Crew & Captains
Building is hard. Building alone is harder. That's why OneMillion organizes builders into Crews led by experienced Captains.
What is a Crew?
A Crew is a group of 8-12 builders going through the 2.5-week Ship Cycle together. Your Crew is your support system:
- Accountability — People counting on you to ship
- Support — Others facing the same challenges
- Community — Connections that last beyond the cohort
- Motivation — Celebrating wins together
Your Crewmates
Your Crew will include people with:
- Different backgrounds
- Different project ideas
- Different experience levels
- The same goal: ship something real
You'll communicate through:
- Discord channels (primary)
- Weekly check-ins
- Pair building sessions (optional)
- Demo days
What is a Captain?
Captains are OneMillion alumni who have shipped products themselves. They volunteer to guide new builders through the journey.
What Captains Do
| Role | How They Help |
|---|---|
| Guide | Navigate the 8-step journey |
| Unblock | Help when you're stuck |
| Motivate | Keep energy high |
| Verify | Confirm your product ships |
| Connect | Introduce you to resources |
What Captains Don't Do
- ❌ Write code for you
- ❌ Make decisions for you
- ❌ Guarantee success
- ❌ Provide 24/7 support
Captains coach and guide. You do the work.
Working With Your Crew
Daily Check-ins
Many Crews do async daily check-ins:
- What did you work on yesterday?
- What are you working on today?
- What's blocking you?
Weekly Syncs
Your Captain will schedule weekly calls to:
- Review progress
- Troubleshoot blockers
- Plan the next phase
- Keep morale high
Demo Days
At the end of the journey, you'll demo your product to:
- Your Crewmates
- Your Captain
- (Optional) The broader OneMillion community
Crew Communication
Discord
Your Crew has a private Discord channel. Use it for:
- Asking questions
- Sharing progress
- Celebrating wins
- Requesting help
Best Practices
- Be active — Check in daily, even briefly
- Be helpful — If you can answer someone's question, do it
- Be honest — Share struggles, not just wins
- Be supportive — Celebrate others' progress
- Be present — Show up for scheduled calls
When to Ask Your Crew
- "Has anyone solved [X problem] before?"
- "I'm stuck on [Y]. Any ideas?"
- "Can someone test my app and give feedback?"
When to Ask Your Captain
- "I've been blocked for 2+ days on [X]"
- "I'm considering changing my project idea"
- "I'm falling behind the timeline"
- "I have a personal situation affecting my progress"
Cohort Timeline
Most cohorts follow this structure:
| Week | Focus | Key Events |
|---|---|---|
| Week 0 | Onboarding | Intro call, setup |
| Week 1 | Think + Start | Idea → Plan → Build begins |
| Week 2 | Build + Refine | Build → Test → Guard |
| Week 3 | Ship + Grow | Ship → Sell → Demo Day |
Getting the Most from Your Crew
Do
- ✅ Show up consistently
- ✅ Share your work-in-progress
- ✅ Ask for feedback early
- ✅ Celebrate others' wins
- ✅ Be honest about struggles
Don't
- ❌ Go silent for days
- ❌ Wait until you're "ready" to share
- ❌ Compare yourself negatively
- ❌ Skip scheduled calls
- ❌ Work in isolation
After the Cohort
Your Crew bonds often last beyond the 2.5 weeks:
- Alumni Network — Stay connected in The Dock
- Future Collaboration — Build together
- Mutual Support — Continue helping each other
- Lifelong Connections — Some Crews become friends
Becoming a Captain
After you ship, you can give back by becoming a Captain:
- Ship your product — Complete the journey first
- Express interest — Let your Captain know
- Train — Learn the Captain framework
- Lead — Guide your first Crew
Captains typically guide 2-3 Crews (25-35 builders) per cohort.