ODF20 is an intense one-week in-person experience in SF where talented founders explore starting companies, developing ideas and meeting potential collaborators.
Apply NowJoin our online Q&A on January 4th.
Draw up to $25,000 to cover living expenses
If you need to cover living expenses while you explore, you can draw up to $25,000 from our Access Initiative via ODF Advance. If you build conviction to start a company, the $25,000 converts to 1.4% equity, and we'll invest another $125,000 via ODX. If you don't, we only ask you to pay it forward to the next founder by contributing back to the Access Initiative.
First — meet your cohort in San Francisco
On Deck kicks off with a week-long program in the Bay Area.
Having an anchor in San Francisco, where relentless optimism and contagious ambition are ubiquitous, has never been more important.
Our program is designed to help you build foundational relationships with over a hundred founders while helping you figure out what company to build.
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Then — build your company with the On Deck network at your back
After the week-long program you can leverage the network, platform and programming.
For the lifecycle of your company, you can use On Deck as much or as little as you need. You’ll continue to have access to a vibrant online network, regular programing and frequent IRL happenings, all carefully-engineered programming will help you find the people and answers you need to accelerate your company.
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Online Community — 2,500+ talented founders to connect with
Whether you’re validating an idea, seeking a co-founder, raising money, or just looking for partners to build with — you’ll find people to help you along the way.
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Community Directory & Asks — find what you need
Easily find the most relevant people and answers you need, when you need them. Get notified when there are new members who meet the criteria you’re looking for.

IRL events — more collisions, more momentum
We'll host events, fireside chats, co-working days and much more across major cities in the US.
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Credits and Perks — everything you need to get started
Over $800k in credits and discounts from AWS, Google Cloud, Ramp, Brex, Carta, Eight Sleep, incorporation law firms and much more.
FAQ
On Deck is a one-week, in-person sprint designed to help you figure out what company to build, and with whom.
After the week we’ll onboard you to our online network of 2,000+ founders that combines community, software and IRL events to help you build early product momentum, get distribution, and raise capital.
No, we’re a non-dilutive program.
If accepted, the program fee is $1k which includes the weeklong intensive in San Francisco and ongoing access to the broader digital network.
We strongly encourage everyone to attend the week-long event in San Francisco.
For the rest of the year, how much time you invest in ODF is largely up to you. You’ll continue to have access to a vibrant online community, regular programming and frequent IRL happenings.
The first week is an intensive, in-person experience. You must commit to being in SF for the majority of the one week intensive.
For the rest of the year, how much time you invest in ODF is largely up to you. You’ll continue to have access to a vibrant online community.
We welcome global founders from all over the world to apply and join our community. We want founders to meet in person, then carry their relationships with them wherever they go. We encourage founders to try to spend as much time in SF as they can during the program. You will get the most value from participation if you take this as an opportunity to invest in building your Bay Area network.
Additionally, the community mainly consists of founders whose companies are selling to US/EU/LATAM-based customers. Our programming is also mostly geared towards US-based startups, and happens mostly on US-friendly hours. If you are not planning to sell to US/EU/LATAM customers, you may find less utility from ODF.
No, but you must commit to being in SF for the majority of the one week intensive. It’s important to have everyone present physically to make the most of the week. If you cannot make the dates work for IRL you can ask to defer your admission to a future cohort.
When you join ODF, you get:
✅ One week of onboarding alongside 100+ high-momentum founders
✅ A year of access to the ODF community, including 2,500+ talented alumni and regular events
✅ Access to our Community Platform
✅ Thousands of hours of recorded workshops and how-tos
✅ >$800k in perks from companies like AWS, Brex, and Carta
If you are anywhere from 50-100% sure you would like to start a company in the next 6 months ODF could be an excellent fit for you. We’ve been doing this for over 4 years and during that time we’ve seen how being part of a cohort can help someone build the conviction they need to go all-in. Applying is free and takes a few minutes so if you’d like to learn more feel free to submit something.
Participation is held in strict confidence. Even if you’re happy to share, you are requested to respect the privacy of other members who aren’t ready to make their plans public.
On Deck’s Admissions team accepts applications on a rolling basis. Check out ODF Admissions Process to learn more.
Here’s what we look for in candidates:
- Raw entrepreneurial potential and network: Previously founded or was early generalist employee of a notably successful company, and is now moving on to a 2nd/3rd/etc venture.
- Technical excellence: Has advanced degree and/or recognized as a research leader within applicable technology fields (e.g. machine learning, STEM).
- Product leadership: Held senior roles at notable companies, and can point to examples of products they’ve built/scaled to hundreds of thousands of people.
- Industry experience: Worked in X industry for Y years, and has developed and can speak to unique insights or unfair advantage they possess vs. all others.
You must commit to being in SF for the majority of the one week intensive. It’s important to have everyone present physically to make the most of the week. If you cannot make the dates work for IRL you can ask to defer your admission to a future cohort.
The next cohort of ODF (ODF20) kicks off on Friday 26th of January and will wrap up Friday 2nd of February.
On Deck lives by four core guiding values, crucial to the culture we strive to foster in the community: Service, Confidentiality, Gratitude, Family.