Discover
Apps
South Park Commons

South Park Commons

Preview Only

B2BFinance

Open app

This app is available for preview only and has not been validated by community. The owner can submit the application for validation.

About South Park Commons

South Park Commons is a community and venture collective that supports founders, engineers, and researchers in developing early-stage ideas into scalable companies through collaboration and funding.

incubator innovation

South Park Commons (SPC) is a pioneering community for technologists, researchers, and future founders navigating the uncertain but vital journey from "-1 to 0" — the ideation phase before building a startup. It’s a space designed for people who are not quite sure what to build yet, but are deeply committed to figuring it out. Through a unique combination of community support, structured fellowships, and funding access, South Park Commons helps people explore, experiment, and eventually launch world-changing companies.

Rather than rushing to product or business model validation, SPC encourages thoughtful exploration, guided discovery, and collective learning. With no pressure of demo days or artificial deadlines, members have the breathing room to iterate and evolve their ideas in a high-talent environment. Whether you’re a founder, engineer, researcher, or simply in transition, SPC offers a trusted space to explore what’s next.

South Park Commons was founded on a bold premise: that the early, messy, and uncertain phase of building something meaningful deserves just as much support as the later stages. This phase, which SPC calls "-1 to 0", is where the idea doesn’t exist yet, but the desire to build something impactful is strong. It’s the point at which people leave a job, finish a degree, or exit a startup — and want to explore big problems before committing to a solution.

At the heart of SPC is its **Community** — a group of exceptionally talented individuals actively pursuing open-ended exploration. Members come from top universities, leading tech companies, and startup backgrounds, and collaborate on everything from frontier technologies to social impact. Unlike coworking spaces or accelerators, the community is intentionally designed for relationship-building, cross-pollination, and peer mentorship.

SPC also offers the Founder Fellowship, a guided program for people who are serious about building venture-scale companies but are still in the ideation stage. The fellowship includes up to $1M in investment, 1:1 mentorship with experienced partners, and access to a tight-knit cohort of fellow builders — all with no set deadlines or pitch days. This structure empowers fellows to develop conviction over time, rather than rushing into startup formation prematurely.

In addition to community and fellowships, the SPC Fund invests in select entrepreneurs at the pre-seed and seed stage — even if they haven’t participated in the community or fellowship. These founders benefit from the operational expertise of SPC’s team and the collective intelligence of its broader member base.

Over the years, SPC has served as the launchpad for successful companies like Render, founded by Anurag Goel (ex-Stripe), which now powers modern infrastructure for thousands of developers and has raised over $150M. Other companies born within SPC span sectors such as developer tooling, healthcare, AI, and crypto.

Compared to traditional accelerators like Y Combinator or Techstars, SPC does not expect founders to have pre-validated ideas. Instead, it embraces ambiguity as a productive stage and provides the structure, talent density, and capital to help navigate it effectively. In doing so, South Park Commons is redefining how the earliest stages of innovation are supported.

South Park Commons offers a distinct set of benefits and features for individuals exploring the edge of technology, entrepreneurship, and research:

“-1 to 0” Philosophy: SPC is uniquely structured to support individuals in the ideation phase — before they know what they want to build, and before the startup even exists.
Founder Fellowship: Up to $1 million in capital, deep mentorship, and a guided structure designed to help you find and validate venture-scale ideas at your own pace.
Talent-Dense Community: Join a group of highly talented engineers, researchers, product leaders, and founders solving complex problems across verticals.
No Demo Days or Deadlines: Unlike accelerators, SPC does not pressure members into rapid pitches or fixed timelines. Growth and clarity come through deliberate exploration.
Member-Driven Collaboration: Get real-time feedback and hands-on support from fellow members as you prototype, iterate, and discard ideas.
Access to the SPC Fund: Whether or not you’re part of the Fellowship, you can be considered for pre-seed or seed-stage funding by the SPC investment team.
Company Alumni Network: Learn from founders who’ve successfully built startups within SPC — including those that have raised nine-figure rounds and scaled to thousands of users.
In-Person and Virtual Opportunities: Participate in events, salons, and demo faires across locations — from San Francisco to India — or engage remotely via the digital community.

South Park Commons provides multiple pathways to get involved, depending on where you are in your personal and professional journey:

Visit the Website: Learn about SPC’s programs and explore its philosophy at southparkcommons.com.
Join the Community: If you’re exploring open-ended questions and want to collaborate with others doing the same, apply to join the SPC Community.
Apply to the Fellowship: For those committed to launching a startup but still ideating, the Founder Fellowship offers structure, capital, and mentorship to help you build with intention.
Pitch for Investment: If you’re already building and are at the pre-seed or seed stage, you can apply to receive funding directly from the SPC Fund.
Read Member Stories: Gain inspiration from founders like Anurag Goel (Render) and others who navigated -1 to 0 at SPC and went on to build impactful companies.
Attend Events or Salons: Keep an eye on SPC’s News section for demo faires, talks, and community gatherings.
Follow SPC: Connect on Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube to stay up to date on new stories and opportunities.

South Park Commons FAQ

The “-1 to 0” concept at South Park Commons describes the phase before a founder has identified what to build. It’s the space between leaving one path and starting another — where individuals are exploring, questioning, and searching for meaningful problems to solve. SPC exists to make that ambiguous stage productive, providing a structure where members can move from ideation to conviction with the support of peers and mentors.
Unlike traditional accelerators or incubators, SPC does not require founders to arrive with a business plan or prototype. There are no demo days, no fixed timelines, and no pressure to raise funding. Instead, South Park Commons is a community and learning environment where members can slow down, test ideas, and collaborate with others before committing to a single direction. It’s a place to explore what’s next — not just scale what already exists.
The SPC Founder Fellowship is ideal for individuals who are committed to building a venture-scale company but are still in the process of figuring out their idea. Applicants typically come from technical, research, or product backgrounds and want a structured yet flexible environment to refine their thinking. Fellows receive up to $1M in funding, mentorship from SPC partners, and access to a tight-knit cohort of peers.
Absolutely. SPC was designed specifically for people who don’t yet know what to build. Many members join South Park Commons to explore new technologies, test ideas with others, or transition into entrepreneurship. The community values curiosity and exploration — not just execution. Members use this time to experiment, learn, and collaborate until the right idea emerges organically.
The SPC Fund partners with founders who are not directly part of the community but are building in areas aligned with SPC’s mission. The fund invests primarily at the pre-seed and seed stages, offering capital, strategic guidance, and access to SPC’s extensive network of experts and alumni. Even for external founders, partnering with South Park Commons means joining a broader ecosystem that values deep exploration, thoughtful execution, and long-term success.