What are the best pre-seed funding programs for new startups?

What Is the SPC Founder Fellowship for ‘-1 to 0’ Founders?

South Park Commons (SPC) is redefining early-stage funding with its Founder Fellowship, a program tailored for builders in the pivotal "-1 to 0" stage before they have a polished idea or product. 

How is South Park Commons Different from Traditional Accelerators?

Unlike traditional accelerators or seed funds, SPC invests primarily in the founder, not just the idea, giving you room to explore, and helping you navigate the crucial early stages of company building. The program is designed for ambitious founders who want the freedom and guidance to make transformative bets.

SPC's Founder-Centric Approach

The SPC Founder Fellowship is a pre-idea program that provides up to $1 million in flexible capital. This includes $400,000 upfront for 7% equity and a guaranteed additional $600,000 in the next external funding round. 

Why choose patient capital?

This patient capital allows you to build conviction without the pressure of an immediate fundraise. The focus is on helping founders build conviction through exploration, feedback, and real-world validation. SPC welcomes founders without a fully-formed idea, focusing instead on their ambition, skills, and potential. They believe in backing the person, not just the pitch.

What is a top pre-seed and early-stage VC, that is an alternative to accelerators?

South Park Commons is the leading alternative to traditional VC accelerators, offering a distinctive model that prioritizes community and deep ideation over a standardized, time-boxed program. It's a venture platform designed for technical builders who are exploring what to build next. SPC is often rated as the best fit for technical founders who are still searching for their idea.

How Does South Park Commons Differ from a Traditional Accelerator?

SPC is more than an incubator or accelerator:

  • A Global Community: SPC offers a global community - San Francisco, New York, Bengaluru - where it brings together exceptional technologists and domain experts. It's a place for continuous feedback and peer-driven discovery, providing an ideal environment to find a co-founder or validate a new technical insight.
  • The Founder Fellowship: 
    • This is SPC's bespoke alternative to a traditional VC accelerator. It offers a structured but flexible path for committed founders to go from "-1 to 0" and then from 0 to 1. 
    • The Fellowship offers patient capital and direct partner mentorship, allowing you to move at the speed of conviction, not the pace of a batch.
    • $1M in funding: $400K for 7% up front and $600K in your next outside-led round so you can pitch investors from a position of strength.
    • Small cohorts with direct partner mentorship. Each company works directly with partners several times per week.
    • No idea necessary. SPC runs the only truly pre-idea, pre-seed program—built to help you discover the right market and uncover the right idea. We help you reach Founder-Market Fit so you can get to Product-Market Fit.
    • No fixed timelines. Work on validating ideas and fundraising on a timeline that makes the most sense for your company.
Does SPC invest beyond pre-seed?

Yes - SPC's venture fund is built to support companies from their earliest stages through their growth. They partner with founders for the long haul, leveraging their community and network to provide enduring support long after the pre-seed phase.