On Deck
Series BRaised Since FeaturedWhere founders launch
Founder fellowship and community platform that has helped launch 1,000+ startups raising over $2B.
About
On Deck (ODF) is an intensive founder fellowship program that brings together ambitious builders at the earliest stages of company creation. Founded in 2015 by Erik Torenberg โ who was on the founding team at Product Hunt and co-founded Village Global โ and David Booth, On Deck grew from an under-the-radar dinner series for repeat founders into the premier community for aspiring entrepreneurs. The program's one-week in-person fellowship in San Francisco helps founders meet co-founders, validate ideas, and build conviction before launching. Over 1,000 companies have emerged from On Deck's community, including Traba, Levels, Partiful, Cal.com, Finch, and Lassie, collectively raising over $2 billion from top-tier investors including Khosla Ventures, Sequoia, a16z, and Founders Fund. After a period of rapid expansion and subsequent restructuring in 2022 โ including layoffs and spinning off non-core programs โ On Deck refocused exclusively on its flagship founder fellowship under new CEO Julian Weisser. The company raised $96M total, including a $40M Series B led by Tiger Global at a $650M valuation.
DailyDropout Take
On Deck stood out as the anti-accelerator โ a community-first platform that didn't take equity but instead bet on building the densest network of ambitious founders outside of YC. Erik Torenberg's vision of a 'university for ambitious people' was audacious, and the early results (1,000+ companies, $2B+ raised by alumni) validated the model even as the company went through its own growing pains.
Discovery signal: Explosive community growth, high-profile alumni companies (Levels, Partiful, Cal.com), and a $650M valuation from Tiger Global signaled that founder communities were becoming a category unto themselves.
What Makes Them Unique
On Deck is non-dilutive โ unlike accelerators that take equity, ODF charges no equity and provides $800K+ in partner perks, a 3,000+ member alumni network, and an intensive in-person experience focused on co-founder matching and idea validation rather than Demo Day pitches.
1,000+
Startups Launched
$2B+
Capital Raised by Alumni
$650M
Peak Valuation
$96M
Total Raised
Target Markets
Founders
Erik Torenberg
Co-Founder & Chairman
On the founding team at Product Hunt, co-founded Village Global, and hosts the Venture Stories Podcast. Stepped back from co-CEO to Chairman role in 2022.
David Booth
Co-Founder & Former CEO
Led On Deck as CEO for 5 years through rapid growth and $96M in fundraising. Stepped down as CEO in January 2024, handing the reins to Julian Weisser.
Key People
Previously: Co-Founder of On Deck
Funding History
Lead: Founders Fund
Lead: Founders Fund
Valuation: $650M
Lead: Tiger Global
Investors
Firms
Gallery
Press & News
On Deck raises $20 million for its tech community bootcamps
On Deck cuts 25% of staff, scales back accelerator
On Deck tried to do it all. Now, it's trying to do less, better
On Deck doubles down on founder-focused future