ODF27 Founder Fellowship

History and Founding Story

ODF (On Deck Founders) was established with the mission to empower more individuals to launch exceptional companies. While the exact founding date isn't specified, its evolution into a highly regarded program suggests a history rooted in fostering entrepreneurial talent and connecting aspiring founders. The program's consistent focus on an intense, in-person experience highlights a belief in the power of direct collaboration and community building.

Mission and Values

ODF's core mission is to "help more people start the best companies." This is achieved by providing a structured yet non-dilutive environment where founders can explore ideas, find collaborators, and gain conviction in their ventures. Key values include fostering a tight-knit community, supporting founders in doing their best work, and providing access to valuable resources without taking equity.

Program Structure and Timeline

The ODF program is centered around an intense one-week in-person experience held in San Francisco. This week is dedicated to meeting potential collaborators, deeply exploring business ideas, and solidifying conviction in their entrepreneurial path. While the in-person week is a critical component, the program extends beyond this, offering participants lifelong access to a robust alumni network and community platform. For example, ODF28 is scheduled to kick off in Q3 2026, indicating a recurring, structured schedule for cohorts.

Mentorship and Network

Participants gain immediate access to a thriving community of over 3,000 members, including fellow founders and builders. This platform serves as a continuous resource for support, collaboration, and networking. The program also boasts an impressive network of investors, with ODF companies collectively raising over $2 billion from top-tier firms such as Khosla, Sequoia, a16z, Founder's Fund, General Catalyst, Benchmark, Index, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Bloomberg Beta, and notable individuals like Sam Altman and Elad Gil. This extensive network provides invaluable opportunities for mentorship, funding, and strategic partnerships.

Investment Terms

One of ODF's distinctive features is its non-dilutive nature. The program explicitly states, "We don't take any equity." This allows founders to retain full ownership of their companies while still benefiting from the program's resources, community, and perks. There is no direct investment provided by ODF itself, but rather it facilitates access to external funding opportunities through its network.

What Makes It Unique

ODF stands out due to its intense, focused one-week in-person experience designed specifically for idea exploration and co-founder matching, rather than traditional accelerator curriculum. Its non-dilutive model is a significant draw, offering substantial value without requiring equity. The program's emphasis on building a "tight-knit community of founders and builders" that extends "alumni for life" creates a lasting support system. Furthermore, the high percentage of technical founders (over 50%) within cohorts fosters a strong environment for product development and innovation.

Notable Outcomes

ODF has a remarkable track record, with more than 1,000 startups launched to date. Many of these companies have gone on to achieve significant success, raising over $2 billion from leading investors. Notable alumni include Loyal, Luma, Cal.com, atob, Partiful, Finch, Roots, Rollfi, Overflow, Roo, Tofu, Settle, Pave, and Cal.ai. Several co-founders, such as Mike Shebat of Traba and Mohamed El Mahallawy of Shepherd, specifically met through ODF, highlighting the program's effectiveness in facilitating crucial early-stage partnerships.

What Participants Can Expect Day-to-Day

During the one-week in-person onboarding in San Francisco, participants can expect a highly immersive and collaborative environment. The focus will be on intensive idea exploration, structured networking events to meet potential co-founders and collaborators, and gaining conviction through discussions and feedback sessions. With 80-100 participants per cohort, founders will be surrounded by a diverse group of talented individuals, over 50% of whom are technical. Beyond the in-person week, participants can anticipate continuous engagement through the 3,000+ member community platform and access to over $800,000 in perks from partners like Mercury, AWS, and Stripe Atlas, supporting their journey long after the initial program.