Last verified
The Founders Forum vs On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)
The Founders Forum is a in-person peer-led forum with peer-led. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) is a hybrid community platform with staff-convened. This page compares cost, requirements, format, and stage fit using verified public data. The Founders Forum: Austin founders who want weekly in-person peer support integrating business, leadership, faith, and family — without dues. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship): Pre-seed builders committing to start a company who want an SF onboarding week plus lifetime fellow network without giving equity.
Side-by-side
| Field | The Founders Forum | On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | in-person | hybrid |
| Structure | peer-led forum | community platform |
| Facilitation | peer-led | staff-convened |
| Group size | Not published | Onboarding week: 80–100; community platform: 3,000+ |
| Stage fit | Pre-seed and seed, Series A, Growth, Late stage | Pre-seed and seed |
| Revenue / capital floor | None stated; founders at every stage welcome | Not published / none stated |
| Annual cost | No membership fee (potluck; optional donations) | Pay-what-you-can; suggested contribution $1,000 USD |
| Application model | application | application |
| Venture-specific | No | Yes |
| Other requirements | Current or past founder who built a business from the ground up; must love Jesus (Christ-centered fellowship); Austin-based | Great fit: track record of shipping; committed (or soon) to starting a company. Not a fit: past pre-seed/PMF, already have a full team, primary customers outside US. Must attend full SF sprint. Non-dilutive. |
| Time commitment | Weekly in-person gatherings alternating Bee Cave and Downtown Austin | Required: five business days in San Francisco; ongoing community optional |
| Geography | Austin, TX | Onboarding in San Francisco; applicants worldwide |
| Best for | Austin founders who want weekly in-person peer support integrating business, leadership, faith, and family — without dues. | Pre-seed builders committing to start a company who want an SF onboarding week plus lifetime fellow network without giving equity. |
| Not for | Founders seeking a secular or venture-only peer board, or remote-only participation. | Founders past pre-seed/PMF, or builders whose primary market will stay outside the US. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-15 | 2026-09-15 |
Verdict by stage
Pre-seed and seed
At Pre-seed and seed, both list this stage. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) is venture-specific. The Founders Forum is broader. The fit is On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) when you want a venture-scale room; The Founders Forum when you want a wider peer mix.
Series A
At Series A, The Founders Forum lists this stage. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) does not. The fit is The Founders Forum for this stage band.
Growth
At Growth, The Founders Forum lists this stage. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) does not. The fit is The Founders Forum for this stage band.
Late stage
At Late stage, The Founders Forum lists this stage. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) does not. The fit is The Founders Forum for this stage band.
FAQ
- How much do The Founders Forum and On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) cost?
- The Founders Forum: No membership fee (potluck; optional donations) (verified 2026-09-15). On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship): Pay-what-you-can; suggested contribution $1,000 USD (verified 2026-09-15). Prices are shown verbatim from public sources; nothing is estimated.
- What are the requirements for The Founders Forum vs On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)?
- The Founders Forum: None stated; founders at every stage welcome Current or past founder who built a business from the ground up; must love Jesus (Christ-centered fellowship); Austin-based On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship): Not published / none stated Great fit: track record of shipping; committed (or soon) to starting a company. Not a fit: past pre-seed/PMF, already have a full team, primary customers outside US. Must attend full SF sprint. Non-dilutive.
- Which is better for venture-backed founders?
- On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) is venture-specific. The Founders Forum is not. The fit is On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) when you want a venture-scale room.
Sources
Primary public pages used for the fields above.
- thefoundersforum.netRetrieved 2026-09-15 · The Founders Forum
- admissions.joinodf.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)
- joinodf.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)
- beondeck.comRetrieved 2026-09-15 · On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship)