The Bridge

The Bridge is an 8-week residency program in San Francisco designed for non-US founders at the very beginning of their company's journey, often pre-idea or pre-team. Participants live and work together in a founder house, focusing on co-founder matching, idea validation, user engagement, and rapid progress. At the end of the residency, promising teams pitch to an Investment Committee. The strongest teams receive $250,000 in pre-seed funding and continue building for an additional three months from the Entrepreneurs First San Francisco office, receiving hands-on support and preparing for their next funding round at Demo Day. The program aims to help founders establish strong foundations, gain clarity on their vision and team, and improve their fundraising prospects. It is open to ambitious individuals with builder or CEO profiles, including those interested in hardware. The residency covers housing, workspace, food, and visa assistance, with no cost to the founders.

Founders interested in the program are encouraged to apply directly through the platform. The program also suggests attending events or applying for feedback if not immediately ready.