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MFG Fast Track
The next Sprint starts on November 17

Fast‑Track to $5M in Media Capital

MFG invests $1–5M in media credits with a few brands each year. In a 4‑day sprint, we pair that capital with strategy, media planning, creative support, and investor access to accelerate growth.

New York City, MetLife Building

July 2025

Aplication Open

September 2025

Pre-IC Meetings

October 2025

Brands Selected

November 17-20, 2025

MFG Fast-Track

Submit Your Application

MFG’s investment team conducts early due diligence and an introductory call with the founder.

Two men in business attire seated in front of a laptop, discussing something with graphs displayed on large screens in the background.

Get Shortlisted

Brands complete media and creative briefs. MFG and media partners review applications and shortlist candidates.

Join Pre-IC Call

Shortlisted brands join a pre‑IC call. Selected brands are announced mid‑October,  and receive the Fast-Track Term Sheet.

Join Fast-Track

The 4‑day Fast‑Track sprint begins on November 17. Following the sprint, MFG and the brands finalize the media plans and sign the investment agreement.

3d Blue tinted Empire State Building

A Capital-Efficient Path to Funding Advertising Costs

Through our media‑for‑equity model, we invest $1–5M in media credits with selected growth-stage brands. You preserve capital for product, supply chain, or other strategic priorities, while we move marketing costs from your P&L to the balance sheet to scale your brand faster. Every deal includes hands‑on support: media planning, creative development, performance measurement, and investor introductions.

The Fast‑Track is the final step before closing: a 4‑day sprint in New York where we finalize strategy, refine creative, align on metrics, and connect you with our investor network. After the sprint, we complete diligence and sign the investment agreement, so you leave with both a plan and committed capital to execute it.

$1-5M

MFG media capital ticket size

80%

U.S. households reached daily through through TV, Streaming, Digital, Print and DOOH

$100,000+

worth of media planning support, market analyses, and discounted creative and measurement services

Unlimited Access

to MFG's worldwide network of media partners, consumer investors, and brand resources

26+

alumni and investments

What We Look for in Founders

We back founders with deep market insight who disrupt stagnant industries and build iconic consumer brands that will improve millions of lives for decades to come.

Growing US Presence

Growth‑stage US brands or international founders entering and scaling in the US market.

Proven Traction

Companies with $5M+ ARR, clear growth metrics, and readiness to scale through mass‑market media.

Category‑Redefining Potential

Bold concepts that stand out in crowded markets or create new categories, across healthier food, smarter wellness, sustainable fashion and beauty, inclusive finance, and better daily services.

Cultural & Lifestyle Relevance

Brands that connect with consumers through identity, aspiration or ritual, where omni-channel media is essential to build trust, visibility, and velocity at scale.

Testimonials

Testimonials
Pedro Schmidt

Pedro Schmidt

CEO & Co-Founder @ KA-EX

Open Testimonial
Reed Dickens

Reed Dickens

CEO & Founder @ LA Golf Partners

Open Testimonial
Erez Bousso

Erez Bousso

Founder & CEO @ holidayheroes

Open Testimonial
Jenny Wordsworth

Jenny Wordsworth

CEO & Founder @ Ovum

Open Testimonial
André Sousa

André Sousa

Co-Founder & CEO @ Tryp.com

Open Testimonial
Tim Fung

Tim Fung

Co-Founder & CEO @ Airtasker

Open Testimonial
Alastair McCausland

Alastair McCausland

Chief Marketing Officer @ Camplify

Open Testimonial
Tom Mayes

Tom Mayes

CEO & Co-Founder @ Edmunds Cocktails

Open Testimonial

Day 1: Optimize Your Media Strategy

Review and refine a tailored media plan with MFG’s planners—covering TV, streaming, digital, print, and DOOH—built from your brief and earlier discussions.

Day 2: Create & Measure Impactful Ads

Our creative studio presents 2–3 custom directions for your brand. Together, we choose a path forward and define success metrics with measurement partners.

Day 3: Maximize Your Media Capital Investment

Discuss fundraising needs and finalize your $1–5M media investment, deal amount, and campaign launch plan. You’ll also meet our media partners and preview upcoming 2026 programming opportunities.

Day 4: Supercharge Your Fundraise

Build investor and executive relationships throughout the Fast-Track, and at the Founders & Investors Networking Event on November 20 in New York City.

