- What is the goal of the next cycle, and which artifacts will it produce?
- How does WE use its ANDROID Ops loop to decide what a cycle contains?

## Review and decide

At each review you see what exists now, what changed and what is next. You decide what the next cycle holds, and roles change by notice as the agreement sets out.

- What changed since the last review, and what is still open?
- Which roles should change, and how does the agreement set out the notice?

## Where to go next

Use the [onboarding checklist](https://worldenterprise.org/journey/onboarding-checklist/) to prepare for each step. When you are ready, [apply to the program](https://worldenterprise.org/apply/).

## The steps

1. **Apply.** Start a readiness review: tell WE where the company stands. The application is short and asks only what WE needs to judge fit. WE then sends a one-page read of where the company sits on the business clock.
2. **Agree the scope.** WE and the founder choose which service lines the company needs and what each one will and will not cover. An NDA comes first, then draft agreements and an order form with every term written down, which you review with your own counsel.
3. **Assemble your team.** WE recruits the team for the roles the plan calls for. The team works only on your company. WE steers it, manages any subcontractors and answers for how it is run.
4. **Work in focused cycles.** The team works in short, reviewed cycles. Each cycle has a stated goal and a visible set of artifacts. WE uses its A.N.D.R.O.I.D. Ops loop to decide what a cycle contains.
5. **Review and decide.** Every week a written status, every month a service report, every quarter a business review, and an Orbit Review at each phase checkpoint. You decide what the next cycle holds, and roles change by notice as the agreement sets out.

## Questions you can ask

- Which of these steps do I want to understand better before I apply?
- What would I want to see written down at each step?