Exploring the On Deck Fellowship program for aspiring startup founders, including the structure and benefits of the program, the role of community and network in a startup ecosystem, and important upcoming dates and events.
The On Deck Founders program helps individuals explore starting a company by providing a space to find missing pieces and gain conviction in their ideas.
The community aspect of the program plays a crucial role in its success, facilitating connections, support, and ongoing opportunities for engagement and collaboration with other founders.
Deep dives
The Purpose of ODF and its Importance in Starting Companies
ODF is a program designed to help individuals explore the idea of starting a company. It provides a space for prospective founders to find the missing pieces and gain conviction in their idea. The program lasts for one week and aims to help participants make progress in various aspects of their startup journey, such as finding co-founders, validating ideas, and making connections with potential customers. The intensity of the program allows participants to focus and come out with at least one key aspect figured out.
Cohort Size and Composition
ODF has typically had cohorts of about 80 to 100 people, although there have been experiments with larger cohorts reaching up to 200 individuals. The optimal cohort size is seen as somewhere between 60 and 100 people, allowing for sufficient opportunities for serendipity and meaningful connections. The cohort comprises a mix of individuals, with half of them currently employed and the other half actively exploring startup ideas. The majority of participants have technical backgrounds, with engineers representing around 60% of the cohort. Participants come from various locations worldwide, with a significant number either living in San Francisco or having a strong inclination to move there.
The Community and Networking Aspects of ODF
The community aspect of ODF plays a crucial role in the program's success. The program strives to bring together the right people with complementary skills, journeys, and cultural values. The cohort members learn not only from external experts but also from each other, creating a rich learning environment. The connections formed during the program continue even after the week-long sprint, with ongoing opportunities for engagement and support. Networking events and programming further facilitate relationship-building within the broader on-deck community, providing a platform for founders to connect, share experiences, and find potential collaborators or employees for their ventures.
On this episode of The Deep End, Julian Weisser – co-founder of On Deck – sits down with Marshall to discuss the latest from a program that has helped launch over 1,000 startups.
Applications for the next cohort of On Deck Founders close on Tuesday, October 24th at 23:59 PST. If you’re exploring starting a company and want to figure out what to build and with whom, we’d love to chat.
Apply today → beondeck.com
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