Promising new ventures have an enormous need for mentoring at the earliest stages of their development. But there are few places for professionals to turn: MBA programs on the one extreme; books, seminars and consultants at the other. The Ānanda Program provides the rigor of an MBA program, but focuses on two specific deliverables: a rigorously-researched business plan, and the successful launching of the new venture. The program is more than a tutorial on how to launch a new company. The program emphasizes strategy, product development, financing, marketing and a solid business plan, combined with topics related to personal productivity, stress reduction, and the creation of a self-authored life. In addition to the in-person meetings and readings, there is a more pragmatic side to the program: a focus on discipline, timelines, and outputs.