SP

SPC Founder Fellowship

Open

by South Park Commons

A two-phase program ($400K for 7%) designed for the -1 to 0 stage: an in-person bootcamp followed by an open-ended residency until you reach conviction.

Visit Program
Funding

$400K

Equity Terms

7% equity via SAFE

Duration

Bootcamp + open-ended residency

Cohort Size

~20 founders

Cohort Cadence

2–3 cohorts/year

Application Cycle

Seasonal (Fall, Spring, Summer)

Location

San Francisco & New York City

Live-In

No

Geographic Scope

United States

Last Verified

2/14/2026

Summary

South Park Commons' Founder Fellowship helps entrepreneurs start a venture-scale company by targeting support at the "-1 to 0" idea stage. The program offers $400K in exchange for 7% equity via a SAFE, plus a guaranteed $600K in your next outside-led venture round.

The Fellowship has two distinct phases: a structured in-person bootcamp (in SF or NYC) followed by an open-ended residency with flexible access to offices and partners. There's no fixed end date — the residency lasts as long as needed to reach conviction and prepare for fundraising.

Program Edge

The open-ended residency format is unique — no arbitrary 12-week deadline. Plus, the guaranteed $600K follow-on removes fundraising anxiety.

  • $400K upfront + guaranteed $600K in next round
  • Structured bootcamp + open-ended residency
  • Office space in SF and NYC
  • Deep community of technical founders

Best Fit

Technical founders who need time and community to explore ideas without the pressure of a fixed program timeline. Strong fit for people leaving Big Tech or academia.

What Makes It Different

SPC blurs the line between a fellowship and a residency. The open-ended format and guaranteed follow-on funding create a safety net that encourages ambitious exploration.

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