Last verified
On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) vs South Park Commons
On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) is a hybrid community platform with staff-convened. South Park Commons is a in-person community platform with staff-convened. This page compares cost, requirements, format, and stage fit using verified public data. 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. South Park Commons: Technical builders in -1 to 0 who want a talent-dense in-person community before or at the start of a venture-scale company.
Side-by-side
| Field | On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) | South Park Commons |
|---|---|---|
| Format | hybrid | in-person |
| Structure | community platform | community platform |
| Facilitation | staff-convened | staff-convened |
| Group size | Onboarding week: 80–100; community platform: 3,000+ | ~175 active members across hubs; peer accountability group sizes Not published |
| Stage fit | Pre-seed and seed | Pre-seed and seed |
| Revenue / capital floor | Not published / none stated | None stated; focused on -1 to 0 ideation / pre-funding exploration |
| Annual cost | Pay-what-you-can; suggested contribution $1,000 USD | No membership fee or dues (Member Residency). Founder Fellowship is separate: $400,000 for 7% SAFE + $600,000 guaranteed in next venture round. |
| Application model | application | application |
| Venture-specific | Yes | Yes |
| Other requirements | 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. | Expected to be located in SF, NYC, or Bangalore and come into SPC throughout the week; generally full-time; selective application + interview. |
| Time commitment | Required: five business days in San Francisco; ongoing community optional | Member Residency up to 6 months; show up in space throughout the week |
| Geography | Onboarding in San Francisco; applicants worldwide | San Francisco, New York City, Bengaluru |
| Best for | Pre-seed builders committing to start a company who want an SF onboarding week plus lifetime fellow network without giving equity. | Technical builders in -1 to 0 who want a talent-dense in-person community before or at the start of a venture-scale company. |
| Not for | Founders past pre-seed/PMF, or builders whose primary market will stay outside the US. | Founders who need a classic confidential CEO peer board, or remote-only members who cannot commit presence in a hub city. |
| Last verified | 2026-09-15 | 2026-09-15 |
Verdict by stage
Pre-seed and seed
At Pre-seed and seed, both On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) and South Park Commons list this stage. Compare revenue floor (Not published / none stated vs None stated; focused on -1 to 0 ideation / pre-funding exploration) and format (hybrid vs in-person) to decide.
Series A
At Series A, neither group lists this stage as a primary fit. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) targets Pre-seed and seed. South Park Commons targets Pre-seed and seed.
Growth
At Growth, neither group lists this stage as a primary fit. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) targets Pre-seed and seed. South Park Commons targets Pre-seed and seed.
Late stage
At Late stage, neither group lists this stage as a primary fit. On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) targets Pre-seed and seed. South Park Commons targets Pre-seed and seed.
FAQ
- How much do On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) and South Park Commons cost?
- On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship): Pay-what-you-can; suggested contribution $1,000 USD (verified 2026-09-15). South Park Commons: No membership fee or dues (Member Residency). Founder Fellowship is separate: $400,000 for 7% SAFE + $600,000 guaranteed in next venture round. (verified 2026-09-15). Prices are shown verbatim from public sources; nothing is estimated.
- What are the requirements for On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) vs South Park Commons?
- 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. South Park Commons: None stated; focused on -1 to 0 ideation / pre-funding exploration Expected to be located in SF, NYC, or Bangalore and come into SPC throughout the week; generally full-time; selective application + interview.
- Which is better for venture-backed founders?
- Both On Deck / ODF (On Deck Fellowship) and South Park Commons are venture-specific. Compare stage fit (Pre-seed and seed vs Pre-seed and seed) and format.
Sources
Primary public pages used for the fields above.
- 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)
- southparkcommons.com/our-storyRetrieved 2026-09-15 · South Park Commons
- southparkcommons.com/residencyRetrieved 2026-09-15 · South Park Commons
- southparkcommons.com/faqRetrieved 2026-09-15 · South Park Commons