Tim DraperFounder and Managing Partne, Draper Associate · I back the ideas that look crazy first

🚨 FOUNDER BOOTCAMP: Can these tech founders survive the most bizarre tasks in Silicon Valley?

10 Mar 2026 · 1 min

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0:53

In this segment of Tim Draper's "Founder Bootcamp" series, participants are given a set of artworks and 10 minutes to create and pitch a company idea inspired by the visuals. The facilitator (Speaker A) explains the rules, emphasizing that the concept can be anything as long as it is presented as a viable startup. Speaker B remarks that such unconventional exercises, like the AI floor challenge, are among the best ways to evaluate a founder’s ability to think creatively, assess market potential, and execute under pressure. The clip sets the stage for a fast‑paced, high‑energy session that tests founders' improvisational skills, storytelling, and confidence, providing insight into how Tim Draper and his team assess founder potential through bizarre, real‑time tasks.

We're going to have a couple of artworks. You're going to get inspired by those. You're going to come up with a pitch in 10 minutes. It can be anything you want it to be, but you have to present a company idea. Ready? Let's do it.
Woo! Woo! AI floor was kind of the best one, or one of the best ones, that's really evaluating the skills of the founder. Will they succeed or not in building what they build?
Ready? Go.
Inspired by lichen, today we're bringing LichoShield. I love lichens. My favorite piece of art is a lichen This is an armor with a lichen that is genetically modified in order to adhere to the skin and to protect soldiers from wounding at wars. The shield actually will reform when torn or ripped. It will actually heal the skin while reforming the suit.