Meet Our Industry Experts

Jeffrey Hartlin

Jeffrey Hartlin

Strategic Advisor & Legal Partner
Andrew Schnell

Andrew Schnell

VP Corporate Strategy and Development @ Sinclair Broadcast Group
Mary Ann Halford

Mary Ann Halford

Strategic Advisor
Rodrigo Lascurain

Rodrigo Lascurain

Principal, US Growth & Venture Capital @ TelevisaUnivision
Andrea Kramer

Andrea Kramer

Senior Media Planner
Michael Monheim

Michael Monheim

Strategic Advisor, US
Eline Van Der Velden

Eline Van Der Velden

Founder & CEO @ Particle6
Christophe Loisel

Christophe Loisel

Strategic Advisor
Federico Raoul Cucchi

Federico Raoul Cucchi

Vice President Commercial Strategy and Analytics for EMEA, Oceania, South Pacific @ Monster Energy
Niko Marcel Waesche

Niko Marcel Waesche

Strategic Advisor
Brittany Pietrosh

Brittany Pietrosh

Group Sales Director, New Busines @ JCDecaux North America
Neville Taraporewalla

Neville Taraporewalla

Managing Partner, Americas & Board Member
Luca Zaccagnino CFA

Luca Zaccagnino CFA

Managing Partner, UK & Board Member
Douglas Cajas

Douglas Cajas

Advisor

MFG Fast-Track Term Sheet

If you’re accepted into Fast‑Track, you’ll receive an MFG Term Sheet outlining the proposed media investment - typically between $1–5M.

During the 4‑day sprint, we finalize the media plan and investment amount. The final deal is then completed through either a standard post-money valuation cap SAFE or as a direct equity investment. Media credits can be applied with a single media partner or across multiple partners.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is media capital?

Media capital, also known as media for equity, is a financing option where a media investor provides advertising space, such as TV, radio, or digital, in exchange for equity in a company. It allows consumer brands to accelerate growth through large-scale brand advertising while preserving cash and extending their capital runway.

What is the MFG Fast-Track?

The MFG Fast-Track is a 4-day growth sprint designed for consumer brands selected to receive $1-5M in media capital investment from MFG. It helps founders fast-track their media strategy, creative development, and investor outreach - compressing months of planning and fundraising into a focused, high-impact experience. The Fast-Track is exclusively for MFG portfolio companies and is the first step toward launching a successful media campaign.

Why should I consider raising media capital?

Raising media capital means securing significant advertising to grow your brand without upfront cash.By combining mass-media channels like TV with digital, you can:

  • amplify brand awareness
  • boost credibility
  • lower customer acquisition costs
  • improve ROI

It’s a smart way to turn equity into growth while extending your capital runway.

How is it different from a traditional acceleration programme?

The MFG Fast-Track is not an accelerator. It’s a focused 4-day sprint exclusively for brands receiving media capital from MFG. Instead of general startup support over several weeks, we help you fast-track your media strategy, creative execution, and fundraising in one intensive week - so you’re ready to launch and scale fast.

Why partner with mediaforgrowth as opposed to seeking individual media partnerships?

Partnering with mediaforgrowth means simplifying your media journey. Instead of managing multiple media relationships, you access a network of top regional and international media groups through one point of contact. We also streamline your cap table with a single media investor and provide expert support in media planning, brand strategy, and campaign execution - all under one roof.

How Does the Application Process Work?

The application process has four key steps:

  • Interview with our team if shortlisted to explore fit and fundraising goals.
  • Final selection is announced four weeks before the sprint.

If your company is ready to activate a media capital investment immediately, we move forward with an investment agreement. If you're not yet ready to use the media investment within the next 3–6 months, but both sides see strong potential, you can still join the sprint by signing a SAFE Note for the media capital. These must be signed before the sprint begins.

What startups are you looking for?

We’re looking for growth-stage consumer brands that are ready to scale in the U.S.:

  • whether you're a U.S.
  • based company an international brand expanding into the market

Ideal candidates are revenue-generating, typically with over 50% year-over-year growth, and actively planning to raise investment within the next 6–9 months.

We’re sector-agnostic, but we look for brands with strong relevance to mass-market consumers or well-defined niche audiences that can be reached through traditional and digital media. Some of the most common sectors we support include travel, AI, sports, femtech, financial services, edtech, e-commerce, and consumer goods.

