Stanford Founders
We back founders who build across borders.
Intentional market sequence
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 matters
Products, pitches, and founder credibility read differently in California than they do in Europe, Asia, or Africa. Translation work is part of the build.
Practical paperwork
Visas, company formation, and fundraising paperwork shape what an international founder can do next. We work through that early so execution is not blocked later.
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.
Three working sessions: first decide the market order and founder story, then adapt your pitch for each audience, then tighten the final Demo Day presentation.
Market sequence and founder story
Understand why you are the right founder for this company, decide which market should come first, and explain that choice clearly to mentors, partners, and investors.
Your pitch for each market
Adapt your pitch, product framing, and customer language for US and home-market audiences, with concrete discussion around visas, company setup, and fundraising timing.
Pitch refinement and Demo Day prep
Apply mentor feedback, AI practice, and mock pitches to tighten the story, sharpen the ask, and prepare for the May 7 showcase.
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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Virtual-First
With a Small Number of In-Person Sessions
3 Weeks
Compressed Pilot Before Demo Day
5-6 Teams
Small by Design
May 7
Demo Day Endpoint
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.
How long is the program?
The current Spring 2026 plan is a three-week pilot leading directly into Demo Day on May 7, 2026.
What makes it different from general founder programs?
It is built around cross-border execution: founder identity, cultural translation, market sequencing, and practical operating constraints.
How do I raise my hand for it?
Apply through the Demo Day flow and indicate that you want to be considered for Founders Bridge.