100 spots. One chance to be a founder.

The Founding 100 is a one-time, $100 minimum contribution that gets you permanently recognized as one of the first 100 people who backed WCEA before it had any track record at all. Once all 100 spots are filled, this closes. Forever.

✓ $100 minimum, one-time
✓ 100 spots total
✓ Closes permanently once filled
✓ Early access to the Soft Launch Event and front-row seats at Pitch Night

Not a donation tier. A place in the record.

WCEA runs an open sponsorship program for businesses, and it accepts general support from anyone, anytime. The Founding 100 is different — it's specifically for the people who said yes before there was anything to point to. No completed cohort. No track record. No press coverage. Just belief that this was worth building.

That's worth something on its own, and it's worth recording permanently.

What Founding Membership includes

✓ Early entry to the Soft Launch Event, before the general public's doors open
✓ Front-row seats at Pitch Night
✓ Recognition as a Founding Member — listed as part of WCEA's founding history, not just a one-time donor record
✓ Permanent standing — this isn't a Year 1 perk. Once you're a Founding Member, you stay one.

Why $100, why 100, why it closes

100 spots at $100 minimum puts the campaign in the same range as what it actually costs to get Launch Lab's first full year off the ground. That's intentional — the Founding 100 isn't meant to fund WCEA indefinitely. It's meant to get this off the ground, with exactly 100 people able to say they were there at the start.

Once the 100th spot is filled, that's it. No reopening it, no expanding it to 150. The scarcity is the point — it's what makes "Founding Member" actually mean something five and ten years from now.

Which one is right for you?

If you're an individual who wants to back this early and be part of the permanent record, the Founding 100 is built for you — $100, one time, done.

If you're a business looking for ongoing visibility, naming recognition, or a sponsorship that renews each year, our Sponsorship Opportunities are the better fit, with levels from $250 to $11,000.

There's nothing stopping a business from joining the Founding 100 too — plenty of our founding supporters will likely be local businesses acting individually. The two just serve different goals.

Questions you might have

Is my contribution tax-deductible?
WCEA's 501(c)(3) application is filed and pending with the IRS. Once approved, contributions may qualify retroactively. We'll confirm directly with you once that status is finalized.

What happens once all 100 spots are filled?
The campaign closes permanently. No additional spots, ever — that permanence is what makes it meaningful.

Can a business join as a Founding Member instead of sponsoring?
Yes. The Founding 100 is open to anyone — individuals, families, or businesses who want in on this specific recognition rather than the ongoing sponsorship tiers.

Is $100 the only amount I can give?
$100 is the minimum to claim a spot. If you'd like to give more, we welcome it — but every Founding Member, regardless of amount, gets the same recognition.

100 spots. No reopening this once they're gone.

→ Join the Founding 100 at gofund.me/f52521165
→ Questions? Email john.chaney1970@icloud.com