Stanford Founders
We back founders who build across borders.
Market Sequencing
We will push you to research what market you should learn in, which one you should monetize first, and what changes in your pitch when you swap the order.
Cultural Translation
Products, pitches, and founder credibility read differently in California than they do in Europe, Asia, or Africa. We help you adapt your story, positioning, and credibility signals for each audience.
Practical Paperwork
Visas, company formation, and fundraising paperwork shape what an international founder can do next. We work through it early to unblock execution.
Sharper Demo Day prep
Founders Bridge will question your judgment, help you sharpen your pitch, and accelerate your Demo Day preparation in a short working cycle.
Program
Three weeks leading into Demo Day.
Two sessions per week over three weeks: a mandatory group check-in (~60 min) for accountability and goal-setting, plus a themed workshop (~90 min) with guest speakers and hands-on exercises. Each week builds on the last.
In-person launch (~Apr 16)
Meet the cohort, mentors, and organizers in person at Stanford. Set expectations, form accountability pairs, and kick things off with a mixer and law firm happy hour.
Founder identity & cross-market vision
Articulate your unfair advantage as an international founder. Define sprint goals, map your cross-border market opportunity (TAM/SAM/SOM), and hear from an exited founder who built across markets.
Legal, operations & go-to-market
Navigate visas (STEM OPT, O-1), company formation, and cross-border hiring with lightning talks from immigration lawyers and global hiring platforms. Adapt your pitch for US vs. home market audiences.
Pitch refinement & Demo Day prep
Hot-seat pitches with real-time feedback, mock pitches with mentor panels, public speaking coaching, and AI-powered practice sessions to sharpen your story for the May 7 showcase.
What to Expect
Your week at a glance.
Group Check-in (Mandatory)
~60 minutes · Virtual
- Share progress, set weekly goals, surface blockers
- Peer feedback — each team presents one challenge, group brainstorms
- Guest founder fireside — an international founder shares their story
- Accountability pairs check in on next steps
Themed Workshop
~90 minutes · Virtual
- Deep-dive on the week's theme with 2–3 guest speakers
- Hands-on exercises and frameworks you apply to your startup
- Open Q&A and 1:1 breakouts with speakers
- Homework to carry momentum into the next week
Throughout the program
1:1 Mentor Office Hours
Book time with any mentor from our roster based on your needs
AI Pitch Practice
Voice-based AI interview tool available anytime for pitch reps
WhatsApp Community
Async support, resource sharing, and cohort accountability
Notion Dashboard
Weekly worksheets, progress tracking, and mentor contacts
Guests
People who can actually help.
The current guest and collaborator set is being built around operators, faculty, and investors with real founder pattern recognition.
Monisha Perkash
Lecturer in Management · Stanford GSB
Entrepreneur and product leader who has built across startups and major tech, teaches Stanford Startup Garage, and advises and invests in early companies.
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Amy Wilkinson
Lecturer in Management · Stanford GSB
Founder, CEO, and author of The Creator’s Code with experience spanning startup building, strategy, and advising founders globally.
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Alan Louie
Founder and Managing Partner · Imagine K12
Founder and managing partner of Imagine K12. He later founded Text Genome and previously worked across Google, Shutterfly, Netscape, and Sun Microsystems.
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Mar Hershenson
Founding Managing Partner · Pear VC
Pear co-founder, repeat founder, and Stanford-trained engineer with deep operating experience across enterprise software and semiconductors.
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Lindsey Mignano
Startup and Venture Lawyer · SSM Law
Cross-border formation and financing expert who helps founders handle US market entry, Delaware flips, entity restructuring, and the practical paperwork behind fundraising.
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Alexa Binns
Investor and Growth Advisor · Spacecadet Ventures
Stanford alum, investor, and operator with experience across Maven, Halogen, and Spacecadet, advising founders on go-to-market strategy, growth, partnerships, and fundraising positioning.
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Clement Pang
Entrepreneur in Residence · Sutter Hill Ventures
Serial entrepreneur who co-founded Wavefront (acquired by VMware), with deep expertise in distributed systems and developer tools, now mentoring early-stage founders and exploring new ventures in AI.
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Matt Hellauer
Partner · PTX Capital
Healthcare investment professional and Harvard Business School graduate focused on identifying and supporting innovative companies in life sciences and healthcare.
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2 Sessions/Week
Group Check-in + Themed Workshop
3 Weeks
April 16 – May 7, 2026
5-6 Teams
Small by Design
May 7
Guaranteed Demo Day Pitch Slot
Diagnostics
What founders usually ask.
Who is this for?
Stanford-connected teams, especially international founders or cross-border startups, from idea stage through early traction.
What is the time commitment?
2 sessions per week for 3 weeks (6 sessions total). Session 1 is a mandatory ~60-min group check-in. Session 2 is a ~90-min themed workshop. Expect roughly 3 hours per week plus homework.
What do I get out of it?
Weekly mentorship from experienced founders and VCs, cross-market strategy sessions, AI-powered pitch practice, practical visa and legal guidance, a guaranteed Demo Day pitch slot, and access to the Stanford Founders network of 1,000+ members.
How long is the program?
Three weeks: April 16 to May 7, 2026. In-person kickoff around April 16, then virtual sessions leading directly into Demo Day on May 7.
What makes it different from general founder programs?
It is built around cross-border execution: founder identity, cultural translation, market sequencing, immigration and legal navigation, and practical operating constraints unique to international founders.
How do I apply?
Apply through the Demo Day application and check the box to indicate interest in Founders Bridge. Strong applications may be followed up with a short fit conversation.
Looking for more about Stanford Founders Club?
Visit the Stanford Founders site