IOSG Entrepreneur in Residence Program

In-Person Founders Program

Shape your vision and build a foundation for your venture with funding, mentorship, and ecosystem support, designed for founders at the pre-idea stage.

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About the EIR Program

The IOSG Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) Program is tailored for founders at the very beginning—those refining ideas, researching markets, and testing hypotheses.

Over six months in Hong Kong and Shenzhen, EIRs receive funding, mentorship, and ecosystem support to shape their vision and build a venture-scale business foundation. It's a space to experiment, iterate, and validate before launching formally.

This program supports founders earlier than our Kickstarter Program. While Kickstarter funds teams with clear product direction, EIR focuses on individuals still shaping their vision, offering resources to test, build an MVP, and strengthen foundations pre-funding.

What the Program Offers

We provide comprehensive support to help you transform your initial concept into a validated product direction.

Funding & Compensation

Receive compensation during the program and potentially secure up to $100k via the Kickstarter Program upon successful completion.

Product Thesis Refinement

Validate key ideas through guided market research, technical feasibility checks, and strategic positioning.

MVP Design & Prototyping

Quickly build and test an MVP to find product-market fit, with structured feedback from demos.

Leverage the IOSG Network

Access our global network of founders, investors, and partners for insights, collaboration, and funding.

Mentorship & Guidance

Weekly 1-on-1 sessions with senior IOSG members covering product, GTM, tokenomics, and funding.

In-Person Collaboration

Benefit from an immersive, in-person program based in Hong Kong and Shenzhen for deep collaboration.

Why Build Alongside IOSG?

Working directly with a venture firm at this stage offers unique advantages to build with the right guidance and perspective from the start.

Learn from Experts

Gain insights from experienced investors and operators who've worked with hundreds of Web3 projects.

Validate Strategically

Refine your product direction with structured research and strategic input before full commitment.

Inside Track to Funding

Develop a compelling concept with a direct path to potential $100K Kickstarter funding.

Real-World Exposure

Work alongside top founders and builders, immersing yourself in Web3 innovation.

This program is for founders who want to move fast, think critically, and build with confidence alongside a firm that deeply understands the builder mindset.

How to Apply

The EIR program is currently invite-only, reflecting its highly selective nature. However, we welcome applications from exceptional founders who believe they are a strong fit for the program's goals.

Apply Here

For referrals or inquiries, please contact us at: kickstarter [at] iosg.vc