How long does the Fast-Track last and what happens during the Fast-Track?

The MFG Fast-Track is a 4-day growth sprint designed to compress months of media planning, creative development, and fundraising into one focused experience. It’s tailored for exceptional consumer brands selected for MFG investment.

  • Day 1 (Remote): Media planning and strategy
  • Day 2 (Remote): Structuring the media capital investment offer
  • Day 3 (In-person): Creative production and campaign measurement
  • Day 4 (In-person): Meetings with MFG’s media partners and a VC networking event

After the sprint, we continue working with you to finalize your investment agreement, media plan, and creative assets in preparation for your campaign. You also become part of the MFG founder community, with access to ongoing events, expert sessions, and tailored support—including legal or operational guidance when needed.

Where does the Fast-Track take place?

Days 1 and 2 are held remotely, while Days 3 and 4 take place in person in New York City. Founders do not need to relocate but are expected to attend the final two days on-site.

What is the overall time commitment for the Fast-Track?

The overall time commitment is four days.Founders participate remotely on Days 1 and 2, then attend in person in New York City for Days 3 and 4. The sprint is designed to compress months of work into a focused, high-impact experience.

After the sprint, we continue working with you to finalize your investment agreement, media plan, and creative assets in preparation for your campaign. You also become part of the MFG founder community, with access to ongoing events, expert sessions, and tailored support—including legal or operational guidance when needed.

What can I expect from the workshops?

The workshops are hands-on and designed to help you launch a high-impact media campaign. You’ll work directly with MFG’s media planners, creative experts, and investor network to build your strategy and prepare for execution.Here’s what you can expect:

  • Media strategy sessions to design a U.S.-ready media plan
  • Creative and measurement workshops to shape your campaign assets and track performance
  • Investment offer planning to define your media capital terms- VC and media partner meetings to build relationships and prepare for fundraising

Each session is practical, fast-paced, and tailored to your brand’s goals.

What are the main benefits of joining the MFG Fast-Track?

By joining the MFG Fast-Track, you’ll gain:

  • Media capital investment - a minimum of $500,000 in media credits, with the potential to scale up to $5 million
  • Expert campaign strategy - hands-on support from top media planners to develop a U.S.-ready media plan that integrates both traditional and digital channels
  • Creative & measurement guidance — access to branding studios and measurement partners to help shape your campaign and track ROI
  • Market intelligence — complimentary media and audience insights tailored to your category and competitors
  • Fundraising support — direct access to MFG’s network of media partners and top VCs through curated events and investor sessions

The Fast-Track is designed to accelerate your brand’s visibility, optimize your marketing spend, and set you up for long-term growth.

What is MFG’s Media Capital SAFE Note?

The MFG Media Capital SAFE Note is how we invest $500,000 to $5 million in advertising space into your company in exchange for equity.

It’s structured as a Post-Money Valuation Cap SAFE, meaning equity is only issued at your next priced round, offering flexibility and no dilution until you're ready.

The exact value of the media capital is determined during the 4-day sprint, once we’ve built a tailored media plan together. Media credits can be deployed with one or more of MFG’s media partners.

This note is open and founder-friendly, giving you time to finalize strategy and creative before committing to a larger campaign. If you're ready to scale quickly, MFG may issue a full investment agreement, replacing the SAFE structure entirely.

Is there a cost to participate?

There is no upfront cash cost to participate in the MFG Fast-Track.

Every founder selected to receive media capital goes through this sprint to ensure your campaign is set up for success.

What types of resources and support will be provided?

The MFG Fast-Track offers hands-on support to help you launch a high-impact media campaign and prepare for fundraising. Resources include:

  • Media planning support from expert planners who will co-build your U.S. campaign strategy
  • Creative and branding guidance through access to trusted studios and production partners
  • Measurement and analytics tools to track performance and optimize ROI
  • Tailored market insights including competitor media activity and audience behavior reports
  • Investor and media partner access through curated networking events and 1:1 meetings

Ongoing founder support post-sprint, including workshops, legal resources, and founder community access

How many startups will be accepted into the MFG Fast-Track?

The number of startups accepted into the program may vary based on capacity and our program requirements. However, we strive to maintain a manageable cohort size of up 7 companies to move forward with investment.

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