Note: We're also hiring a full-time Founder-in-Residence to work across multiple cohorts and programs. If you're looking for a year-round role, check that out. But if you want to do something intense and meaningful for a defined period, keep reading.
Must be based in SF or willing to relocate.
Sutro House by Wefunder is a 12-week accelerator for overlooked founders. We invest $50k in 10 pre-seed teams who might lack Stanford degrees or FAANG pedigree but have demonstrated exceptionalism and deep domain expertise. We’re targeting good people building things that move humanity forward.
Our mission is personal. Too many exceptional founders never get their shot because they don't fit the mold. We're changing that. We want to create an environment where 10 teams can accomplish in 12 weeks what normally takes 6+ months. By the end, they walk out ready to raise their seed rounds from investors who believe in them.
We believe founders who "have been there and done that" make the best mentors and people to push a cohort to their limits. That's why we're hiring a Founder-in-Residence for our inaugural cohort.
Our dream candidate is a restless founder between startups, willing to commit to 12 weeks of intensity. You’ve built something real - scaled it, maybe exited, and have earned the respect of your peers. You probably finished a grueling grind and need to do something meaningful before jumping back into the next adventure. You know - like us - that helping founders is easier than being a founder. But you also know - eventually - the siren call of another startup will beckon.
You command respect. Not because you're loud, but because you've been proven right more often than not. When you tell a founder something matters, they believe you.
The perfect candidate has deep domain expertise in their area and empathy for founders who don't fit traditional molds. You were probably overlooked at some point too. You can pattern-match quickly but don't prescribe cookie-cutter solutions. You know the difference between a good idea poorly executed and a bad idea with lipstick. You can smell bullshit from across the room.
You understand that being overlooked doesn't mean lacking quality. It just means someone didn't give you the shot. Now you want to be the person who does.
You'll work directly with me to design and run the program. We'll tailor the role to your superpowers and interests. Here are some options:
Help a founder with the pitch. Most founders can't pitch their company. They use jargon and fancy words. You understand that an investor has to grok what they're doing in 30 seconds. You know what gets investors excited. Channel pg.
Set unreasonable goals. A founder comes in planning to talk to 10 customers. You push them to 100. They want to ship one feature. You help them ship multiple. Everything seems possible in 12 weeks if you believe it is. You know what aggressive-but-achievable looks like because you've done it.
Be the pattern-matcher. You've seen this movie before. When a founder is spiraling on a decision, you can quickly map it to your own experience—not to prescribe, but to illuminate what actually matters versus what's noise.
Push them through walls. Founders hit moments where they want to quit, pivot, or play it safe. You know when to support and when to push. Sometimes the best thing you can do is refuse to let them settle. You remember what it felt like to be in the trenches.
Open your network. You know people. Investors, potential customers, co-founders, advisors. You make introductions that change trajectories. You're willing to spend your credibility capital on founders who deserve it.
Prepare them for Demo Day. By the end, these founders should have investors interested in their seed rounds. You know what that takes. You've pitched. You've closed. You get them there.