Fireside

Fireside is a hands-on company-building program for
early-stage founders, with direct partner time and
the full backing of our team.

Apply now

Program overview

Springcamp works with three to five founders at a time, in person for
10 weeks in Palo Alto. That small group size is intentional. It's what lets us go deep with each founder rather than spreading thin. Founders join at any stage, from before they've settled on an idea through pre-seed.

1:1

Direct partner mentorship

Key features

Partner time

You'll get real 1:1 time, every week, with the same partner for all 10 weeks. They've built and run a company of their own, and work alongside you on whatever's actually pressing that week, whether that's fundraising, product, or hiring. There's no fixed agenda and no mandatory programming.

Team

Access to hundreds of companies across our portfolio, including those that have exited or gone public. Most importantly, a direct connection to whoever's already solved the problem you're stuck on.

Resources

We'll make introductions across our network, from VCs to future customers and beyond, plus credits from AWS, Google, Anthropic, and more.

Working space

A working space for the full 10 weeks. You're on-site with your partner and other founders at the same stage, rather than showing up only for meetings. You're also welcome to keep using the space after the program wraps.

Community

You'll leave with real relationships, not just familiar faces. And it's not limited to the program alone. It also includes the other founders and teams building out of the same working space.

Frequently asked questions

When can I apply?

There's no fixed application window. We accept founders on a rolling basis, so you can apply whenever the timing is right for you.

Who is eligible for this program?

We work with pre-seed, first-time founders across any sector, and there's no fixed starting point. We regularly partner with founders who are pre-idea, sometimes before they've even landed on what to build. What matters most is an unwavering commitment to building something that lasts.

Where do I have to be based?

You'll need to be based in the Palo Alto or Menlo Park area for the 10 weeks. This is an in-person program, not remote.

Do I have to give up equity to join?

No. Joining the program and any future investment are separate decisions. Capital is discussed at the end of the program, and only if it's the right next step for both the founders and Springcamp.

How is this different from other programs?

Most programs run on a calendar, a batch that moves through the same curriculum and ends with a demo day. We work with three to five founders at a time, which is what lets you have the same partner every week, working on whatever is actually pressing rather than a fixed agenda. There is no equity you have to give up, nothing you are required to attend, and no stage you perform on at the end. Ten weeks where the only thing asking for your attention is what you are building.

What if I don't want to raise from Springcamp at all?

That's fine. Founders are free to raise from, or work with, other investors during and after the program.

What's the catch?

Genuinely, there isn't one. Helping founders when we can is simply part of how we operate. It's always been that way.