A founder residency in Oakland gives early-stage founders something a desk alone can’t: a mentor in their corner, practical legal and accounting help, pitch coaching and a path to investors, all inside the building where they already work. The STAK Founder Residency runs on the 1900 Broadway Campus in downtown Oakland, a short walk from 19th St BART, and founders keep 100% of their company. Here is how the program works, who it is for and how to apply.
What a Founder Residency Is
A founder residency is a support program built around founders who are already working on campus, rather than a fixed-length class with a demo day at the end. At STAK, the residency is ongoing: residents stay as long as they are building here, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis with no deadline. It sits alongside the STAK Accelerator as one of the ways STAK Ventures backs early-stage companies, and STAK takes no equity for it.
Mentors and Accountability
Every resident is matched with a dedicated 1:1 mentor, and open mentor office hours fill the gaps between meetings. Regular accountability check-ins keep goals specific and moving, which matters most in the early months when priorities shift weekly. Mentorship is the core of STAK’s support for startups, alongside industry connections, customer introductions and guidance on entering the real estate market.
Legal and Accounting Help Early On
Small paperwork mistakes in year one can become expensive in year three. Residents get help with entity setup, founder agreements, contract and term sheet reviews, and IP and trademark basics; the SBA’s guide to business structures is a good primer before that first conversation. On the finance side, residents get bookkeeping and tax setup, cap table and financial model reviews, and guidance on fundraising and budgeting.
Pitch Coaching and Pitch Nights
A strong deck is rewritten many times before it works. Residents get 1:1 deck reviews and practice pitches with feedback, then pitch on stage at the STAK Event Center to investors, partners and the Bay Area startup community. When the deck is ready for a formal look, founders can submit their deck to STAK Ventures; the first review happens within two weeks.
Investor Access When You’re Ready to Raise
Residents get investor office hours, fireside chats and a speaker series, plus warm introductions once they are ready to raise. STAK Ventures’ own focus areas include proptech, mobility, smart building systems, community platforms and sustainable living technology, so companies in those spaces can also explore pilots inside real properties across the portfolio. Founders in other sectors still benefit from the mentors, events and introductions.
Workshops, Dinners and Community
The residency runs workshops on go-to-market, product and fundraising, along with founder dinners and community nights where residents compare notes. Many of these happen in the second-floor lounge at 1950 Franklin. Check upcoming STAK events to see what’s on the calendar, and expect on-site coffee and a dog-friendly space on the days in between.
Where Residents Work, Meet and Live
The campus puts work, meetings and home within a block. STAK Space memberships at 1920 Broadway cover coworking, dedicated desks and private offices with 24/7 access for members, and 1950 Franklin hosts the Event Center. Apartments at 1900 Broadway sit on the same campus, and the 19th St Oakland BART station is a short walk away.
Who Can Apply and How
STAK Space members, teams with an office on campus and 1900 Broadway residents can apply to the Founder Residency now. Founders who aren’t on campus yet can still apply, and the team will help find a fit. The process is simple: submit the form with your deck, the team reviews it, shortlisted founders tour the campus and meet the team, and accepted founders join the campus and are matched with a mentor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does STAK take equity in Founder Residency companies?
No. STAK does not take equity, and founders keep 100% of their company; see the Founder Residency page for details.
How long does the residency last?
There is no fixed length. Residents stay as long as they are building on campus, with campus memberships covering workspace separately.
Can I visit before applying?
Yes. You can book a tour, and tours include a free day pass to work from STAK that day.
Start Your Application
If you’re building something early and want mentors, practical help and investors in the same building, apply for the STAK Founder Residency or book a tour of the campus first. Questions about the program go to Brian Sparkes, who leads the Residency, at bsparkes@behringco.com.
