FROM DRAPER UNIVERSITY TO 500 STARTUPS

My adventure in the United States began in February 2018 when KiKi was selected for Startup Grind 2018 Global Summit in Silicon Valley (we were the only Spanish StartUp selected and the only other one from Europe was from Portugal. Making us the two only European startups selected).

That is when I met the Director of Draper University: Juan Acosta, who greeted us with his gusto & enthusiasm and it was like love at first sight! And that was only the beginning of KiKi’s journey…

In June 2018, we got selected for Cardinal Ventures (a 6 month accelerator program at Stanford University).
In September 2018, we started the Y Combinator Startup School program.
In March 2019, I joined the Hero Training Program Spring Batch at Draper University, “the place to be” for all entrepreneurs that was founded by Tim Draper, who comes from one of the oldest venture capital families in Silicon Valley. It was one of the best personal and professional experiences in my life. I learned a lot from all the speakers. Especially, from the staff and the other heroes who helped me grow as an entrepreneur and challenged me to always have a stronger mindset. The best part of Draper University is the family that we have made. Now, I can say that I have brothers and sisters from all over the world.
By the way: when I have kids and they’re old enough, I will definitely send them to survival week (Draper University Alumni will understand me).
Unfortunately, good things have to end (except the amazing memories that I will never forget.) The 4th of May we had to leave of Draper University but very good news on the horizon: KiKi was selected to join Batch25 of 500 Startups Seed Accelerator program in San Francisco. That means we had reached the top, at the best accelerator program in the world: YES, 500 Startups!!!

Since the start of KiKi we, the founders, have been building and funding everything ourselves. Thanks to hard work for more than one year, we saw great results and in June 2019; DU Ventures invested in our startup. I want to take the opportunity of writing this letter to thank: Andy Tang, Juan Acosta, Asra Nadeem and Katie Russell for their continuous support and trust in KiKi and in myself. Officially, DU Ventures is our first investor and thanks to them many more are coming.

Maybe, while reading this article you might think that everything has been flawless. However, my mom –thanks to her- has been following my journey from the beginning and knows very well that it was and still is a very tough journey. We are living at Serendipia Life, a co-living and co-working house for entrepreneurs and change makers from around the world. It was also started by a fellow Draper University alumni. Serendipia Life is where entrepreneurs can share the struggles of building a company and help each other like a family does.

And with KiKi, we sleep at the garage of Serendipia Life, because all the best companies in the world started in a garage in Silicon Valley.

Would you be the next? #LetsKiKi

Manel Hernández Tomás
Founder & CEO at KiKi
Draper University Alumni