Why We're Building a Radically In-Person Founder Residency in Austin
- Jun 4
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Accelerators have done a lot of good for the startup world. They've created structure, networks, and real opportunities for thousands of founders.
They have their place.
At the same time, I kept seeing ambitious pre-seed teams who needed something more intense. More focused on raw execution. More accountability. Faster velocity.
So we built something different.
RAW Founder Residency is a radically in-person program in Austin, Texas. No remote. No hybrid. You come here, go all-in, and work side-by-side with other obsessed founders every day. High-pressure. High-support. Built for founders who want to move faster than humanly possible.
Why We Took This Approach
Many programs do a solid job with mentorship and visibility. But for the earliest stages, a lot of founders need more than weekly check-ins and polished decks.
They need real momentum. They need to be around other operators who operate at full speed. They need an environment where weak assumptions get exposed quickly - and fixed even faster.
That's what we created. Not because other models are wrong, but because we believe the ecosystem is big enough for more options, especially for teams ready to go all-in during the hardest phase of building a company.
What Radically In-Person Actually Means Here
We bring a small group of pre-seed founders to Austin for an intense, focused period. Everyone is in the same space. Problems get solved in real time. Team dynamics show up immediately. Learning compounds daily.
The model includes:
Heavy emphasis on GTM execution and customer traction
Milestone-based tranche funding that rewards real progress
Direct input from operators who have built recently
Brutal honesty paired with strong support
A peer group that pushes everyone to move faster
The goal is simple: build real conviction and traction - or get clear data fast on whether to pivot or shut it down.
Why Austin (And Why I’d Never Build This Anywhere Else)
I’ve lived in Austin for over a decade. This is home. I’m not looking at other cities - this is where I want to build.
Austin just works for this kind of intense, in-person founder residency. The business side is strong and getting stronger: operator energy, talent, and real industries. But it’s also a place where you can actually live well while grinding.
You can close a tough customer call, then go paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake in the evening. The food scene is world-class. Live music hits different here. There are trails, green spaces, and nature all around. Healthy living is easy. Nightlife, culture, and good people are part of the fabric.
The city is growing fast but still has that builder mindset. Lower costs than coastal hubs. Real communities. It’s a place where you can go hard on your company during the day and still feel human at night. That balance matters when you’re asking founders to go all-in.
Who This [Austin] Founder Residency Is For
This is for pre-seed founders who:
Have a working product and early customer conversations
Are willing to relocate to Austin and commit fully
Obsess over execution speed and real traction
Want high-pressure + high-support instead of low-accountability flexibility
If you thrive when surrounded by other people moving at full speed, you’ll love it here.
If you prefer a more relaxed pace, there are plenty of great programs that fit that style.
How It Actually Works
We keep the group small and focused. Every day centers on real progress:
Deep work on GTM and customer development
Weekly milestone reviews tied to tranche funding
Constant peer and operator feedback in the same room
Fast iteration that kills bad ideas quickly
The environment creates its own momentum. When everyone around you is all-in, it becomes the standard.
The Bottom Line
We built RAW Residency because some founders need a more intense, more real environment to succeed at pre-seed.
Austin has been my home for over a decade, and it’s the perfect place for this kind of work - great for building companies and great for living while you do it.
If you’re ready to go all-in, move fast, and build something that matters, this was made for you.
Ready to go all-in?
Apply to RAW Founder Residency
This isn’t for everyone. and that's ok <3
